Day hikes in the Canadian Rockies and around the world…
Ah the end of the summer is nigh.
There’s been more rain and snow throughout August and September than I would have liked. It’s not that I dislike rain and snow- I actually enjoy both of them from time to time. But I haven’t conquered as many peaks this summer partly because of the weather. So when Saturday’s forecast looked amazing, and with the gradual colour changes that are happening in the Canadian Rockies at this time, I knew I had to do a special hike.
Door Jamb and Loder Peak are easy/moderate scrambles near Calgary that can both be conquered in one half-day outing. It’s a surprise that I hadn’t experienced them sooner!
We’ve had a mild winter in Calgary this year, and the easterly location of Door Jamb and Loder Peak along the Bow Valley would almost guarantee a non-snowy May hike. Robbie and I parked at the side of the road on Highway 1A near the eastern cement plant near Exshaw, and the trailhead begins right from the parking lot.
Happy Easter to all! Is there a better way to spend the day than hiking in the mountains? I guess that’s debatable, but I know my preference :).
Yes, the forecast called for snow. And boy did it snow. The snow even scared away some of my hiking companions. But in the end, three of us brave souls ventured out for a quick ascent of Prairie Mountain in Bragg Creek.
Sometimes you just have to unplug from the daily routine and the city stimuli, venture out on your own in nature, and think.
I know. It’s so cliche. But how often do you actually give yourself the time… the space… to be at one with your thoughts? To really honour what it is that occupies your mind? To allow yourself a chance to gain some clarity- without the car noises, text message beeps, pressing work and family commitments, ongoing to-do lists, or multitude of other things vying for our immediate attention?
Post written December 28: After a relaxing and uneventful day in Kathmandu, I awoke early to catch my 9:30 am flight to Nepal’s second largest city, Pokhara (820 metres). Located 200 km west of Kathmandu, it’s a touristy place near the Annapurna mountain range, and often acts as a base for those venturing out to complete the Annapurna Circuit or other treks in the area. The flight was a quick 20 minutes, and before I knew it, I was walking along Phewa Lake and breathing in cleaner air.
HIKES & HAMSTRINGS 