North Fork - Westy Night

Info to come.

Little Elbow - Westy Night

Info to come.

Bryant Creek Shelter iii (Overnight)

More info to come!

Trip #2

Initial trip

Boulton Creek XC Ski

More info to come.

Previous trips in the area
Elk Pass
Elk Lakes Cabin (Overnight)

Elk Pass

Activity: Elk Pass X-Country Skiing

Distance: 16 km 

Area: Kananaskis Lakes

Crew: Bennett

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

After some new snow, we parked at the Boulton Bridge Trailhead and were the first ones in (& surprisingly when we got back, there were only 2 other vehicles in the lot). We had a gorgeous x-country ski up along the trails: Boulton Creek, Elk Pass, then came down Hydroline, Fox Creek, and Moraine. We got some fresh tracks on the first trail (Boulton Creek), and my gooooodness it was gorgeous out! Surprisingly little people for a warm-ish day with new snow.
Another day here

 First out!

 Fresh tracks 

Bean  

selfie #1 

Selfie #2

Bryant Creek Cabin ii (Overnight)

Name: Bryant Creek Shelter

Activity: Backpacking

Total Distance: 60 km

# Nights: 2

Date: September 22 - September 24, 2017

Area: Banff National Park/Assiniboine Provincial Park

Crew: Ben, Laura, Mark
Trailhead: Mount Shark Trailhead

Route: 
Day 1 - Trailhead to Bryant Creek Shelter (15km)
Day 2 - Day trip to Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park (via Assiniboine Pass) and back to Bryant Creek Shelter via Wonder Pass (~30km)
Day 3 - Bryant Creek Shelter back to Mount Shark Trailhead (15km)

We were originally going to do Northover Ridge on this weekend. The weather ended up being forecasted to be down to -10 at night and there was snow on the ridge so we ended up trying to find something else to do last-minute. We frantically searched for shelters, huts, and cabins in the area and settled on the Bryant Creek Shelter - again! Luckily we got a spot in the shelter on short notice and even had Saturday night to ourselves. Mainly because I called for availability 2 days prior to arrival, which happened to be the morning that the shelter and area opened again after the fires. So, lucky us! Anyways. We enjoyed an awesome day trip up to Assiniboine lodge - where the clouds were gloomy and we only caught a glimpse or two of Assiniboine's summit - then headed for Wonder Pass, where the weather was gorgeous, sunny, and hot. Bennett made his dehydrated meals (scrambled eggs or omelettes with salsa for breakfast and curry or chili for dinner!), which were delicious as always. Gotta love the dehydrator.

Hiking In

 Hiking In

Assiniboine Herself

 Larch Season!

 Bennett and the Towers

Mark, Laura, and Ben on Wonder Pass

We also came here on a ski trip in the winter in early 2017 and again in 2019.

Moose Loop

Activity: X-Country Skiing

Distance: 10km (RT)

Area: Kananaskis (Bragg Creek)

Crew: Ben, Steph

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes


Steph and I finally got a cross-country ski in together this season, at Moose Loop. I am getting over injuring my back from our Whitefish trip, and physio told me that I could give some of my usual activities a go! We were a little nervous about the -15 forecast however it was a beautiful, sunny day and we kept warm while skiing. We left early enough to have most of the trail to ourselves so we had a great time.

 Blue-bird day.

Steph and Bennett in front as we take a quick break in the sun

Bryant Creek Cabin (Overnight)

Name: Bryant Creek Cabin (Banff National Park)
Activity: X-Country Skiing/Overnight
Crew: Bennett, Jaimie, Mark, Oliver, Jon, Trevor
Dates: January 20-22, 2017

Summary:
Day 1 - Ski in from Mt Shark Trailhead to Bryant Creek Shelter (14 km)
Day 2 - Ski to Marvel Lake (6 km RT)
Day 3 - Ski back out to Mt Shark Trailhead (14 km)

Update: We stayed at this shelter again as a backpacking trip again in the fall of 2017, and in the winter again in 2019.. Unfortunately we did not have the whole planned group attend- there was a weird flu/cold going around and it seems like everyone caught it! Regardless, we had an amazing weekend with unreal weather and snow conditions. We arrived on Friday, the cabin was chilly as no one had been there for probably about a week, but we got the fire going right away, and by the second night the cabin had warmed up significantly enough that some people (cough Oliver) were wearing shorts.
Bennett and I made a few dehydrated meals using his dehydrator which were more successful than we were expecting! With eggs for breakfast as the clear winner for both of us.

 Approaching the cabin (Day 1)

Getting water from the creek - Oliver had to break through the ice with the axe to get to the flowing water

Woke up to this beautiful sunrise (Day 2)

 The shelter

 Bennett testing the ice on Marvel Lake (Day 2)

 Mark on Marvel (Day 2)

 Bennett

Oliver 

 Jaimie, Bennett, and Oliver crossing the creek to the Warden Cabin field

 The view from our water hole

Bennett and I in the field in front of the Warden Cabin

Prairie Mountain ii

Trip #2:Crew: Bennett, Jon
Date: January 17, 2017
Click here for the Prairie Mountain Post

Good winter conditions! Snow-covered in the forest, would have been icy if it was colder, and snow blown on the top with lots of visible grass.

Whiteswan Provincial Park

Name: Whiteswan Provincial Park, BC
Activity: Camping/Natural Hot Springs
Crew: Bennett
Dates: November 10-11, 2016

I am on my reading break so Bennett and I decided to go out to Whiteswan Provincial Park in BC to check out the Lussier Hot Springs and go camping. We left Calgary in the early afternoon, stopped in Canmore at the Rocky Mountain Bagel Co (yum) and then made it to the Lussier Hot Springs at sundown and enjoyed the sunset and a little company. There were 4-6 people in the springs, even after dark - it is a pretty popular spot.
However, we were the only ones camping and had the inlet creek campsite to ourselves. We started up a fire and made the best camping quesadillas.. then slept in the back of the truck (may I add - with the tailgate open! It's November!). We visited the hot springs again the next morning (when it was a LOT more crowded) then headed back to Calgary.
I came to Lussier hot springs with my family back when I was in high school as well. It hasn't changed much... except that maybe it is even more popular now!

 Driving!

 The view we woke up to! (We arrived in the dark)

Driving past Whiteswan lake in the morning

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!

Moose Mountain Trail Race

Name: Moose Mountain Trail Race

Activity: Trail Running

Distance: 29km (RT)

Altitude: 2,437 m

Elevation Gain: ~1000m

Area: Bragg Creek (Kananaskis)

Mom and I at the finish line

Moose Mountain ii

Hike Name: Moose Mountain

Activity: Trail Running

Distance: 14.6 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,437 m

Elevation Gain: 470 m

Area: Kananaskis (Bragg Creek)

Crew: Mom, Lianne, Donovan, Jason

Time to Summit: 1:20

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Moose Mountain Parking

Getting There:
Once you have passed Bragg Creek going south, you will come to a T intersection. Turn right onto highway 66 towards Elbow Falls (West). Take the turn-off for Moose Mountain on the right and continue up the road until you can go no further.

Additional Info:
After summiting Mount Temple earlier this day, I was pretty damn wary about whether I would be able to do this trail run. BUT I promised my mom I would go with her, and she invited a bunch of her trail running friends, so I just couldn't let her down. I ended up being able to do it just fine (I have NO idea where that energy came from!), and we had an awesome trailrun up Moose Mountain!


I've hiked up Moose Mountain before too.


Note: This trail is open year-round, but there is a gate in front of Moose Mountain Road from December 1 to May 14 every year. You will have to hike an additional 7 km (one-way) to the above trailhead.

 Group heli-pad/summit pic

 Looking out into the mountains

So happy to lie down.. only 7 km to go.

Prospector Creek

Activity: Hiking

Distance: Unknown

Elevation: Unknown

Area: Cadomin

Crew: Ben

I drove up to Edson to visit Ben on Friday night. We were going to go on a backcountry camping trip to Whitehorse Falls in Cadomin on Saturday-Sunday. Half-way to the trailhead, he got a call from his supervisor, and had to work the next morning! So, instead we ate the most delicious Cadomin Burgers and did a nice day hike up Prospector Creek. We stopped by the Bench Creek Brewery in Edson, then the next morning I drove back to Kananaskis to scramble up The Wedge with Julia...

 Ben on the trail

 Grizz Paw

Bench Creek!

Forgetmenot Ridge

Hike Name: Forgetmetnot Ridge
Activity: Hiking

Distance: 12.5 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,200 m

Elevation Gain: 700m

Area: Kananaskis (Bragg Creek)

Crew: Julia

Time to Summit: 2.5 hours

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Little Elbow Campground

Getting There:

Heading south on the 22 from Bragg Creek, turn right (West) onto Highway 66. Turn into the campground. Park at the last trailhead parking area. There is a bridge over the Elbow river here.

Additional Info:
I am not sure whether to call this an attempt or to call it complete. It was so cloudy up there that we would hit a high point on the ridge and were unsure whether there was more to go. Since the entire ridge up to Forgetmenot Mountain would add +10k to our hike, we decided that the view would be the same no matter where we were - clouds.
So, I will definitely be back to do this hike and see the views that we missed out on!

Note: Highway 66 is closed annually from Elbow falls to Little Elbow Campground from December 1 to May 14.

Me wading through Little Elbow.. We were reluctant to do this on a chilly, wet day.

Julia taking in the view before heading up into the clouds

 Julia in the clouds

 Enjoying a great view! ;)