Mount Royal

Activity: Hiking

Location: Montreal, Quebec

Crew: Julia, Sam, JJ, Jay

We were in Montreal for an engineering competition and had a free day to roam around and explore - so of course we HAD to go up the "mountain" in Montreal, Mount Royal. We did a LOT of walking this day... from our hotel to Mount Royal, then all the way across Saint Laurent Street to Old Montreal.. and then we gave up and started Uber-ing - to Schwartz, the famous smoked meat spot, then back to our hotel to grab our bags before our flight home to Calgary.

 Trying to be artsy..

 We love fun.

 "Summit" Pano

And the main event!

East Peak of Wendell (EPOW)

Hike Name: East Peak of Wendell (EPOW)
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 16 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,300 m

Elevation Gain: 936 m (total ~1350m)

Area: Kananaskis (North)

Crew: Ben

Time to Summit: Unknown (blog created post-hike)

Lisa's Mom Rating: No

Trailhead: Yamnuska Parking Lot

Getting There:
Heading East on the Trans-Canada (Hwy 1) from Calgary, take the exit towards Seebee/Exshaw (Onto Highway 1X). When you reach the T intersection in the road (the 1A), turn right. Shortly, you will see a turn-off on your left into Mount Yamnuska Parking.

Additional Info:
Follow the Yamnuska trail until you obtain the top of the hill next to Yam. Once ontop of the hill, you will see signs for "CMC Valley" - follow the signs. Now, you will lose all the elevation you just gained. Cross the creek at the bottom of the valley walk along it until you see the pinnacles. Head up towards them (You can pass below or above. We walked along the base of the wall above the pinnacles on the way, and then walked below the pinnacles on the way down). Keep right, and eventually you will wrap around the mountain and see a scree field open up. Once you endure the scree field you'll be up on the ridge for a pleasant ridge walk to the summit!

Under the Chinook on our way up Yamnuska

 Looks like spring!

 We were right between weird weather to the East and clear skies to the West

Ben on the Summit

Prairie View ii

Trip #2:Crew: Ben
Date: February 14, 2016
Time to Summit: Unknown (blog created post-hike)
Click here to see the Prairie View post

Saskatoon Mountain

Hike Name: Saskatoon Mountain
Activity: Hiking

Distance: 7.7 km (RT)

Altitude: 1,823 m

Elevation Gain: 490 m

Area: Crowsnest

Crew: Ben, Kris

Time to Summit: Unknown (blog created post-hike)

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: The municipal park beside the main road in Coleman.

Getting There:
We were driving home from a weekend on Lake Koocanusa, travelling East on highway 3, passing through the town of Coleman, and decided to stop for a nice hike.

Island Lake

Name: Island Lake

Activity: X-Country Skiing

Distance: ~10km (RT)

Area: Fernie (Crowsnest - Cranbrook/Kimberly)

Crew: Bennett, Kristen

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Island Lake Lodge Parking Area

Additional Info:
I wish I had photos but I don't have many from our February trip to Lake Koocanousa. We went into Fernie one day and cross country skied up to Island Lake Lodge, hung out, ate lunch, and skied back. It was a beautiful trail but didn't have track-sets. And since I am pretty new to x-country, the downhills were a little nerve-wracking... but I made it!

Kimberly Alpine Resort

Name: Kimberly Alpine Resort

Activity: X-Country Skiing

Distance: ~10km (RT)

Area: Kimberly (Crowsnest - Cranbrook/Kimberly)

Crew: Bennett, Kristen, Jared

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Kimberly Alpine Resort

Additional Info:
I wish I had photos but I don't have many from our February trip to Lake Koocanousa. We went into Kimberly one day and cross country skied around the tracks. It cost ~$10 to use the tracks but it was definitely worth it!

Miner's Peak

Hike Name: Miner's Peak
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 7 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,450 m

Elevation Gain: ~860m

Area: Bow Valley (Canmore)

Crew: Ben

Time to Summit: 2:00 (Time from car to Ha-Ling was 1:30 to Miner's Peak +0:30)

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Goat Creek Day Use Area

Getting There:

From the town of Canmore, follow the signs toward the Nordic Center. Continue past the Nordic Center towards the Spray Reservoir. Eventually, you will be climbing up a hill on a gravel road that gets pretty dusty. You'll come across a parking lot on the right side of the road called "Goat Creek Day Use Area".

Additional Info:

This is a great hike for the winter time. It is extremely crowded in the summer so it is nice to get some solitude up on Ha-Ling. From Ha-Ling, head East along the ridge and Miner's Peak is technically on the left. There are 3 high points to the right (Called Miner 1, 2, and 3) which are easy to get to as well!

Hitting Miners 1/2/3 after Ha-Ling and Miner's Peak