Pololu Valley / Honokane Nui Lookout

More Info to Come.

Big Island of Hawaii

Chickadee Valley

After skiing here last week, we had to come back! More info to come.

Chickadee Slide Paths

More info to come.
We came back the next week!

Mount Tyrwhitt

Hike Name: Mount Tyrwhitt

Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 9.5 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,871 m

Elevation Gain: ~680 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Rachel

Time to Summit: ~2.5 hrs

Lisa's Mom Rating: No

Trailhead: Highwood Pass Parking Lot/Ptarmigan Cirque

Additional Info:

Rachel and I scrambled Mount Tyrwhitt to go look at the keyhole feature. There was a lot of loose rock so helmets are recommended, as well as lots of communication with any groups that are above or below you!

Mount Rae ii

Hike Name: Mount Rae

Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: ~10 km (RT)

Altitude: 3,218 m

Elevation Gain: ~1000 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Stephanie

Time to Summit: ~2.5 hrs

Lisa's Mom Rating: No

Trailhead: Highwood Pass Parking Lot/Ptarmigan Cirque


Additional Info:
I have been up to the saddle on a previous trip, where we ran into snow and decided to turn around. Steph and I chose Mount Rae after realizing that the weather was absolutely perfect to do a bigger peak. This was an absolutely killer day, we had too much fun! 

Note: Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40) is seasonally closed. It closes from Peter Lougheed Provincial Park to the Highwood House Junction from December 1 to June 14 annually.

 Heading up to the rock ribs to get to the saddle. Ptarmigan Cirque is around the corner to the right below.

Just above the saddle. Amazing views already!

 Up on the ridge to the summit

Opal South Peak ii

Trip #2:
Crew: Bennett, Steph, Pouyan
Date: May 6, 2018
Time to Summit: 2:00
Click here for the Opal Ridge South Post

 Ben & PK. Summit on the right

 Still winter back here!

 Nearing the summit

 Steph & I

 PK!!

 chillin.

Group pic!

Mount Baldy iii

Trip #3:
Crew: Bennett, Jon, Sam
Date: April 28, 2018
After attempting an early-season hike up Volcano Peak that was thwarted by deep snow and a lack of desire to struggle through it, we enjoyed a hike up to the bench on Baldy and basked in the sun.
Click here for the Mount Baldy Post

Volcano Peak (Attempt)

Hike Name: Volcano Peak (Attempt)
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: ~13km (RT)

Altitude: ~2,575 m

Elevation Gain: 1,054 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Bennett, Jon, Sam

We expected a decent early-season hike up Volcano but there was a lot of snow still lingering in the mountains. We didn't think it was worth it to fight through all the post-holing. so after an hour and a half of it we turned around and did a quick jaunt up Mount Baldy. We'll be back when there is a bit less snow!

Mount Lady Macdonald ii

Trip #3:
Crew: Ben
Date: March 24, 2018
Click here to see the Lady Mac post

 Looking down at Canmore

Towards Grotto

Grizzly Peak ii

Hike Name: Grizzly Peak
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 7 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,545 m

Elevation Gain: 900 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Bennett and P0jan

Time to Summit: 1:50

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Ripple Creek (Unmarked). The creek between Grizzly Creek and Hood Creek.

Getting There:

From the Trans-Canada (Hwy 1), head south on Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40) and continue past the Fortress gas station. In about 4 km you will see Grizzly Creek. The next one is Ripple Creek, the trailhead. Trail goes up on the left side of the creek, it is hard to miss and marked with a cairn.

Additional Info:

I hiked up Grizzly Peak with my mom and sister in 2016 as well. Today we were looking for a good front-range mountain to hike as the snow is starting to stick in the mountains. We settled on Grizzly Peak. There wasn't much snow - just a few slippery sections that we navigated with our microspikes and the rest was smooth sailing. A gorgeous, surprisingly HOT, fall day with lots of laughs!

 Ben and PK. Shirts off October, baby.

 PK and the smoke show. (ps he is the smoke-show)

 PK and the ridge

LB and a nap

Black Rock Mountain

Hike Name: Black Rock Mountain

Activity: Hiking 

Distance: 11.4 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,642 m

Elevation Gain: 920 m

Area: Ghost River Valley

Crew: Bennett

Time to Summit: ~2 hrs

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Ghost River Valley



Additional Info:
Bennett had already done this hike with Julia but since we were meeting some friends in the valley afterwards for some beers, we decided to hike Black Rock Mountain. It was an awesome hike, beautiful, pretty easy, and cool terrain. I would definitely recommend this hike to anyone! I just wish we had better weather..

 Rock that looks like a bear in my opinion haha.

 An Ominous Devil's Head

At the old fire lookout

Mount Kidd South

Hike Name: Mount Kidd South

Activity: Hiking 

Distance: 13 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,895

Elevation Gain: 1375 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Mark, Travis

Time to Summit: 3.5 hr (?)

Lisa's Mom Rating: No

Trailhead: Galatea Lakes Parking Lot


Additional Info:
The plan was to go hike Mount Rae on this gorgeous, sunny day but as soon as we turned the corner towards the Centex, we were just socked in by smoke. We pulled chute and turned around, only to stop to go up Mount Kidd South instead. We were unaware that the short cut up to Guinn's pass was destroyed in the floods and not rehabilitated, so we ended up going all the way to the lakes and up to the pass and then to the peak - much farther than we originally anticipated. It was a nice, HOT day, and a super busy trail on the main path to the trail... the lakes were very beautiful. Oh yeah, also we ran into a AB Parks Warden on our way up who showed us weasel skeletons... cool!

 We're best friends, I swear

 See!

 Coming back down the pass

A lake! The most refreshing lake on a day like today.

Limestone Mountain

Hike Name: Limestone Mountain

Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: ~4.5 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,174 m

Elevation Gain: ~610 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Steph, Kris, Andy, Travis, Carly

Time to Summit: ~2 hours

Lisa's Mom Rating: No

Trailhead: Pullout on the east side of Hwy 40

Getting There:
Heading west from Calgary on the Trans Canada (Hwy 1), head south on Kananaskis trail (Hwy 40). At the end of Limestone's west ridge, there is a parking area on the east side of the highway.

Additional Info:
This was a bushwhack all the way up but the views from the top were nice. Seriously though, you are in pretty thick trees the entire time with no path, having a GPS track was super handy. We had a gorgeous, sunny day and enjoyed the summit thoroughly!

Travis and Carly on Limestone Mountain

Kris and Andy on Limestone Mountain

Loder Peak & Doorjamb Mountain ii

Trip #2:Crew: Bennett, Mark, Laura, Evan
Date: March 25, 2017

Click here for the Loder Peak & Doorjamb Mountain Post

Red's Ridge

Hike Name: Red Ridge

Activity: Hiking/Snowshoeing

Distance: ~9 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,610 m

Elevation Gain: ~700 m

Area: Kananaskis (Spray Valley)

Crew: Bennett

Time to Summit: did not summit

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Sparrowhawk Parking

Getting There:
Head west from Calgary on the Trans Canada (Hwy 1). Go south at Canmore (toward the Nordic Center) and take highway 742 until you reach the Sparrowhawk parking area.

Additional Info:
Bennett and I got out for a winter snowshoe, unfortunately we didn't hit the summit, as we had to get back to the city to make it home in time for plans.

 Bennett on our way up

 Looking up the Spray Reservoir

 Where we turned around

A handsome hiker

Mount Baldy ii

Trip #2:Crew: Bennett
Date: November 20, 2016
Time to Summit: 1:30
Click here for the Mount Baldy Post

Mount Allan

Hike Name: Mount Allan / Olympic Summit / Centennial Ridge

Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: ~15 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,819 m (Mount Allen), 2,470 m (Olympic Summit)

Elevation Gain: ~1400 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Bennett

Time to Summit: ~3 hours

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Ribbon Creek Parking Area

Getting There:
Head south on Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40) from the Trans Canada (Hwy 1). Take the turnoff toward Kananaskis Village, then follow the signs to the Ribbon Creek Parking Area.

Additional Info:
Take "Hidden Trail" and follow the Centennial Ridge path. It is the highest maintained trail in Kananaskis, so it is well signed, there is no way to get lost! This is a beautiful hike that I would recommend to anyone. Of the 6 hours, we only spent 1 hour below the treeline. Just be aware that it is a big day at 15km and ~1400m gained! We did a there-and-back from Ribbon, but you can continue along the ridge, the whole Centennial Ridge trail, and drop down into Deadmans' Flats.

Bennett and I 

 Snow. We actually could've avoided this but we were trying to get some respite from the crazy chinook winds

 Playing on the cool rock formations

Bennett on the ridge

Midnight Peak

Hike Name: Midnight Peak

Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: ~12 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,348 m

Elevation Gain: 915 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Steph, Jeevan

Time to Summit: ~2:00

Lisa's Mom Rating: Maybe if there is no snow

Trailhead: Old Baldy Pass Parking lot

Getting There:
Head south on Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40) from the Trans Canada (Hwy 1). In about 15 minutes you will see the parking lot for Old Baldy Pass on the right. Cross the 40 in the crosswalk and begin the trail there.

Additional Info:
We hiked up to Old Baldy Pass then turned right up towards Midnight Peak. We then descended by doing the ridge-walk and cutting down the drainage (which is the alternate route up), aka bushwacking. I'd recommend taking the pass up for sure, as the small slope and clear path make it a quick ascent. For the way down I recommend taking the same route down to the pass, unless you are comfortable with routefinding and bushwacking. The alternate route is a beautiful ridgewalk until you hit the trees - which made our descent route worth it for me - but unless we missed an obvious path on the way down it was a lot of route finding.

Looking up at Midnight Peak from Old Baldy Pass. There was a decent amount of snow.

 I am including this selfie mainly because I want to show how STEEP the slope is behind me. It was a little more challenging with the snow but manageable with microspikes.

Group summit selfie!! 

Me and Steph walking the ridge, heading down the alternate descent route.