Loder Peak & Doorjamb Mountain

Hike Name: Loder Peak & Doorjamb Mountain
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 7 km (RT)

Altitude: 1,996 m (DoorJamb) - 2,088 m (Loder)

Elevation Gain: 800m

Area: Bow Valley (Exshaw)

Crew: Steph, Trevor, Jaimie

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

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Bay Mag Cement Plant

Getting There:

Heading west on the TransCanada (Hwy 1) from Calgary, take the exit towards Seebee/Exshaw. Continue on the 1X and then turn left (towards Canmore) on the 1A. There is a little "parking lot" at the base of DoorJamb/Loder Peak.

Additional Info:
This is a nice quick hike that is good for shoulder season hiking since it is windy and the snow has been swept away. Before Doorjamb Mountain, stick to the top of the ridge. We stayed too close to the climber's left and ended up under some slabs that were too steep to scramble up. So we back-tracked a bit and then found our way up the ridge. From here the path is clear to Loder.

 Weather coming in through the Bow Valley

Trevor, Steph, and Jaimie on our way down. Doorjamb in the center.

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!