Scrambling – HIKES & HAMSTRINGS

Mount Lawrence Grassi: In Photos

After an incredibly busy few months, I was itching to get my scrambling legs going. Mount Lawrence Grassi would be the mountain of choice.

After an incredibly busy few months filled with visitors, weddings and a move (more on the move in a later post…), I was itching to get my scrambling legs going. I mean, how could I make it to mid-August without completing any challenging summer hikes?

It’s blasphemous!

I know.

I wanted to do something in the Canmore area, and having never attempted Mount Lawrence Grassi, I decided it would be the mountain of choice. I’m not going to lie, it was rough on the system. My legs didn’t cooperate the way I would have liked. And I scraped up my leg pretty good due to an out-of-place rock ;), but the views were fantastic as expected. That said, while conquering new mountains is always a fun objective, I probably should have just hiked Ha Ling for the equally impressive views.

To reach the Mount Lawrence Grassi trailhead, park at the Goat Creek parking area where you would for Ha Ling Peak. Walk toward to the Ha Ling peak trail, but pass it and continue along the water for 20-30 minutes until you see a cairn on the left. It’s super easy to spot.

Dear Mountains: I Have Missed You

Alas, it’s been a long break.

A break from blogging, from podcasts, from audiobooks, from working out, and even from hiking. I can go on about the reasons why, but it boils down to a need to step away and recharge. My body knew before my brain did. And when I wouldn’t listen, it made me slow down. I was fatigued. And I was injured. And I was mentally drained. So I finally stopped and listened.

And the break was glorious.

With the summer hiking season in full swing, my muscles moving again in the ways they should move, and some exciting plans on the horizon, I suddenly have the urge to post on and tinker with my blog again. I absolutely love taking photos, and plan to continue sharing my adventures and misadventures. So for the next little while, I’ll be taking a more visual approach. Less writing. More photos.

Writing isn’t coming as naturally to me as before.

So I’m not going to force it.

I’ll just be patient.

Mount Thompson and All The Smells!

Bow Lake has never looked more beautiful!

Thursday July 2. And that was Peyto Hut, our cozy abode for 2 nights. After an oatmeal breakfast we packed up and cleaned up. One of my tasks was to empty some leftover bison stew and pasta into the outhouse. It is not a fun thing to do. The outhouse, as you can imagine, has a strong pungent stench of the excrement of many mountaineers. And in I go, with bowls of food, to throw the leftovers into the hole. It’s a whole lotta smells!

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Summit Day: Mount Habel

En route to Mount Habel. Elevation: 3087 metres

Wednesday July 1. Happy Canada Day! At 7:30 am, after a heaping breakfast of eggs, bacon and hash browns, we assembled our gear and descended from Peyto Hut. In the distance, Mount Habel rose to the sky- glaciated on either side, snow covered in parts, and rocky as expected. At an elevation of 3087 metres, this would be the peak that we would conquer. The only thing that stood between us and the summit was the ice… no big deal. The previous night, there was a huge thunderstorm of rain, hail, cracks of thunder and flashes of lightning. The rain melted some of the snow leaving the ice exposed and the remaining snow a land of slush.

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Crossing the Wapta Icefield to Peyto Hut

Monday June 29. The first night in a new, unfamiliar place can be rough. I can’t say I had the best sleep. Even though the foam mattress in Bow Hut was comfortable, it’s just never the same as the comfort of your own bed. I had the top bunk all to myself, but even with the window open all night, I was roasting in the sleeping bag. Like, full on sleeping in a pool of my own sweat type of roasting. It was gross. I awoke to find breakfast ready on the table- pancakes, bacon and coffee. Yamnuska Mountain Adventures certainly had not disappointed with the food thus far!

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