After the gruelling hike to the Memorial Lakes yesterday, all I wanted to do was relax at home. My hiking boots did not cooperate (thankfully I have another pair of hiking shoes), and so my feet, knees and legs were in pain. But rather than take the remainder of the weekend off and recuperate, I decided to plan a second hike for Sunday! I had always wanted to hike Ha Ling Peak. From Highway 1, passing through Canmore, it looks amazing jutting out into the sky. So I thought, why not make it two mountain hikes in one weekend, which I had never done before. I reckon I’ll be recovering from this all week :S.
Ha Ling Peak (Altitude: 2408 metres, or 7898 feet) is rated as a fairly easy hike. It’s no walk in the park, but it makes a great short day hike. The elevation gain is 700 metres (2296 feet), and there’s a scramble at the top (rated Class 1 – Steep Hiking according to www.trailpeak.com). The views along the hike and at the summit are fantastic.
After meeting up with friends Robin, Adriane, and Adriane’s friend Tom, we made our way to the trailhead near Canmore. Robin, Adriane and I started the ascent to the summit of Ha Ling, but Tom decided to hike up East End of Rundle on the opposite side of the road (East End of Rundle is definitely on my list of hikes to do!). I really enjoyed this hike- great company and conversation, a steady and manageable pace, and it felt like a good workout. At the summit, there were breathtaking views as expected, we dined like royalty, and then we went screeing down the side of the mountain. I had never been screeing and it was so much fun! After stopping for many photos during the hike and relaxing for a bit at the top, the hike took us about 4 hours. Tom, who’s kind of a machine, hiked to the summit of East End of Rundle, hiked down, hiked up to the summit of Ha Ling, and then caught up with us about half way down the descent. Two mountains in the same day. Now that is impressive! I was in quite a bit of discomfort due to pains in my knees and legs, but I guess that’s expected after back-to-back hikes. NBD. No Big Deal. Thanks to Adriane, I had a pair of hiking poles to use, which helped take some weight off my knees. And after a great sense of accomplishment, it’s difficult not to be elated :).
Overall, the weekend was fantastic: Two hikes, a potluck, and a breakfast. I’m so tired… I can’t wait for the weekend :).
HIKES & HAMSTRINGS 