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Tag : LT1500

Lineham Creek Peaks

I recognize that going out solo on a relatively remote set of objectives on a pair of bum knees is not the smartest decision I’ve made this year. Of course, it all worked out in the end but that doesn’t make the decision a good one. But like I wrote earlier, not every decision is going to be perfect and in the end I had a great last day in warm sunshine on some fun, relatively easy objectives. I have zero interest in slogging through snowy terrain on slick rubble so I knew that this would very likely be my last scramble for many months. I highly recommend this outing for anyone looking for a quick trip with great views and some fun scrambling and route finding.

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Highwood Range / Scramble / Trip Report 2

Sundown Peak (Little Fatigue)

I HIGHLY recommend this outing during larch season as both a fairly easy summit and a wonderful “larch march” with very few humans to bother you along the way. Sure! It’s a bit of work to attain, but it’s worth every bit of effort. Energetic folks can even combine it with other peaks or check out the lovely lakes nearby.

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Bike / North Assiniboine Crest / Scramble / Trip Report 0

McCrae, Mount (+ UN2647, UN2731)

I really can’t say enough good things about the Mount McCrae / Loomis Lake outing. I highly recommend this for any Rockies adventure seeker who likes reasonable (but still rough) bike approaches, wonderful hiking trails through larch forest and sublime backcountry lake scenery. The hiking and scrambling along this route is excellent – on trails from the parking area all the way to the headwall. Bring your fishing rod and tent for added fun. This is a little slice of heaven along the Great Divide that any (responsible) backcountry user should experience at least once. I know that I will be back some day to enjoy the peace a little longer.

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Bike / Elk Range / Hike / Scramble / Trip Report 4

Castle Mountain (Banff)

Despite this being a backup peak with limited views thanks to smoky skies, I really enjoyed the true summit of Castle Mountain. I’m also not sad that it took me 3 trips to finally get it – the area is quite beautiful and it’s never a bad thing to experience beauty more than once.

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Sawback Range / Scramble / Trip Report 1

Beatty, Mount (+ Bump & Razor Flakes)

“Oof that’s an awful one, you’ll love it” was Devan’s response to me telling him I was planning to ascend Mount Beatty on August 14th 2025. With those inspiring words, what choice did I have? For some reason I am attracted to these off-the-grid, rarely ascended, manky summits. I’m glad I never have to go back, but I’m also glad that I did it. Does any of that make sense? I doubt it, but then again does it have to? Thankfully not.

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Bike / Hike / Scramble / Spray Mountains / Trip Report 3

Ex Coelis, (Rhine, Elbe) – “Kadoona”

As I hiked the boardwalk and bridge back to the parking lot I meditated on my Ex Coelis adventures. I was stoked to have completed the two most difficult summits in the group and even more stoked that I found a reasonable route to combine them into one trip instead of two. I was happy that apparently I can still manage difficult scrambles while enjoying myself (for the most part). As I get older I’m not always in the mood to navigate risky terrain but I do enjoy sneaky routes that challenge my mountain skills. When an interesting route combines with a scenic approach like these two did, it makes me smile for a few days afterwards and lets me know that there are still a few years of scrambling left in my future.

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Ram Range / Rockies / Scramble / Trip Report 3

Frankie, Larry & North Castle Peak

Two grizzly sightings, potentially a wolf sighting, a huge ram and a gaggle of sheep along with dozens of wildflowers and great views of Castle Peak from some diminutive summits in the Castle area made for a great spring outing. Just don’t expect zero deadfall and bushwhacking and you won’t be disappointed.

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Bike / Clark Range / Rockies / Scramble / Trip Report 2

Nosecone Peak

Nosecone Peak reminded us of similar shaped mountains including Ramp and Quartzite Peak. With an unbroken, 900 meter ski descent right off the summit, this relatively easy ski objective should be on every Alberta ski mountaineers list of spring objectives. I’m sure I’d be back sooner than later if it didn’t mean a wake-up time of 03:00 to do it safely!

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Ski / South Jasper Range / Trip Report 2

Ogden Bench (Knob) Ski Tour

Wietse and I tackle a less-than-ideal Sherbrooke Lake skin track to try the infamous Ogden Benches ski tour for the first time.

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Ski / Trip Report / Waputik Range 1

Bennett Peak & Mount Ashman

As we made the long drive back home Wietse and I agreed that this little outing was much nicer than either of us was expecting. The larch forests near Bennett Pass and along Ashman Ridge were unexpected and in prime condition and the dramatic scenery over North Kintla Creek was a perfect way to spend such a perfect fall day in the hills.

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Bike / Clark Range / Hike / Rockies / Scramble / Trip Report 1

Guinn’s Peak

There isn’t much to say about Guinn’s Peak. For a simple hike with some great Kananaskis views and a short drive from YYC, it’s one of those peaks that is perfect for either a family hike or one of those days when everything bigger feels like a suboptimal idea.

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Hike / Spray Mountains / Trip Report 0

Mercer, Mount

I loved this trip and highly recommend it for experienced scramblers looking for a rarely ascended mountain with stunning views and an engaging route. It’s not often that one can nab a 3rd ascent in 30 years via a major trail network and minimal bushwhacking in a 10-hour day. It’s even less common that the route is as fun and hands-on as this one, despite looking impossible from every angle.

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Bike / Hike / Scramble / Sundance Range / Trip Report 2

Marpole, Mount (+ CarMar)

Way back in 1977, the Alpine Club of Canada held a family camp in Little Yoho at the Stanley Mitchell Hut from July 30th to August 13. Little did I know (I was only 2 years old at the time), that 47 years later I would intersect with this camp at the lonely, wild summit of Mount Marpole soaring high over Emerald Pass below.

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President Range / Scramble / Trip Report 0

Iceface Peak

This wonderful scramble has a little of everything that most explorers I know, look for in an obscure little peak. It’s off hwy #93 so you know the scenery is going to be stunning. It’s up a wild creek, so there’s water and more scenery. It has glaciers and waterfalls – more scenery! And it includes easy scrambling, gorgeous hiking and it’s a loop so you get to enjoy different landscapes on descent. To top it all off, there’s a sneaky route through impossible cliffs to get you back into the creek. Why the heck wouldn’t you want to do this peak?! Just don’t read Andrew’s report and you’ll be fine. 🙂

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Murchison Group / Scramble / Trip Report 3

Night Rider Peak

After a very long day the day before, we were up and at it again by 06:30 at our improvised camp along Job Creek on Sunday, the first day of September. I wasn’t sure I’d be feeling it this morning, but happily I most certainly was! We slowly got ready and abandoned camp, leaving the tents up to dry while we were gone. This would be our longest side trip at over 15 kms and an unknown route that we weren’t at all sure of. In the end, we couldn’t believe how easy the south ridge turned out to be, considering how it looked on the satellite maps. Views to Cloud Buster and Dark Storm over lush valleys and unnamed tarns were brilliant in the late summer sun and clear blue skies. Winds were light as we enjoyed ourselves immensely.

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First Range / Hike / Scramble / Trip Report 0

Obstruction Mountain

I can’t say enough good things about our ascent of Obstruction Mountain. After years and years of thinking about it, obsessing about it and planning it, we got perfect weather and conditions. There is almost no way to guarantee such a great set of circumstance on a large, remote peak, much less a route that was easy and straightforward. When it takes a minimum of 2 to 3 full days of backpacking and hiking just to access a peak, you never know what you’re going to get once you finally set steps on it. We got perfection, it’s as simple as that. As I always say – I’ve taken the bad luck on many other challenges, so I’ll happily take the good luck on this one!

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First Range / Hike / Scramble / Trip Report 0

Sam Rogers Peak (Horseshoe)

Although there is a far easier line to the summit of Horseshoe Mountain via SE ones from Lightning Lake (Tony and Gillean Daffern’s original ascent line in 1973), I didn’t mind taking a slightly harder one. Sure! I’d be talking a little different if the crux had turned me around, but sometimes completing a planned route with unknown challenges is more rewarding than taking the easiest line. In my case the easier line simply wasn’t part of the itinerary – getting to Lightning Lake is way off our hiking route. The views from Sam Rogers were some of the best of the trip and the only ones that clearly showed Samson, Leah and the steep headwall plunging to an unnamed lake above Job Lake.

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First Range / Hike / Scramble / Trip Report 0

Ribbon Peak (South Horseshoe)

I have zero regrets about ascending Ribbon Peak from Red Pass, even though it would have been nice to have more beta on this moderately complex route beforehand. For a much easier ascent on scree and rubble with no downclimbs, take the same line as Alan and Alistair did via north and west slopes from Samson Lake.

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First Range / Hike / Scramble / Trip Report 0

Quixote Peak

I highly recommend this lofty, well situated and scenic ascent for anyone in the upper Coral Creek area with some time and energy to spare. There is really no scrambling on this mountain, just a long, steep hike for some million dollar views.

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First Range / Hike / Scramble / Trip Report 0

North Highwood Peak (+ Mist Hills)

What a great day this turned out to be! Despite going in with very low expectations of endless rubble slopes, I got trails, flowers, creeks and very pleasant and efficient ascent slabs. Ending the day with a traverse over the Mist Hills only made things even better. A highly recommended outing for scramblers looking for something a little off the beaten trail – but still on a surprising number of them.

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Highwood Range / Scramble / Trip Report 2

Pushover, Mount

What can I say in conclusion about this trip? It had a bit of everything. Disappointment with a cloudy start. Slowly ramping up the positive vibes as the sky cleared and the trail wound its familiar way to a lovely alpine landscape of lakes, rushing streams and acres of colorful wildflowers. Apprehension mixed with excitement as I picked my way up an unfamiliar and unknown route, experiencing all the highs and lows that comes with such adventures. One minute thinking it all looked very reasonable and the next thinking that all was lost. Walking to the summit under a brilliant blue summer sky with views to familiar peaks, lakes and valleys and knowing that once again the Rockies had provided a sneaky, but reasonable scramble route up a challenging peak. A relaxing exit through gorgeous landscapes with a feeling of success. It doesn’t get much better than this my friends, and I am grateful that I still get to experience these moments.

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Alpine Climb / Joffre Group / Scramble / Trip Report 1

Invincible, Mount

I have zero regrets scrambling Mount Invincible from its namesake creek. Sure! There were moderate amounts of bushwhacking and some very steep and exposed slabs, but this is what Rockies scrambling can be all about when you go off the beaten path and focus on more obscure peaks via obscure lines. I would certainly NOT call any part of scrambling this peak “easy” or even “moderate”. You should go in expecting plenty of routefinding to keep things 3rd-class with maybe a touch of 4th-class thrown in to keep you on your toes (literally)!

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Bike / Hike / Scramble / Spray Mountains / Trip Report 0

Forks Peak

Forks Peak had it all in the end. A frustrating start with a soaked trail and fresh snow greeted me. Then an unknown route worked out perfectly, getting me quickly to treeline and the upper south ridge. An intimidating summit was no more than difficult scrambling. Stunning views entertained me almost all day and I got to enjoy a fast bike ride at the end of it all. The best part was the deep solitude that I always seem to enjoy more than expected. This is a highly recommended outing for those looking for obscurity, distinct views and a healthy challenge.

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Bike / Hike / Scramble / Spray Mountains / Trip Report 4

Davidson, Mount

I highly encourage this outing for folks who don’t mind backcountry biking and a sense of adventure. It doesn’t get much better than this, honestly. The riding is MUCH easier than other front range accesses such as the Cutoff Creek / Clearwater River and the Ram River approaches are. I would say this is a perfect test excursion for those other areas. If you love this, you’re ready for the other, even more remote rivers and headwater valleys that the front range Rockies have hidden from the average traveler.

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Ghost Wilderness Area / Rockies / Scramble / Trip Report 0

Spine Peak

This was another wonderful day in the hills, spending time under a brilliant blue sky with incredible views in every direction. I highly recommend this peak as a winter / spring objective with the usual caution that you will be spending a lot of time in avalanche terrain and should come prepared for that. The last two weekends have been a little different than I’m used to, traveling in a much larger group than I normally do and experiencing all the pluses and minuses that this entails. I had a great time meeting new folks with tons of mountain experience and hope to get out with any of them again some day.

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Columbia Icefield / Scramble / Snowshoe / Trip Report 2