Sunday, 25 September 2016

Tent Ridge (Summer)

Hike Name: Tent Ridge
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling
Distance: 10.4 km (RT)
Altitude: 2,535 m
Elevation Gain: 640 m
Area: Kananaskis (Spray Reservoir)
Crew: Zach, Zach, Travis
Time to Summit: 2:00
Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Parking lot on the right side of the road halfway to Mt. Shark Trailhead

Getting There:
Head south on Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40) from the Trans Canada (Hwy 1). Take the turnoff toward the Kananaskis Lakes/Smith-Dorrien. Take the Smith Dorrien and then turn at the Mt. Engadine Lodge turnoff. Continue past the lodge, and up the road. You will come across a parking area on the right.
We ski-toured here in 2018.

Additional Info:
I was lucky enough to catch more larches this season up on tent ridge! There was some snow on the top but not enough for microspikes.. soon... winter is coming!
 The bowl before attaining the ridge

Looking towards the Spray Reservoir 

 Zach and Zach take on winter at 2500m!

 The horseshoe

 Great view of some of these big ol mountains.

Some friends back at the car! A cow moose and her baby.

Sunday, 18 September 2016

Chester Lake

Hike Name: Chester Lake
Activity: Hiking
Distance: ~10 km (RT)
Elevation Gain: 310m
Area: Kananaskis (Spray Reservoir)
Crew: Steph, Jay, Jaimie, Mark
Trailhead: Chester Lake Parking Area

Getting There:
Head south on Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40) from the Transcanada (Hwy 1). Take the turnoff towards the Kananaskis Lakes/Smith Dorrien, then take the Smith Dorrien up to the Chester Lake Parking Area.

Additional Info:
Great spot for larches! That's why we came.


Saturday, 17 September 2016

King Creek Ridge

Hike Name: King Creek Ridge
Activity: Hiking
Distance: 7 km (RT)
Altitude: 2,785 m
Elevation Gain: 700 m
Area: Kananaskis Valley
Crew: Bennett
Time to Summit: 2:00
Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: East side of Hwy 40 where the Smith-Dorrien turnoff is.

Getting There:
Head south on Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40) from the Trans Canada (Hwy 1). Park on the east side of the road where the turnoff to the Smith-Dorrien is.

Additional Info:
This is a short and steep hike! Bennett and I wanted to get another hike in together this summer, and he just finished work and is heading down to Colorado in a week!
Me on top of the ridge 

Best view!

Sunday, 11 September 2016

Patricia Lake

Hike Name: Patricia Lake
Activity: Hiking
Distance: ~10 km (RT)
Elevation Gain: ~400m
Area: Jasper National Park (Town)
Crew: Steph, JJ, Ben
Trailhead: Jasper Town

Getting There:
From main street, turn onto Cedar ave which eventually turns into Pyramid ave. Continue up the street until you find an access point to the trail system.

Additional Info:
This is a nice trail system to explore as you can start anywhere in town and walk through a nice forest, see some nice views of lakes, and get some exercise. We found ourselves at Patricia Lake because of a detour (after finding out there was a momma grizz and two cubs 200ft behind us), where we ate lunch and headed back to town for a coffee.
Looking at Jasper Townsite from the trail entry

Friday, 9 September 2016

Edith Cavell Meadows

Hike Name: Edith Cavell Meadows
Activity: Hiking
Distance: ~8 km (RT)
Elevation Gain: ~470m
Area: Jasper National Park (Icefields Parkway)
Crew: Steph, JJ, Ben
Trailhead: End of Mount Edith Cavell Road

Getting There:
Head south on the Icefields Parkway. ~7km south of town, take the right turn onto the 93A. Follow for 5.2km, then turn right onto Mount Edith Cavell Road approx 15km to the parking area at the end of the road.

Additional Info:
JJ, Steph and I were visiting Jasper from Thursday September 8th to Sunday September 11th to see Scenic Route to Alaska play at the Jasper Music Folk Fest on Saturday night. On Friday, Bennett joined us for a hike to Edith Cavell Meadows - a beautiful and enjoyable hike!
"Summit" Beer (throwing it back to the Yukon!)

Sunday, 4 September 2016

Dawson City Roadtrip

Name: Dawson City Roadtrip
Distance: 535 km (one-way from Whitehorse)
Crew: Pouyan, Mike, Garyk
Dates: Friday Sept 2nd - Sunday Sept 4th, 2016

Additional Info:
We left Whitehorse for Dawson City after Mike was off of work. The drive up went by quickly while playing games of "Would You Rather", stopping for sunset pics (or not stopping for sunset pics if Pouyan is driving), watching a 5 hour sunset, and seeing the Northern Lights begin to show.
We arrived just after 11PM and tried to find a hotel to stay at but it looked like the entire city was booked up... so we ended up crashing in Mike's Tahoe. After a few too many shots of Burt Reynolds and a game of pool, we were squished into the Tahoe and passed right out.
After a day of recovery, walking around town, and finding caesars to drink (and an unreal breakfast at The Eldorado), we got to check into the Downtown Hotel and relax for a bit before our next night out.
We ate dinner at the Drunken Goat - great Greek food! (...and Burt Reynold shots..) Then headed to Diamond Tooth Gerties aka Canada's first gambling hall. The boys proceeded to win a few hundred bucks, so they cashed out and we hit the town again. We made it to the Downtown Hotel Bar and did the Sourtoe Toe Shots which I was strongly against doing until the boys fed me enough drinks.
On our way home the next day, we drove past a jousting match which still cracks me up to think about.. I had no idea that was a sport that people still do..
We got amazing Northern Lights both nights, I would 100% go back to Dawson City!
The drive up was gorgeous! 

 Downtown Dawson, Downtown Hotel.

When I caught the northern lights with my phone camera.. you know how amazing it must have been! Pouyan got some awesome lights photos on his DSLR Camera.

Thursday, 1 September 2016

Golden Circle Roadtrip

Name: Golden Circle Roadtrip
Distance: ~600 km (total)
Crew: Pouyan
Dates: Tuesday August 29th - Thursday Sept 1st, 2016

Itinerary:
Day 1: Whitehorse to Haines Junction
Night 2: Kathleen Lake
Day 2: Kathleen Lake to Haines, Alaska
Night 2: Haines Ferry Port
Day 3: Haines to Skagway, Alaska via. Ferry. Day in Skagway. Drive back to Whitehorse

Pouyan and I left early on Tuesday morning, heading for Haines Junction. We were in awe of the fall colours in August! We hiked up King's Throne where we met a German solo traveller - Anna - who we ended up hanging out with all evening playing "Shithead", drinking beer, and then went for an evening stroll along the lakeshore. She then hitched a ride with us the next morning as we made our way to Haines, Alaska - we dropped her off at the Samuel Glacier trailhead.
We arrived in Haines, Alaska after driving over a beautiful pass in the sub-alpine. After dropping off of the pass towards the coast, the landscape morphed back into summer with green and huge trees surrounding us in the "Valley of the Eagles".
After exploring Haines and of course enjoying a few beers at Haines Brewing Company, we hiked up Mount Riley. We ended up sleeping in the parking lot of the Ferry Port and heading to Skagway, Alaska the next morning.
We arrived at 6:30AM, grabbed coffees, walked around town, hiked to Yakutania Point, had a few too many beers at the Skagway Brewery, tried to hop on a glacier flight (failed), tried to go ziplining (failed), tried to find a tattoo parlor (failed), sobered up after a nap, and decided to head back to Whitehorse, where we arrived around 7PM.. needless to say we were exhausted and in desperate need of showers!
Welcome to Kluane Country! Day 1. 

 And Haines Junction. Day 1.

 Cool cafe in Haines Junction called "Village". I recommend it! Day 1.

 Kathleen Lake from a roadside pullout, Kings Throne on the left. Day 1.

Kathleen Lake Cooking Shelter. Day 1. 

 Beautiful scenery on the way to Haines. Day 2.

 Day 2.

The first thing we look for in new towns! Day 2. 

 Alaska. Check out that Red Corolla (our home for 3 days). Day 2.

Welcome Canadians! No one else. Everyone else sucks. Haines, Day 2. 

Exploring Haines

 Still exploring Haines.

 Made it to Skagway aka Skaguay aka Swagway. Day 3.

Heading back to Whitehorse. Day 3.

Yakutania Point

Hike Name: Yakutania Point
Activity: Hiking
Distance: 3.5 km (RT)
Altitude: 30 m
Elevation Gain: 30m
Area: Skagway, Alaska
Crew: Pouyan
Time: ~1.5 hours with a breaks at the exercise stations & a long relaxing sit at the Point
Trailhead: Skagway Town

Additional Info:
We parked at one end of the main tourist area of Skagway and walked through town to the Yakutania Point Trailhead. It is a nice but busy trail, with trail runners as well as many hikers from the cruise ships. If you have a few free hours in Skagway it is worth it to check out this spot & get away from the crowds in town. We were lucky enough to spot a seal in the water! Mid-way to the Point, there is the turnoff for the AB Mountain trail which perhaps I will be back to summit one day...
 Pouyan workin' his biceps on the exercise station

Hangin' out at the Point