Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies
Scrambles in the Banff, Lake Louise, Bow Summit, Canmore and Kananaskis
areas. Photos and route descriptions. Class 1 and 2.
What's New!
My daughter Victoria and I did a
pre-Christmas hike of Prairie Mtn Dec 23 2016



Trail report updates for
Kananaskis, Banff, Yoho etc
https://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/
https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/tcond/index_e.asp
E-mail me here - if you have any questions or need advice
new
for 2019 is Parker Ridge High Point, a nice
family hike to the ridge but you can go further to the north and west onto the
outlier ridge of Mt Athabasca for a bigger and rewarding effort
new
for 2016 is the Cory Pass / Edith Pass Loop, a very
worthy but difficult hike with a rugged viewpoint at the Pass. Mt Edith can also
be scrambled from near the pass. Also the Cox Hill hike,
very nice views at the overlook but most of the trail is in the trees.
new for 2015 is Ptarmigan Peak in the Skoki
area, just a fantastic area on a blue sky day, also a less demanding hike but
with great scenery, the Big Beehive Lake Agnes
Tea Hut Plain of the Six Glaciers Tea Hut Loop
for 2014 is the Tent Ridge loop by Spray Lakes, spectacular blue sky day near the Columbia Ice Fields doing
Tangle Ridge and a real nice ridge hike scramble
by Barrier Lake in the Kananaskis called the
South Peak of Baldy
for
2013 is Door Jamb Mountain Loder Peak, a
nice early season moderate scramble to get the legs in shape and
Little Hector a
sizable effort but the views and the feeling of remoteness make it
worthwhile!
for 2012 is Rawson
Lake Ridge - Sarrail Ridge, a real gem with great views of
the upper Kananaskis Lake area from the ridge top and a real suffer
fest of a trip to Big Bend Peak by the Columbia
Icefields
for 2011 one week trip to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, hiked and
scrambled three peaks.
Mt.
Richthofen, Ypsilon Mountain and
Hallett Peak
Also for 2011 four scrambles,
Forgetmenot
Ridge in the Elbow Falls area,
Wasootch Ridge and Midnight Peak
both in Kananaskis Country just off highway 40 and
Mt St Piran at Lake Louise
For 2010 Mt Howard ,
Snow Peak via Burstall Pass and
Pigeon Mountain near Dead Man Flats
See Utah Scramble trip from August 8th to
August 14th, 2009. Two great scrambles were done.
Mt Timpanogos and
Mt Nebo North Summit
November 1, 2008 scramble of
Fossil Mountain. Winter fun, great scenery and good
temperatures.
Summer of 2008 enjoyed a great ridge climb called Thunder Mountain 1 hour
south of Longview, Alberta
Colorado
Fourteeners - Trip number 4 - August 9 - August 18, 2008 - successfully summited
3 peaks, Princeton, Mt of the
Holy Cross and Twin Sisters.
E-Mail Me Here with any
comments or questions you might have.
Kananaskis / Highwood Area Mt. Indefatigable,
Opal Ridge S, Mt.
Rae, Mt. Tyrwhitt, Mt. Baldy,
Mt Kidd South, Grizzly Peak,
Mist Mountain, Opal Ridge N,
Mt Allan, Moose Mountain,
Prairie Mountain, Mt Glasgow,
Mt Cornwall , Wasootch Peak,
Mount Burke, Thunder Mountain,
Mt Bryant, Mt Howard,
Forgetmenot Ridge,
Wasootch Ridge, Cox Hill
hike
Canmore / Spray Lakes Ha Ling Peak,
East End of Rundle, Grotto
Mountain, Big Sister, Mt. Sparrowhawk,
Heart Mountain, Mount Yamnuska,
Fortress Mtn or
"The Fortress", Wind Tower,
Mt. Chester, Rimwall Summit
Mt Nestor, Snow Peak via
Burstall Pass, Pigeon Mountain
Banff / Lake Louise Rundle Mountain,
Cascade Mountain, Mt.
Fairview, Mt. Temple, Mt. Niblock,
Eiffel Peak, Mt. Cory,
Mt.
Bourgeau, Mt St Piran,
Mt Richardson, Fossil
Mountain, Ptarmigan Peak,
Cory Pass / Edith Pass Loop
Bow Summit / Yoho Areas Mt. Jimmy Simpson,
Observation Peak,
Cirque Peak, Mt. Andromache,
Paget Peak, Mt. Field
The impetus for this portion of the web site came from surfing the
net and finding a couple good web sites on the Colorado Fourteeners (see links below). They have
trip reports and good beta posted by various scramblers over the years.
Great sites to plan an excursion down to Fourteener land. I thought it a good idea to put together a group of
scrambles in which somebody coming up to the Canadian Rockies would have some good info to
plan a trip. Of course no matter where you are from, whether nearby Calgary, or anywhere
on the WWW you could plan some great trips.
Check out these Colorado Fourteener
links: https://www.14ers.com and
https://www.summitpost.org
My own personal scrambling adventures began with Alan Kanes book
called Scrambling in the Canadian Rockies available from Rocky Mountain Books. On this web site I have only posted ones that
I have personally done and these are written up more or less from my personal experience
on the mountain.
All these scrambles are half-day trips to long day trips covering
elevation gains from 2,300 ft to 5,500 ft. The shorter ones are good to build fitness on
before tackling the biggest.
DISCLAIMER SCRAMBLING IN THE MOUNTAINS HAS INHERENT RISKS
AND THE MATERIAL PRESENTED HERE IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO HELP A SCRAMBLER
AVOID ONLY SOME OF THE RISKS. VARIABLE WEATHER, CHANGING ROUTE CONDITIONS, POOR DECISION
MAKING, ILL PREPAREDNESS ETC. CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SERIOUS INJURY, EVEN DEATH. SCRAMBLERS USE
THIS MATERIAL AT THEIR OWN RISK AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENCES
THAT COME ABOUT IN SCRAMBLING THESE PEAKS.
Trail report updates for
Kananaskis, Banff, Yoho etc
https://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/
https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/tcond/index_e.asp
Dangers from Wildlife
and Insects
Of course learning about the possible
dangers of encountering wildlife such as bear, mountain lion, cougar or insects
such as ticks is a wise move. I can make a number of comments but only in a
general manner. The tick season is generally in the springtime from say
approximately April, May June. Ticks can carry serious disease such as Lyme's
Disease. Kananaskis area down highway 40 is a known tick area in the spring. The
Waterton area is known for ticks. How to avoid or handle ticks should be of
further study for yourself.
Bear encounters - the general advice is to
hike in large groups, make noise as you go down the trail by voice or by bear
bell, learn the favorite areas of bears ie don't hike on a berry patch trail in
the late summer, check with the Park Rangers as to bear activity on certain
trails, consider carrying bear spray, a good book is one by Stephen Herrero
called Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance, educate yourself in this area,
I have always liked short approach type scrambles where I spend as little time
as possible hiking through the trees or along running creeks although in certain
seasons the bears like high alpine terrain also. Checking the trail update
report links above for any trails closed due to bears is a good idea or visiting
the appropriate visitor centre for current information is a good idea.
Mtn Lion / Cougars - these cats are not
often seen but are present, a lady was stalked and killed one winter near Banff
at Lake Minnewanka as she cross country skied alone, smaller children and pets
have been targets also, it is advisable to get a good book or research online on
the behavior and activities of these cats. Some have said if stalked or
approached by one of these cats to make yourself appear as big as possible, make
lots of noise, grab anything you can, rocks, large stick. Some people will carry
an accessible fixed blade hunting knife.
These are only some of the wildlife
dangers in hiking and scrambling in the Rockies. It is in your best interest to
educate yourself as much as you can and use common sense in the areas you decide
to venture into.
Trip Grading
The whole idea of scrambling is to get to the top of the mountain in
the least hazardous way and avoiding any technical rock climbing. You are likely off route
if you find yourself doing any technical rock climbing, it would be advised to retreat.
The ratings on the various scrambles are based on dry and snow free conditions. Class 1
scrambles require extra care and attention if not dry and snow free. A slip on class 1
scrambles is usually not life threatening resulting in a few scrapes and bruises. Any of
the Class 2 scrambles (Mt Temple, Cascade Mtn, Mt Niblock, or Big Sister) can be very
dangerous in less than ideal conditions and the added risks must be carefully weighed.
Class 1 steep hiking on and off trail, little use of
hands, minimal exposure
Class 2 steep hiking on and off-trail, slabby, loose,
down-sloping terrain, frequent use of hands for sections, some exposure, some route
finding involved, possible rock fall, Helmet a consideration here
Preparation for Scrambling
You really need to have a base of fitness before scrambling. That base
of fitness should include stair climbing, sports that use the quad muscles a lot, and some
type of regular high cardio-vascular exercise. You can go out with little specific fitness
and scramble a shorter peak but you will likely find your legs stiff for 2 or 3 days
afterwards. Its much more enjoyable to have a base. A couple hikes that are good
ones for a base are Sulphur Mountain at Banff and the Lake Agnes/Beehives hike at Lake
Louise.
Experience and Knowledge various Outdoor and Alpine
clubs offer outdoor courses and trips with experienced members, these clubs can be a
valuable source of information in order to avoid taking on too much risk for your
experience level and avoiding common outdoor mistakes perhaps you know of an
experienced friend who would be willing to take you on some class 1 scrambles
Risk assessing your own comfort and risk level is
important if you are used to only hiking then perhaps a shorter class 1 trip with
an experienced person would be best to assess the risk factor versus enjoyment of the
outdoors any trip into the Rockies has the potential for Bear contact, knowledge of
how to minimize the risk is important
Equipment Recommended
Ankle High Full Leather Boots you can get away with day
hikers but they really dont last especially if you make scrambling a habit. They
should be ankle high because off trail terrain is common and you can be vulnerable to an
ankle sprain with low cuts. It is difficult to get down a mountain with a sprained ankle!
I have met people going up to the steep col on Mt Rae in $30 low cut running shoes. This
is an accident waiting to happen.
They should also be a half size to one
full size bigger than your regular shoes with a lacing feature that keeps your
heel back on descent. The correct bigger size should allow your heel to stay in
place as you test them going uphill in the store and allow your toes not to
touch the front as you go downhill. Try on lots of different brands until you
find something that works.
Alpine Pack 40 to 60 liters smaller daypacks may be okay for
some shorter scrambles but on any of the bigger ones you need the space. On long day trips
up the bigger peaks you can need 3 liters of water, ice axe,
possibly crampons, extra clothes, food, etc. A
25-liter daypack will not cut it. Ive been using the "Deuter
Futura 38L " and the "Camelbak Alpine
Explorer 30L with 100oz water bladder". Be sure your
pack fits and has a chest strap, the cheaper ones dont.
Clothes rain jacket with hood, wind pants, wind jacket,
synthetic layers (fleece, wool, polyester), NO COTTON, toque, pair of light and heavier
gloves, cycling gloves, thin cross country ski earmuffs dress lighter going uphill
and have some dry clothes in your pack to change your first layer plus add a layer when
you reach the summit. Hiking up the mountain is when you generate a lot of heat and sweat.
You need to be drinking water and also have something dry to put on at the top to avoid
hypothermia. Hypothermia can be deadly as exercise causes you to become dehydrated to a
degree and the cooling effects of weather changes on the mountain can bring its onset. Too
much heat being drained off the body causes hypothermia and its symptoms are shivering,
slurred speech, loss of coordination, apathy etc. A soggy cotton T-shirt, no extra clothes
and cold rainy weather on the upper mountain is a deadly combination. Cotton just does not
insulate but instead soaks up sweat and begins to drain the body of heat. If the weather
is predicted as warm and sunny and you do choose to wear that fancy souvenir T-shirt you
bought at Banff please bring a polyester undershirt and fleece JUST IN CASE OF SUDDEN
WEATHER CHANGE. At certain times of the year you can be golfing in shirtsleeves in Banff
and experiencing below freezing temperatures and a cold wind on top of Mt Rundle. Drinking
water, taking a thermos of something hot, eating high energy foods, layering your clothes
as you go up and down the mountain is important. If you are from the Calgary area I highly
recommend a visit to Mountain Equipment Coop on the corner of 8st and 10th Avenue SW or
any of the other outdoor shops in Calgary. Others such as
Atmosphere (across from MEC), Spirit West, Out There, Campers Village etc generally carry name brand outdoor stuff.
Valhalla Pure in Canmore is also a store I like to check out. Banff has Monods,
the Patagonia store, The North Face store etc
Food high energy food such as Power
Bar Gels, Power Bar Triple Threat bars,
Cliff Shot Bloks, Cliff Bars,
thermos of hot drink, regular lunch stuff youll find you need to start
snacking on something about 1 to 1 ½ hours into the scramble to maintain your energy
levels
Other Equipment an old ski pole is good for scrambles, it
takes some stress off your legs going up and especially coming down - ice axe
and crampon rental or
purchase if necessary for peaks like Mt Temple or as conditions warrant it is
imperative if you end up going on a trip that requires an ice axe that you also get some
hands on training in how to use it from an experienced person BEFORE YOUR TRIP
If doing a winter hike on easier peaks
like Ha Ling or Prairie Mountain then microspikes are good for traction on icy
and moderate angled trails. As the angle of the trail increases crampons will be
necessary. Get advice on particular winter trails and use good judgement.
Quality snowshoes may also fit certain outings in winter.
Other Miscellaneous sun-block and lip-block cream +15,
sunglasses, long handkerchief, tissue paper, camera, binoculars, small first aid kit,
knife
COOL 3D MAPS
I highly recommend the cool 3D recreational maps put out by
GemTrek. They are available from Mountain Equipment Coop, Chapters Books, Banff Parks Info
Center, and GemTreks web site listed below just to name a few locations.
Maps are around $13 Cdn each. They feature trail information with a cool 3D effect showing the
mountains. There are ones for Banff, Lake Louise, Canmore Spray Lakes, and the
Kananaskis just to name a few. A good investment for $52 Cdn.
Visit the GemTrek site on the www at
https://www.gemtrek.com/
Season and Weather Factors
In a typical summer season in the Canadian Rockies the best conditions
for scrambling would be the last week of July and the first three weeks August. This would
be especially so if you were planning a two week trip to the Canadian Rockies. This period
has the best chance for dry route conditions on the biggest scrambles. If you came for a
two-week trip and wanted to include Mt Temple and Cascade Mtn I would suggest any two of
the first three weeks in August. Most of the scrambles have a wider range of season
possibilities as I have shown on the individual scramble sheets but for the two week trip
the chance to pick and choose from all scrambles is greater during the period mentioned
above.
Weather can be a variable affair in the Canadian Rockies. You start off
with a bright sunny day in the morning and by afternoon find yourself on the upper
mountain in a cold wind, rain and fog. I have a friend who has been up Cascade Mountain
many times and has yet to see anything from the summit. The weather forecast for the next
5 days can usually be obtained from the Park Information Centers but be prepared anyway.
The Parks Information Centers (see phone numbers below) also provide trail conditions and
closures due to bear activity so are an important source of information. If a trail has
experienced bear activity the rangers will post a bear warning sign for would be hikers.
They give a "caution bear in area" warning or sometimes an outright closure of a
trail and area. Carrying bear pepper spray, hiking in a large group and making lots of
noise are recommended activities. I have never encountered a bear on any scrambles yet and
I think prayer helps. You can see why I like short approaches.
Recommended First Scrambles
The two that I would recommend to get a feel for scrambling is
Prairie Mountain near Bragg Creek and
Ha Ling Peak near Canmore. These are good for training and deciding if the sport is for
you.
SO YOU ARE COMING FOR A TWO WEEK TRIP
Congratulations ! I want you to experience a good trip in the Canadian
Rockies!
The typical best time to come is the last week of July and the first
three weeks of August. You can come earlier and later but the choice of scrambles may be
limited due to conditions up high and shortened cooler days. The first three weeks of July
or the last week of August to mid-September still could provide relatively good conditions
and weather. It all depends how the weather season is going. I had some great scrambles in
mid July and mid September.
From Colorado to Banff driving distance is around 1,185 miles, a
two-day drive but definitely doable by car pool. Ive organized a two-week trip to
the Grand Canyon carpooling, camping and hiking for $300 Cdn each. That trip was 1,700
miles one way. Anyway it is crucial to come with friends who can get along for two weeks.
You know, people who do not have a fixed agenda, inflexible thinking, socially insensitive
to others, hard to handle habits, etc. Compatibility is very important on a two-week
outdoor trip. You need each person to be mature enough to give each other space and not
want to make all the decisions. Being a bit of a servant to one another goes a long way to
make it a good overall experience for everybody.
Base Camp
https://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/camping/tunnel1.aspx
I am assuming a low budget trip therefore camping at the Banff
Tunnel Mountain Campground is my recommendation. This is a first come, first
serve campground but it is a big one, over 600 sites. Getting there before 11am on any day
but perhaps Friday or Saturday should ensure a choice of site no problem. Loops C,D,E
or F recommended. Loops A and B usually are for the younger crowd who seem to
need a little more noise in their lives if you know what I mean. The farthest
loops are near the top of the terrain and you do hear the odd train coming
through the valley. The daily fee per site is $27.40 Cdn
plus $8.80 if you want to have a campfire. Showers and washrooms are in each loop. This
is the best of both worlds because Banff is central to all the scrambles and when you want
a rest day you can tour around Banff or just kick back at the campground. Every
convenience is nearby, hot springs, groceries, outdoor stores, Park information center. There
is a daily fee of $20 for every day your vehicle is in Banff National Park therefore it is
better to buy the yearly pass at the park gate for $136 Cdn. Still a cheap deal if you are
carpooling. You can sell the park pass on E-Bay later.
Check out the official Banff National Park web site
here
https://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/index.aspx
If you want a more remote camping trip I would recommend Boulton
Creek or Elkwood Campgrounds in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (Kananaskis Country).
These have showers and washrooms and run at $26 Cdn per site. Firewood is available in
bundles at extra cost. These campgrounds are nearest to Mt Indefatigable, Opal Ridge S,
Mt. Rae, Mt. Tyrwhitt, Mt Sparrowhawk, and Big Sister. There is a small store nearby at
Boulton Creek and a gas station with store (Fortress Junction) just outside the Provincial
Park.
Check out the Kananaskis Country Official Home Page at
https://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/
The Hostel Experience
For a little more money per person you can stay at a number of
hostels. These are dorm style rooms and some private rooms depending on location. Bring
your own sleeping bag and favorite pillow. There are four that are fairly central as a
base. The Banff International Hostel $20 Cdn members $24 non-members, the Lake Louise
International Hostel $21 Cdn members $25 non-members, Castle Mountain Hostel (mid way
between Banff and Lake Louise) $13 Cdn members $17 non-members, Ribbon Creek Hostel
(Kananaskis Country) $13 Cdn members $17 non-members. A yearly membership is $25 Cdn
but if you are coming from outside of Canada you must buy your membership from the
Hostelling Association in your own country.
For more information check out the Hostelling International web site at
https://www.hostellingintl.ca/Alberta/
Important Phone Numbers
Banff Park Information Center (main street 224 Banff Avenue)
403-762-1550
Banff Park Warden 403-762-4506
Banff RCMP (police) 403-762-2226
Lake Louise Visitor Center (Samson Mall Lake Louise town-site)
403-522-3833
Lake Louise Warden 403-522-1220
Lake Louise RCMP (police) 403-522-3811
Barrier Lake Information Center ( Highway 40 Kananaskis Country)
403-673-3985
Barrier Lake Info Center is just south of the TransCanada highway on
highway 40; about a 5 minute drive
Emergencies Kananaskis Country 403-591-7767 or 591-7707
Peter Lougheed Park Information Center 403-591-6345