Vision Quest

Hike Name: Vision Quest

Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: ~6 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,050 m

Elevation Gain: ~1000 m

Area: David Thompson Highway (Nordegg)

Crew: Bennett

Time to Summit: ~2 hrs

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Waste Disposal Station off David Thompson Highway (Hwy 11)


Additional Info:
Bennett and I took the Westfalia out for the first time, and it was AWESOME! We drove up to David Thompson Country to visit Jon and the fire fighters up at Shunda Saturday night. While they were at work during the day, we hiked up Vision Quest - which was a quick, fun hike/scramble. It was H-O-T today!!!

West of Falia!!!! (ft. Abraham Lake)

Noice view. Hot day.

 Yodelling?

 Cornice.

 Little scramble section that looks far more intimidating from further away.

  Chillin'. THE life.

 The darsh master himself.

Almost back to the Westy.

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!

Hero's Knob

Name: Hero's Knob
Activity: Alpine Touring/Backcountry Skiing

Distance: ? km

Altitude: ~2,300 m

Elevation Gain: ~900 m

Area: Kananaskis (Spray Reservoir)

Crew: Bennett, Jordan, Shannon, Mitch, Lora, Garrett

Time to Summit: ?

Trailhead: Pullover on the side of the road just South of the Sawmill parking lot.

Getting There:

From the Trans-Canada (Hwy 1), head south on Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40). At the gate closure, turn right. Take the right turn for the Smith Dorrien (Hwy 742). Eventually the Sawmill parking lot will be on your right; turn around and park a few hundred meters south.

Additional Info:

Had an unreal day skiing a few laps on Hero's Knob. Steph V, Aaron et. al. actually did the same tour as us this day and we met up at the parking lot/summit but toured separately. The snow was amazing and the weather was gorgeous- and to top it all off we stopped at the Canmore Brewing Co. for a few beers apres.

Crew debating the route

Cruisin'

 Skinnin'

 Skiin'. Dorkiest skiier on the mountain! (Photo: Shannon)

Way up.

Crowfoot Glades

Name: Crowfoot Glades
Activity: Alpine Touring/Backcountry Skiing

Distance: ? km

Altitude: ~2,300 m

Elevation Gain: ~700 m

Area: Banff National Park

Crew: Bennett, Jon, Emma, Jake

Time to Summit: ?

Trailhead: Pullover on the side of the road to intersect the south end of Bow Lake.

Getting There:

From the Trans-Canada (Hwy 1), head north on the Icefield Parkway (Hwy 93). Continue about 30 km.

Additional Info:

So, we were supposed to ski Crowfoot Glades on Saturday after skiing Narao Glades with Jon on Friday. We all woke up a little bit hung over and decided to skip it. Craving the outdoors all day and failing to forgive ourselves for skipping a mountain day, we decided at 11pm Saturday night that it would be a great idea to do Crowfoot Glades the next day, even though Bennett and I had to be back for 5PM Easter dinner... and it was a great idea! We had an unreal day, skiing 3 or 4 laps, with only 1 other group in the area. The snow was the best I've ever skiied in, straight chaaampagne powder!! What a great ski day. Then we went back to my parents place for a lovely steak dinner. Yum.

 Crossing the lake towards the glades (seen on the left of the photo)

 4 abreast.

 Spot 2 ski tourers?

 Adventurin'

 The only sun we had all day

 Keep risin'.

Searchin' for dat good good!

Narao Glades ii

Name: Narao Glades
Activity: Alpine Touring/Backcountry Skiing

Distance: ~10 km

Altitude: ~2,500 m

Elevation Gain: ~800 m

Area: Yoho National Park

Crew: Bennett, Jon

Time to Summit: ?

Trailhead: Lake O'hara Fire Road

Getting There:

From the Trans-Canada (Hwy 1), head west past Lake Louise. As you enter Yoho and begin descending, take the left turn towards Lake O'hara and park in the parking lot.

Additional Info:

Link to Original Narao Glades Post

On the long weekend that Jon was in town, we wanted to get out touring but the avalanche forecast wasn't amazing. We all had to be back in the city by 5 so we settled on a spot that Bennett and I had been to a few weeks ago, where we could do as many laps as time permitted and wouldn't have to worry too much about route-finding. As we had such a great time at Narao Glades last time, we decided to come back!
And we came back again the next season!

 Three Blind Mice

 The boys

 Narao Peak from the bottom of our first run. The shoulder below and infront.

 On the Lake O'Hara fire road

Sharing food.. egg cups and chicken!