Trail to Peak: The Adventurous Path
Hiking, Exploring, Travel & Adventure
Category: Rocky Mountain Hiking
Iceberg lake + Bow Glacier’s Big Toe
We climbed ancient moraines, balancing along their very pointy, lofty, narrow ridge-like tops. We scrambled up steep scree slopes. We accessed heights that from below seemed totally daunting, but up close were simply a grunt. We crossed (and got soakers in) many mountain streams. We hiked through pristine high alpine meadows with no trails, marmots, pikas and fall colours. We revelled in lofty views. We walked along airy ledges. We scrambled a bit through notches in cliff bands. We saw cascade after cascade of icy glacial water. We got above the Bow Glacier to marvel at its wrinkled skin and poked our head into the vast blue depths of its toe (a little like peeking under a toenail!!).
Blustery Bourgeau Peak
Battling the wind up that rocky rubble, we eventually found ourselves standing on a very large, wide peak, with views all around, having climbed 1500m on the 23km trail to get up there… that’s a long hike that includes climbing one and a half kilometres straight up into the sky!
Smutwood Peak
With mountain peaks cresting like waves all around us, picture perfect alpine lakes and wildflower meadows far below us, snow patches for Seamus to roll in, a bit of scramble on rock added in for fun, and moody skies all around, it was both a challenging and a super fun day!
Rae Lake Romp
Wanting to explore a little more of Kananaskis country, we set out for Rae Lake on Canada Day. A busy day in the mountains, July 1st tends to be when Canadians come out in droves to celebrate one of the things they love best… Continue Reading “Rae Lake Romp”
Mist Ridge
Spring has been a long time coming in the mountains around Canmore this year! Rain, snow, rain, snow. Would it ever make up its mind and dry up?!? Finally, a rainless weather forecast with warm temps was upon us, and we had a free… Continue Reading “Mist Ridge”
Snowshoeing the Rummel Lake Trail
I wouldn’t be Canadian, if I didn’t talk about the weather, and it’s some strange weather we’ve been having this winter, that’s for sure. But the neat thing about rapid temperature fluctuations is that you can get some pretty amazing hoar frosts… and if… Continue Reading “Snowshoeing the Rummel Lake Trail”
A Wintry Heli Tour
Bill and I have been married for 25 years now, and we decided to mark that momentous occasion with a special treat: a helicopter tour over the places that we’ve been hiking, snowshoeing, photographing, adventuring, skating, cycling, and picnicking our way through the years.… Continue Reading “A Wintry Heli Tour”
Jura Canyon Playground
Jura Creek Canyon is an amazing place to take young children. The fun part of the first canyon is just minutes away from the trailhead, so even the youngest, smallest feet can make it there. And when you get there… well, let’s just say… Continue Reading “Jura Canyon Playground”
Hiking the Paradise Valley to Sentinel Pass & Moraine Lake
Paradise Valley is a spectacularly beautiful valley, running parallel to the majestic Valley of the Ten Peaks, sharing the slopes of imposing Mount Temple, Pinnacle Mountain and Eiffel Peak. It has a beautiful creek, picturesque Lake Annette (a great day hike destination in and of itself), lots of little wildflower meadows, an impressive rock fall area to explore, lofty heights from which to see the mountains and the valley through which you’re passing, and a gorgeous glacier-filled cirque. Its beauty gets right in to your very core and infects you with a sense of euphoria… so great that you don’t notice the lengthy distance you’re putting in with those dusty hiking boots.
What Goes Up Must Come Down (Abbot Hut Part 5)
We had ambitious plans: survive the descent, snack at Lake Oesa, then head out up and across the Yukness Ledges, come down to Moor Lakes, head back up the All Soul’s route to All Soul’s Prosect and then come back down through the larch forest to Lake O’Hara to catch (hopefully) the 4:30 bus out… followed by burgers at the Lake Louise hostel.
Do you know your ABCs?
Trail to Peak: The Adventurous Path 