My bum… is numb.
That was my second thought once Robbie and I completed the 21.8 km Legacy Trail from Canmore to Banff. I haven’t been on my bike enough lately to comfortably endure that distance.
My first thought was: We did it!
Oh Middle Sister.
What wondrous views from your summit. Atop your vantage point, I feel like I can conquer anything. But alas, I will never hike you again.
Just outside of Canmore, there’s a trio of mountains known as the Three Sisters. Iconic and symbolic, they’re hard to ignore. Of the three, Middle Sister is the easiest scramble, and I’ve wanted to hike to the peak since 2010. Since Dan was in town, I knew we needed to hike something intense. Paul was free as well, and when the three of us get together, there’s all kinds of ridiculous. One of Alberta’s famous snow storms in August decided to pass through the day before, which thwarted our original hiking plans. After humming and hah-ing, we decided on Middle Sister.
The East End of Rundle is becoming a go-to favourite for me! With a round trip time of about 4 hours, this hike offers a forested and rocky ascent with gorgeous views of Ha Ling and the surrounding Spray Valley. A short, yet super fun scramble with a bit of exposure greets you before the summit. My friend Dan, who was visiting for another mountain adventure, was up for epic hikes, and I knew EEOR would be a great after work accomplishment.
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.
HIKES & HAMSTRINGS 