Mount Baldy: In Photos

Even if you don't make it to the summit of Mount Baldy, it's hard not to be impressed with the views within a short period of time.
Ascending Mount Baldy. It’s hard not to be impressed with the views within a short period of time.

Looking for a great after work scramble from Calgary?

One of the reasons I love living in Calgary is its proximity to the mountains. This is no secret and I often post about how grateful I feel to live where I do. Whenever my friend Dan visits for mountain adventures, there’s always an after work hike. This year’s choice? Mount Baldy at 2192 metres and an elevation gain of 800 metres.

After a fun day of statistical programming (weeee!), we left the university after 4 pm and headed to Kananaskis. Taking the Highway 40 exit and travelling south for approximately 12 km, we parked at an open lot on the right and geared up. The trailhead is a little before the lot on the opposite side of the road at a stream. The trail is well worn, steep, rocky, and awesome. Incredible views of Kananaskis Trail, Barrier Lake, and the Baldy ridge make the short ascent quite interesting. There are a few sketchy scrambling sections about halfway up (ie. a scary down climb and a rock wall to climb over) , but all can be avoided by bypassing them to the right. Thankfully for us, clouds blew over as we neared the top and provided amazing views all around. As the sun set behind the mountains and the light faded, we decided to forgo the ridge walk and head back to the car. But hey, that’s okay! For a 4-hour round trip scramble after work, I’m not complaining. 🙂 Continue reading “Mount Baldy: In Photos”

The Fortress-Mount Chester Col Loop: In Photos

We were pretty sure The Fortress/Chester col was ahead in the cloud somewhere...
We were pretty sure The Fortress/Chester col was ahead in the cloud somewhere…
Crossing over Headwall Creek and turning left at the well marked ribbon and cairn
Crossing over Headwall Creek and turning left at the well marked ribbon and cairn

So the plan was to hike to The Fortress, which has been on my list for a long time. Mother Nature, however, had a different plan. Shrouded in a dense cloud, it was impossible to see The Fortress or Mount Chester from the col. I suppose I could have climbed to the summit regardless, but since there was a high risk of bear activity in the area, I opted to choose safety in numbers over crossing this peak off the list. Also, there are no views to be seen when you’re in a cloud! Next time…

The hike to the col via Headwall Lakes with a return via Chester Lake made for a super nice day hike of 8.25 hours. Long, yes, but with varied scenery between the two valleys, and gorgeous lakes and meadows along the way, the loop is definitely worthwhile. Continue reading “The Fortress-Mount Chester Col Loop: In Photos”

Gratitude on Mount St. Piran

In view (to name a few): Lake Louise, Big Beehive, Mount Fairview and a snow-capped Mount Temple
In view (to name a few): Lake Louise, Big Beehive, Mount Fairview and a snow-capped Mount Temple

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”

Rawson Lake and Sarrail Ridge: In Photos

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Lunch at a Lake AND a Gorgeous Ridge View?

RawsonSarrail-9Hiking to Rawson Lake near the Kananaskis Lakes in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is a great way to spend an afternoon. Park at the Upper Lake Day Use area and start the trail near the south side of the parking lot. Due to the floods in 2013, there is now a log bridge that crosses Sarrail Creek. It’s not as sturdy as it used to be, but it’s stable and does the trick. After that ‘obstacle’, the hike isn’t overly strenuous with a steady incline and takes a little over an hour. On a beautiful day, Rawson Lake is a great place to sit for lunch, relax by the water, or go fishing. For my most recent outing to Rawson Lake, a group of us went to celebrate birthdays and had a large spread of meats, cheeses, breads, pasta and wine. Because when you live so close to the mountains, why not celebrate birthdays with a hike?! Continue reading “Rawson Lake and Sarrail Ridge: In Photos”

Beachbody’s PiYo Starts Today!

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**CRACK!**

That’s the sound my lower back decided to make when I was washing my face last week. You read that right: Washing. My. Face! I mean, I knew once I turned 30 that things would start to fall apart. Limbs would hurt more. Running would require lots of stretching afterwards. My body would require more TLC. But for heaven’s sake, washing my face is not a strenuous activity! In truth, I think the intensity of a weekend filled with hiking put some strain on my lower back, and washing my face was just the straw that broke my back… *sigh*. Of course, my right knee has been a nuisance and my upper back has tweaked more than I’d like. The status quo for me these days includes an injured [insert injury location here]. Clearly something had to be done! But what?? Continue reading “Beachbody’s PiYo Starts Today!”