Today’s mountain view comes from the summit of Mount St. Piran, high above the water and crowds of Lake Louise. With rewarding views of the lake below, Mount Fairview, and a snow-capped Mount Temple, what’s there not to love?
As an introvert, I try to venture out to the mountains for a solo thinky trip at least once a summer. It allows me to be at one with myself and my thoughts while surrounded by pristine natural beauty. This hike was one of those trips. Continue reading “Gratitude on Mount St. Piran”
For some reason, the south peak of Opal Ridge is a scramble I had forgotten about, so when a friend suggested we hike it, I was total on board. Four of us headed to the Fortress Junction Service Station on Highway 40 in Kananaskis and geared up, ready for a long day. From the north side of the parking lot, we headed north through the grass and crossed over the drainage creek to start the ascent on trail that leads to the top (Note: You want to be on the left side, or north, of the drainage as you ascend). This one has it all: a steep ascent, loose and large rocks on which to scramble, lovely wildflowers, a grassy meadow before the last push (equipped with the perfect rock on which to have lunch!), and then a final hike up to the south peak with views of the surrounding valleys and mountains that will leave you breathless. As an added bonus, you can scree down parts of the descent. Squeee for the scree! Photos don’t do it justice, but it’ll give a pretty good idea of the awesomeness to expect. 
After months of being closed, part of the Highwood finally opened up! The flood had really damaged the area, and a quick google search online will show the destruction that occurred. I thought that the Highwood would be closed for the rest of the season, but nope! So when Jess asked if I wanted to go hiking on Sunday (which, of course, I did), I knew the Highwood would be an awesome area to go. With the larches turning colour, it was going to be beautiful. After considering a few choices (Pocaterra Ridge, Wasootch Peak), I suggested hiking to Grizzly Col at the Pocaterra Cirque.
As expected, Pocaterra Cirque was so pretty, especially with all of the golden larches covered by snow. I really love this area, and as long as I’m in Calgary, I will make it a point to hike in the Highwood at least once each fall. After taking photos and stopping to eat lunch, we pressed onward. Mount Tyrwhitt and the rock arch loomed in front. We would not be ascending this mountain, but heading to the pass overlooking the continental divide. Grizzly Col (which I believe is the mountain to the left of the pass) looked quite snow-covered, so the plan was to assess that climb once we arrived at the pass. But as we ascended, the wind became fierce and at times was so strong that it stopped us in our tracks. Thank goodness I was prepared with my winter gear- ‘crampons’, gaiters, my alpine jacket, a hat and gloves. We weren’t all as prepared, and the wind was a bit concerning. In addition, the clouds were dark. Fearing a storm and potential white-out conditions, we opted to head back shortly before reaching the pass. Safety first!… (which is a motto I repeated throughout the weekend after the cougar incident). Like I mentioned, there will always be next time.
HIKES & HAMSTRINGS 