Pincher Ridge

July 3, 2020. An easy scramble (with some unpleasant bushwhacking) to the summit of Pincher Ridge in the Castle Wilderness, followed by a quick visit to Drywood Falls. Region: Castle Wilderness. Traditional territory of the Ktunaxa, Tsuu T’ina, and Blackfoot First Nations Distance: 14.7 km round-trip Total ascent: 1082 m Elevation of objective: 2426 m Total Time: 4h 49m Pincher […]

Mount Ward

June 21, 2020. A straight-forward scramble with impressive views in the Crowsnest Pass. Region: Crowsnest Pass. Traditional territory of the Ktunaxa, Tsuu T’ina, and Blackfoot First Nations Distance: 4.8 km round-trip from the east shore of Window Mountain Lake Total Elevation Gain: 651 m from Window Mountain Lake Elevation of Objective: 2567 m Total Time: 2h 45m round-trip from […]

Yarrow Ridge

June 1, 2020. A straight-forward scramble with rewarding views in the Castle Wilderness. Distance: 8 km Total Ascent: 632 m Elevation of Objective: 2052 m Total Time: 3h 23m I had intended to visit Waterton today, the first day of its reopening following the COVID19 closure. Unfortunately, upon reaching the park gate, I discovered that their computer systems were […]

Mount Haig

August 3, 2019. A straightforward scramble up a peak on the continental divide. Distance: 12.7 km round-trip Total Ascent: 1400 m Elevation of Objective: 2611 m Total time: 5h 47m Earlier in the summer I had set out to climb this peak, but the weather didn’t cooperate. I salvaged my days by exploring the trails to Haig Lake […]

“Rogan Peak” (Dungarvan SE2)

July 29, 2019. A straightforward scramble to an unofficial summit in Waterton Lakes National Park. Distance: 21.1 km round-trip Total Ascent: 1200 m Elevation of Objective: 2437 m Hiking Time: 6h 40m Rogan Peak is a relatively easy scramble described in Andrew Nugara’s More Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies. The name was bestowed by Nugara in honour of his nephew. The […]

Heart Mountain and Grant MacEwan Peak

June 15, 2019. An enjoyable and popular scramble to a pair of low peaks near Canmore. Distance: 8.2 km out-and-back* Total Ascent: 1038 m* Elevation of Objective: 2135 m (Heart Mountain) and 2149 m (Grant MacEwan Peak) Hiking Time: 6h 30m* *I did this trip as part of a scrambling course, so we went back and forth on […]

Table Mountain – Scrambler’s Route

June 4, 2019. A straight-forward scramble to the summit of one of the gems of Castle Provincial Park. Distance: 11 km Total Ascent: 877 m Elevation of Objective: 2225 m Hiking Time: 4h 3m round-trip Two years ago I climbed the usual on-trail route to the summit of Table Mountain. That trail is varied and steep, and has […]

Anklebiter Ridge to Bluemat Hill Loop

June 1, 2019. An enjoyable scramble to a pair of low peaks in the Canmore area. Distance: 8.6 km according to TopoMaps, 6.4 km according to MotionX – I can’t explain the large discrepancy, but 6.4 km is closer to the distance reported by other blogs Total Ascent: 1,023 m Elevation of Objective: 2,123 m Hiking Time: 5h […]

Wedge Mountain Summit

May 20, 2019. A spring ascent of a low summit in the Crowsnest Pass. Distance: 7.2 km round-trip Total Ascent: 490 m Elevation of Objective: 1917 m Hiking Time: 2h 13m I’d previously snowshoed up Wedge Mountain Trail in the Crowsnest pass and found it to be a pleasant winter outing. At that time I’d taken a […]

Mount Backus

January 13, 2019. A tedious climb to a low summit in the Castle Wilderness. Distance: 6.25 km round-trip Total ascent: 478 m Elevation of objective: 1800 m Hiking time: 3h 13m Steep, uphill bushwhacking. Barbed wire. Copious deadfall. Traveling through trees. Bare ground alternating with thigh-deep snow. These are the features that await on Mount […]