| Hike/Scramble/Trip | Rating |
Time |
Date |
Description/Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cirque Peak | ||||
| Iceline - Yoho National Park | ||||
| Utah | ||||
| Glacier National Park - 4 days of day hikes Glacier National Park in Montana has some spectacular scenery, but its crowded. Skip the Two Medicine and West Glacier entry points and concentrate on the St. Mary area up to Logan Pass and the Many Glacier area. The HI hostel in East Glacier is cheap and good (with showers!), but its about an hours drive on NZ style roads to the preferred entry points. However, since it rains so much down there its probably still a good choice as a base of operations if you're cheap like me or don't like camping in the rain. |
|
about 6 hrs each dayhike |
Jul 09 |
 / The Highline Trail parallels the road much of the way (giving you a great view of the traffic jam below). It grants OK views of the mountains and wildflowers, but the side trail overlooking Grinnell Glacier is awesome!. I would recommend starting at The Loop rather than Logan Pass, and make the lookout your destination. 6.25 hrs booting it in the rain, anxious to catch the last shuttle back Logan Pass and Hidden Lake are spectacular, but packed with tourists. The mountain goats are fascinatingly and distressingly tame, lying beside the trail (with young!) and crowding the boardwalks. Bighorn sheep and deer wander around the parking lot. Its like a Disneyland in the mountains. Take the shuttle, go late in the day and try to ignore the crowds - its worth it for the wildlife, mountain and lake views. Grinnell Glacier Lookout is accessed from the Many Glacier area and takes you to the base of the glacier & lake rather than the top (as the Highline trail above). With my late start I passed dozens of people returning, but I was alone when I got there (yeah!!) Great views of lakes, waterfalls and wildflowers most of the way up, then the glacier - wow! I must admit though - the wow was better from the Highline Trail viewpoint, but the hike itself is vastly more enjoyable. ~6 hrs/  The Iceberg Lake trail leads you to a lake filled with glacier chunks floating in the lake, with small remnants of glaciers clinging to the surrounding peaks. It is yet another 'wow' destination, though not quite as scenic as Grinnell Glacier Lookout. You sure won't be alone on this hike either! The hike up is not as enjoyable as Grinnell Lookout, but it is still a premier hike in my books. - <5hrs, booting it to get back to Canada the same day, eh |
| Compression Ridge - Kananaskis - scramble with Harvey | |
12.25hrs! |
Jul 09 |
It was an epic day indeed! Attempting Bob Spirko's loop route, it took us 5hrs of bushwhacking & scrambling to get up the ridge close to the high point of Nihahi Ridge (ie the approx. start of Compression Ridge). Then Compression Ridge stretches out before you, and it isn't short! Some parts of the ridge did indeed have optional difficult sections which were fun, but we were both too tired to do the really rotten and narrow ridge section which I imagine must be the crux. Some of the rock is good quality, and the large window was pretty cool (Harvey scrambled inside it - I was too pooched to try it). Then light rains and thunder started, which made us hurry down a scree slope to Prairie Creek. Various trails and clearings pulled us away from the creek (our route back to the van), but eventually we made our way back and stuck with the creek. As darkness approached our progress was slowed by a herd of cattle who refused to move off the trail, so we detoured into the woods. Then we met and chatted with two very friendly cowboys at their camp. I think they thought we were as curious a sight as we them! They offered us coffee, but because we were thoroughly pooched by then we declined, and made it back to the van before dark. High fives and hugs were in order for surving this baby! It was a good day out with Harvey, but I sure wouldn't recommend this particular scramble. We both vowed to never return to Nihahi or Compression ever again! (Wow, no bears though!) |
| Kindersley/Sinclair Pass(Kootenary National Park) - hike | |
attempt |
Jul 09 |
There was a bear warning posted at the trailhead, but I thought, what the heck! When I got to the alpine meadow area I started seeing quite a few fresh bear diggings. In response, my 'Hey Bear!' callings increased in frequency. Then I saw a grizzly up trail about 250m from me, energetically digging. I watched it for about half an hour, marveling at how big and strong it was, happy that it was unconcerned with my presence and that I was at a relatively safe distance. I watched it to see if it would move on so I could continue my hike, but no luck. Kind of a cool experience, though! |
| Lake of the Hanging Glacier (Lake of the Hanging Glacier Recreation Area - 50km W of Radium, BC )- hike | |
6.5 hrs |
Jul 09 |
Wow!! I'm glad I met a guy who told me about this hidden gem. The hardest part of this hike is the last 10km of the access road, but this turned out to be fun in our 4WD van (no harder than many NZ access roads, that's for sure!) The trail is moderately easy, scenic and and 'well benched'. And you spend a good chunk of your time hiking right beside very energetic waterfalls. Eventually you hit an alpine meadow (pretty with wildflowers, camping allowed). Then the biggest wow - the lake with glaciers hanging off the surrounding peaks, with another glacier flowing right down to the lake. There are chunks of broken off glacier floating around the milky blue turquoise lake, similar to Berg Lake. And I had it all to myself. Bwah ha ha! Lake Louise, eat your heart out! Oh yes, there is a drive in campground about 10km away, but you can just camp in the parking lot like I did. A good description of how to make your way on the logging road is in "Camp for Free in BC". |
| Rowe Lakes/Lineham Ridge (Waterton)- hike | / |
7 hrs (fast pace on return) |
Jul 09 |
About 10 minutes into this hike you are treated to a gorgeous little waterfall over red rock. I have never seen so many wildflowers on a hike before! The hike eventually leads you into a lush green huge bowl/meadow, then up to the ridge you go with bighorn sheep en route. Because here it is all open the views just keep getting better and better - the highlight is looking across to see Rowe Lakes perched across the valley. Wow! Skip the side trips to the lakes - its better to use your time & energy to enjoy the views on the ridge instead. A bear checked me out on the way back but thankfully showed no interest. Whew again! |
| Akamina Ridge (Waterton)- hike /scramble | / |
6 hrs (from campsite) |
Jul 09 |
Fantastic views down into Wall and Forum Lakes, then even better views into Glacier Park in Montana. Pretty waterfall en route before Forum Lake. The ridgewalk is nice and long so you can really take in those views! A wee bit of fun scrambling on the ridge. The nearby campground in Akamina PP is convenient and cheap, but the bear and other campground inhabitants detracted from the experience somewhat. |
| Mt. Yukness (Lake O'Hara) - scramble (attempt) |  |
incomplete |
Jul 09 |
Got to a point with snow on steep slopes and no ice axe. It seemed foolhardy to continue, so I gave up and went home. Free camping in Yoho was fun though! |
| Iceline (Yoho)- hike | |
6 hrs (incomplete) |
Jul 09 |
One of the best day hikes ever! Rainbows! Glaciers! Picturesque tarns! Awesome views! Make sure you go to at least the Celeste Lake Connector where its so beautiful its painful to leave. |
| Nigel Meadows via Sherbrooke Lake (Yoho)- hike with Tim | |
7? hrs |
Jul 09 |
Energetic waterfalls, good views, good workout, lovely meadows. A good first hike of the season! |
| Mt. Lorette - scramble | |
9 hrs |
Oct 08 | A very good scramble considering the lateness of the season and the snow in the mountains. The river crossing was cold! and left me numb for a while, but I was able to find the trails after some minor bushwacking. The ridge scrambling was fun (good rock, not much snow), with good views at the summit. Unfortunately I tried to descend the wrong gully, so I returned to a different spot at the river as it was getting dark. Sadly, I left my running shoes behind on the far side of the river, but I retrieved them later in the week after climbing at Wasootch with Tim.:^) Bummer!! - I think scrambling season is over. :^( |
| Mt. Remus - scramble | / |
8.5 hrs |
Oct 08 |
A solidly enjoyable scramble on a gorgeous fall day. Dow Williams' description and pics helped immensely. Most of the ascent was not too steep and the scree descent was enjoyable and fast. I hesitated at the chimney, wishing I had someone to spot me, then finally made it up! Back at the river, I came out exactly where I left my bike - hee haw!! Thanks for showing me how to use a compass, Tim! (those things are handy :^) |
| Jumpingpound Ridge- mountain biking (with Graciela) |
|
5 hrs ? 23 km |
Oct 08 |
Great views, and a beautiful day, but I am neither in good shape for mountain biking nor very skilled! This would be a great trip if I could improve in these two areas! Nevertheless, the ridge riding and parts of the descent were fun. Thanks for being patient with me, Graciela! |
| Citadel Pass - hike (with Tim) pics later |
/ |
8 hrs |
Sept 08 |
One of the most relaxing hikes we've ever done. Howard Douglas Lake is hypnotic.The scenery is mellow with rolling meadows, rather than dramatic with rugged peaks. It would well be worth a return trip to camp here (especially on the way to Assiniboine).Or, return during wildflower season, or bring non-hiker guests here for a taste of the mountains. (Make sure you catch the earliest bus in to allow for a relaxing day.) |
| Panorama Ridge - scramble |
/ |
7 hrs |
Sept 08 |
I got a very late start and botched a shortcut, so I only made it to the top of the ridge rather than along it. Good views and a good workout made it a worthwhile trip though. |
| Larach Valley->Sentinel Pass->Giant Steps->Paradise Valley - hike (with Tim, Enrique and Graciela) |
/ |
10 hrs? |
Sept 08 |
Awesome day. We started at Moraine Lake and ended at Paradise Creek trailhead hiking approx 25km. Sentinel Pass, the descent into Paradise Valley, the Giant Steps and Lake Annette were all absolutely gorgeous with the recent fresh snow and golden larches. With the exception of Lake Annette, I found most of the hike thru Paradise Valley to be a bit of boring slog through the trees though. |
| Sherbrooke Lake/Niles Meadows - hike (with Harvey and Carol) |
/ |
Sept 08 |
Striking meadows, waterfalls, lakes and glaciers. Sigh! Unfortunately, we had rain and low cloud all day and the trail was quite muddy. When we reached the meadows, what we could see through the cloud looked exceptional - inspiring Carol and I to yodel . A return trip next year is a must!!! (There's a scramble too - Niles? - consider camping 'cause the walk in is long.) |
|
| Bow Peak -hike/scramble (with Tim, Hiromi, Harvey, Carol, Grant, Janet, Dave & Edna (CORE)) |
/ |
Aug 08 |
Exceptional and interesting views! Invigorating river crossing (brrr). Good company. Tim kindly taking care of the women folk so I could summit. Finding the start of this trail is a bit of a challenge though - check the newer edition of DWYTITCR and look for the flagging. |
|
| Caldron Lake - hike (with Tim) |
|
8 hrs |
Aug 08 |
Fantastic views! Glaciers and waterfalls galore. Fun river crossing. Interesting route finding.Caldron Lake is simply stunning. Must go back and camp next year in order to scramble Mistaya!!! |
| Big Elbow/Little Elbow Loop - mountain biking (with Tim) |
/ |
10 hrs? 45km? |
July 08 |
We did this "easy" loop in the counter clockwise direction. Some very steep and rocky sections on this route made us wonder about the easy ranking! Tim is much more skilled than I am on these steep descents. The section after Tombstone pass was very enjoyable - with slight downhill and fun terrain. My bike broke down 10km from the end, so we ended up finishing in the dark - ah vell. |
| East Coast Trail - Sections of the trail south of St. John's Newfoundland -hikes (with Tim) pics coming... |
|
5 days |
July 08 |
The Spout is one of the best day hikes we've ever done, with fog, rainbows, sea stacks, whales, gorgeously rugged coastal scenery, and the fun spout itself. Other day hikes included beaches, green rolling hills, friendly Newfoundlanders and a small iceburg. Intriguing accents too! |
| Wapta - scramble (with Harvey, Willis, Enrique and Graciela) |
/ |
11 hrs |
Aug 08 |
Awesome - Getting *up* the crux without slipping or too much hyperventillating. Rapelling down the crux with Enrique belaying. Wicked views. Good company. Surviving another Smuts-difficult level scramble. Cons: A *very* long day and knowing I couldn't have done this one on my own. |
| Dolomite - scramble | |
8 hrs |
Aug 08 |
Great views, some interesting navigational challenges, and a beautiful day. Best done alone due to lots of loose rock in narrow gullies. |
| Big Elbow Trail (partial)- mountain biking (with Tim) |
|
22 km? |
July 08 |
The stretch up to the Big Elbow campground (nice campground btw) is a great route for beginner bikers like Tim and myself. The stream crossings were fun. Good outing! |
| Holy Cross -scramble (with Harvey, Jill and Willis) |
/ |
June 08 |
Pros - Some very fun-scary difficult scrambly sections. Good company. Cons - A *very* long approach and a long day. | |
| Lake O'Hara - x-country ski day trip (with Tim) |
/ |
W 08 | Great views, a good workout and some solidly fun downhill stretches. But being politely denied entry into Lake O'Hara Lodge to buy a coffee to warm up somewhat soured the trip for us. | |
| Paradise Valley - x-country ski day trip (with Tim, Harvey & Isabelle) |
|
W 08 | Despite an initially steep and icy ascent which made us think twice, this was an awesome trip! Gorgeous views in Paradise Valley. Great weather. Slightly out of control narrow and twisty descent - I fell a lot! By far, the most fun we've ever had on x-country skis!! Thanks Harvey! | |
| Enough of Engadine - scramble (with Tim) |
|
8 hrs (incomplete) |
Sept 07 |
Tim navigated us during a 2 hr bushwhack to *exactly* where we were supposed to be and *exactly* back to our starting point at the bridge. Wow, this guy is good! Unfortunately, we were tired from the long and steep bushwhack and the strong & cold winds. We stopped shortly after the start of the difficult part of the ridge, which is a shame 'cause I think that's the most fun part. Oh well! Nice views, but I'm not sure if this one is worth the effort! |
| Mt. Bourgeau -hike/scramble |
/ |
8 hrs |
Sept 07 |
Best view of the season, and certainly one of the best I've ever experinced. Mt. Ball, Assiniboine, Mt. Brett, and a sea of peaks - wow! The tarns, Mt. Harvey, and Harvey Pass are also awesome - you won't be able to resist lounging in this area on a sunny day. Unfortunately, the 7.7km return from Bourgeau Lake is, yet again, a bit hard on the knees, otherwise this one would get a rating. |
| Highwood Ridge North - hike (with Tim) |
|
5 hrs |
Sept 07 |
Tim and I had a relaxing hike to the north end of the ridge in the Highwood Pass area. Awesome views south because of the recent snowfall. Some great scree skiing on descent. Gorgeous weather, but quite chilly. Winter is coming - argh! |
| Mt. Kidd South Peak -scramble (with Harvey) |
/ |
8 hrs |
Aug 07 |
A good scramble considering the late start and iffy weather. Harvey and I drove out to Yoho with the intention of scrambling Wapta, but then it started to rain. We didn't have the book or other maps, so we kinda guessed our way up this one. Interesting views at the summit and a good workout, but not really worth repeating. |
| Wapta Mountain - scramble (incomplete) | / |
incomplete |
Aug 07 |
Ah, went the wrong way twice and scraped up my nose after a slip in the mud. Views of Takaka Falls and Emerald Glacier are gorgeous. Finally found the "obvious watercourse" - the key to this baby - so I'll be back!!! |
| Mt. Field - scramble | / |
5.75 hrs (fast pace due to late start and rain) |
Aug 07 |
Overall, a good trip considering my late start and the rain. Short, easy scramble in a beautiful area. Great views of Mt. Stephen, Wapta, and Emerald Lake (which I think would be awesome on a sunny day). Saw an elk with *huge* antlers! The 8km Burgess Pass approach trail is maddeningly long (with too easy a grade). Uninspiring scramble; got caught in the rain on the way back. |
| Mt Bosworth - scramble (with Harvey) |
/ |
8.25 hrs |
Aug 07 |
Most enjoyable scramble of the season so far. Minimal bushwacking, good views, nice section of scree skiing. Difficult 30m section near summit wasn't too scary, and was, in fact, enjoyable. Good company. About the only negative is that there are *many* gullies that you traverse, keeping you wondering where the heck the summit actually *is* (kinda like Mt. Shark but sideways). Worth doing again. |
| Wasootch (GR334455) a la Harvey & Willis |
|
4 hrs |
Aug 07 |
A short, easy, scramble with an excellent approach trail. Some great firm rock to play around on near the peak, and some good scree on descent. Too bad forest fires obscured the views and made it hard to breathe - otherwise it would have been fun to explore the area a bit more. |
| Mt. Storelk -scramble (with Harvey) |
/ |
9 hrs |
Aug 07 |
Storelk is a good choice if you want the challenge of figuring out a difficult scramble. Overall, though, I didn't really care for this one. Awesome views of the Highwood Pass and Kananaskis Lakes areas. Bushwacking and mosquitos not as bad as I expected. Met Vern and Raff from the RMB forum who set a cracking pace on the way out. Harvey was great company, and the bear did not attack us. Met a young grizzly at the col who ambled towards us curiously for a while. Route finding difficult terrain on the way up (past the col) was a bit tricky (harder on the descent), and I had trouble with a downsloping/loose rock section during the descent. |
| Helen Lake/Cirque Peak (with Tim, Enrique, Graciela, Dagmar, Damon, Karen, Michael, Bo, Joe, John, Kim,Coral. Flor, Rodrigo, + 2 dogs -" beginners hike/scramble") |
|
8.5 hrs |
Aug 07 |
Awesome turnout, with 2 beginners making it to the summit of Cirque Peak. Gorgeous views, especially with the recent dusting of snow on the Icefields Parkway. Top pick for a beginner's hike/intro to scrambling. |
| Nihahi Ridge - scramble (incomplete) |
|
6 hrs (incomplete) |
Aug 07 |
6 hours is about the right amount of time to spend doing a partial scramble of this ridge (just before the monotony gets to you) . OK once if short on time, or as an intro for beginners. |
| Mt. Warspite - scramble |
/ |
9 hrs |
Aug 07 |
Meadows and wildflowers similar to Burstall Pass. Pretty lakes, good trail most of the way, and a nice waterfall to boot. One fun mod-difficult chimney. Nice views. Good scree on descent.The *worst* peak I've ever encountered for dangerous, loose rock. Rather unenjoyable ascent to the col. |
| Mt. Wilcox - scramble |
|
5.25 hrs (relaxed) |
July 07 |
Scrambling in the Icefields Parkway when its 30'C in Calgary and Kananaskis is good (because its so much cooler there). But the nearly 4 hr drive to the trailhead of Wilcox Pass was not. Good views (but those from Cirque and Observation Peak are better), some enjoyable ridge scrambling with good rock, pleasant grassy surroundings/easy descent, lots of bighorn sheep. It was a nice, short easy-moderate scramble. Worth redoing if in the area - otherwise the drive is just too long. |
| Castle Mountain - scramble | |
8.5 hrs uber speed for me due to a very late start + mosquitos |
July 07 |
The painful 8km run back from the lake to the car (chased by mosquitos again!) at the end of a long 28km day, resulted in my downgrading this easy scramble from a to a . The first lake is pretty - stop here for lunch. Views near the summit reminded me of Yam (with straight drop offs); the long approach above the lake reminded me a bit of Mt. Owen. Lots of sweet, wide mini waterfalls, great views,+ nice, firm limestone rock which made this part particularly enjoyable. Couldn't find the shortcut scree descent, but perhaps it was still covered in snow. Saw 2 hoary marmots, and a bear from afar. Worth doing again... maybe (in that case, allow at least 2 more hrs, bring mosquito netting, an extra set of knees and a lot of patience;^). |
| Mt. Norquay - scramble (incomplete) | |
incomplete |
July 07 |
At the top of the ski lift I was flummoxed. The wall sounded too hard, so I tried various routes to the left. Found a fair one, then saw an animal peering out at me from its lair (smaller than a bear, but bigger than a pika!). Call me timid, but it put me off that particular route! I then tried a route to the right. While doing so, I heard rockfall from a party descending the wall and was happy I didn't go that way. Found a way I thought I could go up, but I wasn't sure if I could get down. So I thought I'd call it a day - returned to the top of ski lift, had lunch, descended the steep ski run, got devoured by mosquitos on my way to the car, and drove as fast as I could down the road. |
| Observation Peak - scramble | |
5.75 hrs |
July 07 |
A very 'nice' scramble on a beautiful day. Easy scramble with a few moderate bits. Great views. Nice scree on descent (an easy descent for a change!). Short, easy approach. Can be done quickly if pressed for time. Not sure if its worth 6 hrs driving time for a 6 hr scramble tho'! |
| Tombstone South - scramble | |
9.5 hrs |
July 07 |
Fantastic views, some great ridge scrambling, some glissable snow in gully.Tricky snow at bypass traverse, rather painful descent. Note - a suspiciously good trail leads to the start and end, eliminating all bushwacking. For the start, walk about 10 minutes longer than you think you should - a cairned (and pink flagged) trail will be found on the left (go left at the T). At the end, look left at the end of the gully for the same magnificent trail which leads you back in a rather roundabout way to the main trail. Bob Spirko has great info on this scramble. |
Opal Ridge North Peak - scramble |
|
8.5 hrs |
July 07 |
Mod. early season scramble. Great views from the summit ridge. Some route finding required; mod. painful descent. Entire ridge looked too long for our liking. OK, but not worth repeating. |
| Vermilion Peak - scramble (with Tim) |
|
7.5 hrs |
late Sept 06 |
A very enjoyable shoulder season scramble. Mostly a hike, until you get to the ridge (which is narrow and fun). Decent views, and surprisingly enough, no snow! |
| Mt. Smuts - scary scramble (with Tim, Enrique & Graciela, Chester & Marta) |
|
13 hrs |
Aug 06 |
Uber hard. Many difficult sections. Bring a helmet, rope (and someone who knows how to use it), headlamp, and a good stiff drink to calm your nerves. |
| Mt. Carnarvon - scramble (with Tim) |
|
12.5 hrs | Aug 06 |
Best scramble of the season. Great rock. Great views. Fun scrambling. We took the gully route to the summit, making it a moderate scramble overall. I'd love to do this one again with more time available for playing. Negatives - the switchbacks that seem to go on forever, and a *very* long day. |
| Alpine Club General Mountaineering Camp, Week 6 - climbs & scrambles (with Tim) |
|
1 week | Aug 06 |
|
| Storm Mountain -scramble (with Enrique and Graciela) |
|
9 hrs |
July 06 |
The 'detour' we took turned this from a moderate into a hard, non-fun scramble. Pros: Good approach trail, wildflowers, reasonably nice views, lovely waterfall on descent. Cons: lots of hungry blackflies and mosquitos, too much loose rock and scree, and an unenjoyable shortcut descent. Without the detour, you could probably return in 6 hrs. Helmets absolutely manditory if you must do this one. |
| Mt. Burstall -scramble | |
5 hrs |
July 06 |
Mid-July was too early this year for this scramble, with the traverse across to the saddle more difficult that the crux due to snow. (Having an ice axe and crampons would have made it significantly safer!) The crux was disappointingly easy, and the fun scrambling section was too short.Nice view of Robertson and French glaciers, but to be honest, the views at Burstall Pass are better. Lots of loose rock and scree. Since bears frequently the area, its hard to relax. Scree run down is quite good, however. Wear a helmet (even if no one else is around) for the traverse up to the col. |
| Eiffel Peak - scramble (with Tim, Mary, Ray, Liam, Enrique and Graciela) |
|
7.5 hrs? |
July 06 |
Very nice views. Negatives - scramble not that enjoyable, and you must hike in a group of six. Helmets a must. |
| Cirque Peak - scramble (with Tim, Joy & Rod) |
|
7.5 hrs (relaxed) |
July 06 |
Stunning scenery. Essentially a hike. One of the best views I've experienced for the amount of effort. Long drive, but highly recommended! |
| Burstall Pass -hike (with Tim, Karen & Michael, Dagmar & Damon) |
|
(very relaxed including nap time!) | July 06 |
One of my favourite day hikes. Gorgeous scenery. Bring bug spray and sandals if you don't like to get your feet wet. |
| Mt. Indefatigable (again) -scramble (with Tim) |
|
July 06 |
Fun ridge scrambling, lovely wildflowers, interesting people to meet on the hiking part of the trail. Negatives - lots of mosquitos and a thunderstorm. I think this one is best done in the fall (if you can find a time when the trail isn't closed due to bears, that is!). | |
| Mt Baldy (3 peaks) -scramble | |
4.45 hrs |
June 06 |
Great scramble when short on time. Route to the first peak very straightforward and popular. Tricky parts are downclimbing from the north (1st) peak heading to centre peak, and the descent of the west (3rd) peak. |
| Mt. Edith (3 peaks) -scramble | |
7.75 hrs (moving quickly!) |
June 06 |
Long, steep approach (~6km), technical parts rather easy. Finding the correct route between peaks and up to the 3rd summit a bit tricky. The tunnel and 'gap' are interesting, but not difficult. Bring a helmet if others are about. |
| Mt. Whymper -scramble (with Mary and Liam) |
|
7 hrs |
June 06 |
Gorgeous summit views, fun optional scrambling at the first cliff band, and easy access. Descent a bit like Grizzly though (hard on the feet). |
| Squaw's Tit -scramble (with Tim) |
|
9.25 hrs |
June 06 |
Great ridge scrambling, some very good scree skiing down to a lovely creek, odd registry entries, odd Harvey Heights inhabitants. It is surprisingly easy to get up onto the 'nipple'! Negatives - light bushwacking and a long day. |
| Black Rock Mt. -hike (with Tim, Mary, Ray and Barrie) |
|
May 06 |
A fun early season hike. Varied. Great views of Devil's Tongue. Cool fire lookout. Trailhead a bit hard to find. | |
| Mt. Grotto (again) - scramble | |
7 hrs |
May 06 |
Steep, lots of elevation gain (1400m), fun but easy ridge walk, good early season workout. Keep right until the trail descends steeply right (about 20 minutes) at the trail marker. |
| Gap Peak (near Fable) -scramble (with Tim) |
|
Incomplete |
May 06 |
Lots of bushwacking and scree, we turned around just after the false summit due to a late start. Willis claims the ridge is fun, however. |
| Mt. Lady MacDonald -scramble | |
May 06 |
Finally did the knife edge ridge. (Its a rite of passage I guess.) Good early season scramble. Watch out for ticks! | |
| Thailand (Patong Beach, Phuket) - holiday (with Tim) |
|
1 week |
April 06 |
We stayed at the Patong Resort which has a swimming pool, awesome buffet breakfast, and gorgeous lobby. Live like the other half for $30/night. |
| New Zealand (with Tim) |
|
3 months |
Jan-Mar 05/06 |
We bought a used van and drove around the South Island to various tramping destinations while living out of our van. Awesome. |
| Cambodia (with Tim) |
|
2 weeks |
Dec 05 |
Head here if you want to feel guilty, depressed and anxious. |
| Singapore (with Tim) |
|
3 weeks |
Dec 05 |
Great place for shopping for clothes, or to get over jet lag or culture shock. The Botanical Gardens and Night Safari are worth seeing. Very clean and safe, lots of good cheap food, but a bit boring and very hot. |
| Mt. Cory, south peak - scramble | |
7.75 hrs |
Oct 05 |
The ridge is interesting, but this scramble is a lot of work (1400m) and not very technically challenging. Great for late season. Snowshoes not needed, but gaitors manditory (this time of year). |
| Pocaterra Ridge (again) (with Chester, Marta, Willis,Lisa and Derek) |
|
Oct 05 |
Gorgeous views. Easy ridgewalk. Awesome in the fall when the larches are yellow. Snowshoes were great to have. | |
| Paget Peak -scramble | |
5.25hrs |
Oct 05 |
Excellent beginner's hike/late season easy scramble. Great views. |
| Tryst Lake /Tent Ridge | |
Oct 05 |
Excellent beginner's hike to the lake. Awesome views from Tent Ridge. | |
| Smut's Pass | |
incomplete |
Oct 05 |
Moderate beginner's hike to lovely Commonwealth Creek. Great views. Mt. Smuts (scramble) and Smut's Pass->Burstall Pass are on my todo list. Bring snowshoes next time if this late in the season. |
| Mount Indefatigable (N->S traverse) -scramble (with Willis) |
|
7 hrs |
Sept 05 |
Awesome views, awesome ridge walk. Well worth repeating. |
| The Fist - scramble (with Harvey and Willis) |
|
7 hrs |
Sept 05 |
Very enjoyable scrambling, great views. |
| Gap Mountain -scramble | |
5.5 hrs |
Aug 05 |
Fantastic views, fun ridge scrambling, emotionally challenging crux. Not enough of a workout tho'. |
| Mt. Arethusa -scramble | |
6.5 hrs? |
Aug 05 |
Great ridge scrambling, nice views. Short and sweet. I did not take Kane's shortcut down, however. |
| Pigeon Mt. (again) -hike | |
4 hrs |
Nov 04 |
A great shoulder season hike. Trail running is good too. Watch out for hunters in the fall. |
| Heart Mt. Horseshoe -scramble (again) | |
4.5 hrs |
Nov 04 |
Goodish shoulder season hike with a bit of scrambling. Best to do in cool weather. |
| Eagle Ridge/Nameless Ridge ->Mist Mountain Hot Spring (with Tim) |
|
7 hrs |
Oct 04 |
The hike was fine, and it was fun to skinny dip in the hotsprings with Tim. :^) The hot spring is only warm, not hot, though. |
| Mt. Rae -scramble | |
6 hrs |
Oct 04 |
Great ridge scrambling, great views, but very very windy with lots of loose rock. |
| King Creek Ridge | |
4 hrs |
Oct 04 |
Better than Grizzly Peak but similar. |
| Mt. Shark -scramble (with Tim) |
|
10 hrs |
Oct 04 |
Fun ridge walk, nice views. Finding the trail/bushwacking not so enjoyable. |
| Monarch Ramparts -hike (with Tim) |
|
10 hrs |
Sept 04 |
Great views (larches - oooh ahh ;^) First 5.8 km thru the trees are boring. |
| Mt. Lawrence Grassi -scramble | |
5.5 hrs |
Sept 04 |
Its OK, but not worth repeating. Similar to Chinaman's in some ways. |
| Wind Tower - hike (with Jenn) |
|
6.5 hrs |
Sept 04 |
A hike with nice views. Its very windy up there though! |
| Odaray Grandview Trail - Lake O'Hara - Yoho National Park - hike (with Tim) |
|
Sept 04 |
Stunning scenery. Its too bad you have to book the bus and campsite so far in advance. | |
| Lake Oesa and Yuckness Ledge - Lake O'Hara NP (with Tim) |
|
Sept 04 |
As above. Wow. (Tip -if you book into one of the Alpine Club huts they will save you a spot on the bus.) | |
| The Wedge -scramble | |
5.5 hrs |
Aug 04 |
Lots of rotton rock and pebbles on flat rock, but challenging and fun ridge scrambling. |
| Berg Lake - Mt. Robson PP - hike (with Tim) |
|
5 days |
Aug 04 |
There are more stunning glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, peaks, raging rivers and pleasant forest walks within a relatively short distance than I've ever seen before. Wow! Go there! Berg Lake , Snowbird Pass |
| Skyline Trail - Jasper NP - backpacking (with Tim) | |
3 days |
Aug 04 |
Rained the whole trip. Best part is up to the Notch and along the ridge (probably worth repeating in good weather). |
| Egypt Lake - Banff NP -backpacking (with Tim) | |
3 days |
July 04 |
Wildflowers at Healy Pass looked spectacular. Day hike to the lakes very enjoyable. |
| Cascade Amphitheatre | |
incomplete |
July 04 |
Start at ski area confusing and yucky. Don't do this one. |
| Borgeau Lake -hike (with Tim) |
|
7.5 hrs? |
July 04 |
Awesome views if you go past the lake to the pass. Longish tho'. |
| Forks and Turbine Canyon - backpack | |
3 days |
July 04 |
Forks is a busy campsite, but if you head to the north end you might be able to find some solitude. The view into Height of the Rockies PP from Turbine Canyon is gorgeous, but people often seem to get lost there... |
| Belgium Lake (Banff NP) -backpack (with Old Goats Rick, Christine and Manfred) |
|
4 days |
July 04 |
Mixed bag... lots of mosquitos, lots of bushwacking, lots of rain,. However the area is gorgeous, and we did an enjoyable scramble. Those 'Old Goats' are hard to keep up with! |
| Mt. Baldy (1st peak) -scramble (with Chester, Marta, Willis, other CORE folks) |
|
June 04 |
A worthwhile early season conditioner. | |
| Heaphy Track -backpack (with Tim) |
|
2 days |
March 04 |
We hiked the last day (the best part) of the Heaphy Track along the west coast. Awesome views, nice hut, and an excellent warmup for backpacking. Since the Heaphy is Great Walk, you must book the hut. Highly recommended!! |
| NZ Part I -trip (with Tim) |
|
March 04 |
Imposing on Richard in Christchurch, getting oriented, buying a car, doing too much driving on the South Island of NZ. | |
| Avalanche Peak (NZ) - hike (with Richard and Tim) |
|
March 04 |
Gorgeous scenery and fun. A must-do day hike in Arthur's Pass, NZ, when the weather is good. | |
Cook Islands - trip |
|
14 days |
March 04 |
Safe, relaxing, beautiful, but a bit expensive. 2 weeks is just about right... otherwise boredom would set in. Cross Island Trek is worth doing, then take the bus back. Bring your own canned goods! |
| Tent Ridge (again) - hike (with Tim and Marko) |
|
6.5 hrs |
Oct 03 |
A very enjoyable hike best done in the Fall for the best views. A bit of route finding is required. Definitely worth repeating. |
| Mt. Temple (again) - scramble (with Bob and Cam) |
|
8.75 hrs (fast pace) |
Oct 03 |
Stunning views when the sky is clear as it was that day. Helmets a must due to the loose rock and popularity of this scramble. Cons: must hike in a group of 6, long day, crowded. |
| EEOR (again) - scramble | |
5 hrs |
Oct 03 |
An enjoyable short scramble. |
| Mt. Assiniboine - trip/hikes |
|
4 days |
Sept 03 |
Awesome place to spend a few days in the Fall when the larches are at their peak. Flying in most of your gear (as we did) makes the long hike in much less onerous and is highly recommended. We stayed at one of the huts. This was a lot cheaper than the lodge but its still a bit pricey for what you get. Day 1 - Hike in to Mt. Assiniboine from Mt. Shark in Kananaskis via Assiniboine Pass - 25 km, 6.5hrs Day 2 - Awesome day hike - Nublet, Elizabeth Lake, Cerulean Lake Day 3 - Another great day hike - Windy Ridge Day 4 - Hike out via Wonder Pass - 7.5 hrs |
| Camino de Santiago -trip/backpack | |
May 03 |
Awesome trip!! I wish I could walk the camino again. |
oddly enough, there's lots of pics from older hikes & scrambles, but I haven't had time to put them into the new format... here's one for now of Mt. Chester....