Mount Crandell (West Ridge)

May 31, 2021. The easy way to the summit of Mount Crandell. Region: Waterton Lakes National Park. Traditional territory of the Blackfoot, Ktunaxa, and Tsuu T’ina First Nations Distance: 10.7 km round-trip Total Ascent: 1030 m Elevation of Objective: 2380 m Time: 4h 41m Safety and Disclaimer There are 3 published routes that I’m aware […]

Turtle Mountain South Summit

May 14, 2021. An extension beyond the end of the popular Turtle Mountain North Summit trail, scrambling to the south (true) summit. Region: Crowsnest Pass. Traditional territory of the of the Blackfoot, Tsuu T’ina, and Ktunaxa First Nations Distance: 1.2 km one-way from the north summit Total Ascent: 200 m (requires some loss and regain […]

Thunder Mountain

May 6, 2021. An excellent scramble near the northern extent of the Livingstone Range, at the heart of land sacred to the Blackfoot people. Region: Bob Creek Wildland. Traditional territory of the Blackfoot, Tsuu T’ina, and Ktunaxa First Nations Distance: 9.8 km round-trip Total Ascent: 987 m Elevation of Objective: 2349 m Total Time: 5h […]

Hillcrest Mountain

May 3, 2021. A visit to Turtle Mountain’s less popular neighbour. Region: Crowsnest Pass. Traditional territory of the Blackfoot, Tsuu T’ina and Ktunaxa First Nations Distance: 6 km round-trip Total Ascent: 690 m Elevation of Objective: 2164 m Total Time: 3h 19m Safety and Disclaimer Hillcrest Mountain is featured in Nugara’s More Scrambles in the […]

Livingstone South Peak

April 17, 2021. A ridge walk to a summit, featuring epic views of the Crowsnest Pass. June 2025 Update: Since this post was originally published, a natural gas pipeline project altered the terrain in the area of the trailhead. As of June 2025 the project is complete but the initial part of the hike requires […]

Mount Galwey

October 2, 2020. Scrambling on one of Waterton’s most exciting and accessible peaks. Region: Waterton Lakes National Park. Traditional Territory of the Blackfoot, Tsuu T’ina and Ktunaxa First Nations Distance: 6 km round-trip Total Ascent: 960 m Elevation of Objective: 2367 m Total Time: 4h 2m Safety and Disclaimer The last time I climbed Mount […]

Mount Tecumseh Attempt 2

September 26, 2020. My return to Mount Tecumseh, where I again turned back on the summit ridge – this time due to snow and ice. Safety and Disclaimer See my prior post for route details. Colleagues from work invited me along for this trip, so my return to the mountain was much sooner than I […]

St. Eloi Mountain

September 11, 2020. Straightforward scrambling to a summit on the Continental Divide. Region: Castle Wilderness. Traditional territory of the Blackfoot, Tsuu T’ina, and Ktunaxa First Nations Distance: ~13.5 km round-trip (my 3 tracking programs varied wildly on this: 12.6 km, 13.3 km and 14.9 km) Total Ascent: 1414 m Elevation of Objective: 2500 m Total […]

Mount Tecumseh Attempt

August 27, 2020. Late summer scrambling on the Alberta/BC border. Region: Crowsnest Pass. Traditional territory of the Blackfoot and Ktunaxa First Nations Elevation of Objective: 2549 m Total Ascent: 1500 m due to my wandering off course. Accounts of uncomplicated ascents put it at 1100-1200 m Distance: 16.1 km due to my wandering off course. […]

Spread Eagle Mountain (Mount Roche)

August 23, 2020. A scramble to the summit of Spread Eagle Mountain and its impressive western outlier in the Castle Wilderness. Region: Castle Wilderness. Traditional territory of the Blackfoot, Tsuu T’ina, and Ktunaxa First Nations Distance: 17.8 km round trip (I estimate that omitting the outlier summit would shave about 2-3 km off that distance) […]