These trip reports are organized by location, and by Park or Area. For example, Fairview Mountain is located in both Alberta, and Banff National Park. For Kananaskis Country, Trip Reports are further organized by the five major divisions within this park. For example, Mist Mountain is in the Highwood Area of Kananaskis Country. Trip Reports for areas outside of Parks are organized by the closest town or municipality.
ALBERTA
These Trip Reports are all within Alberta.
Banff National Park
Please read this article BEFORE you start winter hiking, snowshoeing or skiing in the National Parks.
Safe(r) Winter Routes for Snowshoe/Hikers – National Parks
- Lake Agnes, Big Beehive and Little Beehive – a classic Lake Louse hike.
- Arnica Lake – a classic Banff backpack, via Shadow Lake or Vista Lake
- Aylmer Lookout – long hike above Lake Minnewanka with a great view
- Bow Hut – Backcountry skiing. The jumping off point of many adventures
- Bow Summit – Backcountry skiing. Ideal beginner terrain
- Bow Valley Parkway – Cycle from Banff to Castle Junction
- C Level Cirque – Three kinds of fun in Banff, plus some history to boot!
- Cascade Fire Road to Warden’s Cabin, and beyond – Cross-country skiing
- Cory Pass to Gargoyle Valley – a ‘there and back’ or more challenging loop
- Crowfoot Mountain – Backcountry skiing
- Devil’s Thumb – The ultimate Lake Louise summit view
- Mt. Edith – the north summit
- Eiffel Peak – A scramble with intense views
- Egypt Lake – a classic Banff backpack
- Fairview Mountain – outstanding views from this accessible summit
- Gargoyle Valley via Cory Pass – a challenging loop
- Healy Pass – A classic Banff hike
- Johnson’s Canyon & Ink Pots – A Winter Wonderland
- Lake Minnewanka Cycle – Canmore to Minnewanka to Tunnel Mountain
- Moraine Lake Road – A Bike & Hike Adventure
- Paradise Valley to Lake Annette – Cross-country with some avi exposure
- Pharaoh Peak – via Healy Pass and Egypt Lake
- Sentinel Pass – Via Larch Valley above Moraine Lake
- Shadow Lake – a classic Banff backpack via Egypt Lake
- Sulphur Mountain / Sanson Peak – Banff’s most accessible peak with amazing views
- Mount Temple – 11,000′ of gorgeous mountain
- Tower of Babel – A bike and hike adventure
- Tunnel Mountain – Fantastic Views for Very Little Effort
- Twin Lakes – a classic Banff backpack, via Shadow Lake or Vista Lake
- Vista Lake – a classic hike or backpack, via Shadow Lake
- Backpack – Sunshine to Healy Pass, Egypt Lake, Shadow Lake, Twin Lakes, Arnica Lake & Vista Lake
- Banff Backpack – Day One: Sunshine Village to Egypt Lake via Healy Pass
- Banff Backpack – Day Two: Egypt Lake to Shadow Lake, including Pharaoh Peak
- Banff Backpack – Day Three: Shadow Lake to Vista Lake
Waterton National Park
Please read this article BEFORE you start winter hiking, snowshoeing or skiing in the National Parks.
Safe(r) Winter Routes for Snowshoe/Hikers – National Parks
- Carthew-Alderson Traverse – the best of Waterton in one hike
- Red Rock Canyon – a short interpretive trail
- Red Rock Parkway – a scenic cycle that ends at Red Rock Canyon
Jasper National Park
Please read this article BEFORE you start winter hiking, snowshoeing or skiing in the National Parks.
Safe(r) Winter Routes for Snowshoe/Hikers – National Parks
- Skyline Backpack:
- Skyline Trail – Day One: Maligne Lake to Snowbowl Campground
- Skyline Trail – Day two: Snowbowl to Tekarra Campground
- Skyline Trail – Day Three: Tekarra to Signal Trailhead
- Tonquin Valley Backpack:
- Tonquin Valley – Day One: Edith Cavell to Amethyst Lakes
- Tonquin Valley – Day Two: Mount Clitheroe Summit
- Tonquin Valley – Day Three: Wates-Gibson Hut
- Tonquin Valley – Day Four: Majestic Ridge (also includes Day Five hiking out)
Kananaskis Country
Please read this article BEFORE you start winter hiking, snowshoeing or skiing in Kananaskis Country.
Safe(r) Winter Routes for Snowshoe/Hikers – Kananaskis
Kananaskis Country – Ghost, Canmore, Bow Valley, Spray Lakes
- Anklebiter Ridge – Close, quick and steep
- Door Jam Mountain – very close with great views
- Exshaw Mountain – close, short and a loop
- Heart Mountain – A traverse well worth doing
- Loder Peak via Door Jam Mountain – a short scramble ideal for shoulder season
- Mount McGillivary Canyon – An obstacle course
- Pigeon Mountain – A look back into time
- West Wind Pass – A straight shot to an amazing view
- Wind Ridge – A Hike with Spice
- Wind Tower – An accessible peak beyond West Wind Pass
Kananaskis Country – Kananaskis Valley, Smith Dorrien, Kananaskis Lakes, Elk Lakes
- Mount Baldy – quality scramble that’s close and ready early season
- Barrier Fire Lookout / Yates Mountain – close with amazing views, plus optional loop.
- Blueberry Hill at Elk Pass – Cross-country skiing
- Cascade Falls / The Green Monster – a winter frozen waterfall hike
- Chester Lake – WINTER snowshoe and ski routes
- Elk Pass – cross-country ski
- Grizzly Peak – An easy and accessible scramble
- Gypsum Ridge – Backcountry skiing. Mellow and Steep
- Hummingbird Plume Fire Lookout – cross-country ski
- Kent South Peak – an accessible winter peak
- Mount Lawson – South Summit – Nice winter hike along a ridge
- Little Lougheed – a short summit with amazing views
- Midnight Peak Traverse – An enjoyable summit, with a challenging traverse
- Old Baldy Hike or Scramble – A loop or a There & Back (not Mount Baldy)
- Opal Ridge – North Summit – The Best Mother’s Day present
- Opal Ridge – South Summit – A More Adventurous Hike
- Pocaterra Ridge – Go from North to South
- Porcupine Ridge – A ridge with some spice
- Mount Roberta – Short and Spicy
- Rummel Lake – A classic Kananaskis backcountry ski tour
- Skogan Pass – Hummingbird Plume Fire Lookout, Skogan Loop and Troll Falls Ski
- Mount Sparrowhawk – my 8 year old’s first summit
- Tent Ridge – An electrifying traverse
- Whiskey Jack to Tyrwhitt to Fox Creek trails – Cross-country skiing
Kananaskis Country – Jumping Pound, West Bragg, Elbow
- Belmore Browne to Boundary Peak – three peak traverse, no scrambling, and epic views
- Canyon Creek Ice Cave – a bike and hike adventure
- Cox Hill – a popular hike in the Sibbald area with excellent ridge views
- Forget Me Not Ridge – North and South
- Fullerton Loop – “the” beginner or kid friendly hike
- Iron Springs Loop at West Bragg Creek – Cross-country skiing
- Mustang Hills Loop – A small hump with many hiking options
- Powderface Ridge – One Summit, Two Summit – your choice
- White Buddha Loop – short and spectacular limestone walls
Kananaskis Country – Sheep, McLean Creek
- Little Ware – Mount Ware’s Little Brother
- Mount Hoffman – Short, Sweet and Close
- Mount McNab – an ideal hike for the winter doldrums
- Missing Link Mountain – Close & short for the shoulder season
- Sheep River Road – A hilly but ideal early season cycle
- Shunga-la-she – Varied terrain, nice ridge scramble with unique views
Kananaskis Country – Flat Creek, Highwood, Cataract, Willow Creek, Livingstone
- Arethusa Cirque & Little Arethusa Peak – an easy hike with an added challenge
- Arethusa Cirque – Backcountry Skiing
- Mount Burke – There and Back, or a Traverse from North and South summits
- Carnarvon Lake – Do it ALL at Carnarvon Lake
- Coyote Hills – stunning views on a wind protected hike
- Grass Pass to Boundary Pine – an quick and straight forward hike with a lovely look out.
- Gunnery Mountain – An easy summit
- Hailstone Butte Fire Lookout – great views and mosaics for a short hike
- Highwood Pass Cycle – South gate to Highwood Pass bike
- Holy Cross Mountain – nice ridge scramble
- Junction Hill – This loop has route finding, grass lands, forest, talus slopes and a ridge.
- Linehan Ridge – This is the hike that provides views to the series of Lineham Ridge scrambles.
- Mist Mountain – Second time lucky!
- Picklejar Lakes – A string of four lakes, nestled in a mountain cirque.
- Raspberry Ridge – A lovely ridge with lots of options
- Thunder Mountain – a long ridge scramble
Highway 11 / Nordegg Area
- Coliseum Mountain
- The Fox via Ferrata
BRITISH COLUMBIA
These trip reports are all within British Columbia.
Kootenay National Park
- Stanley Glacier – Three options: view point, upper meadow or moraine
Columbia Valley – Invermere Area
- Pedley Pass Ridge – A new take on an old favourite
- Welsh Lakes – A Purcell Range Beauty
Kootenay
- Cornice Ridge at Kootenay Pass – Backcountry skiing
- Bonnington Backcountry Ski Traverse
- Bonnington Traverse – Bombi to Grassy Hut
- Bonnington Traverse – Grassy to Steed Hut
- Bonnington Traverse – Steed to Copper Hut
- Bonnington Traverse – Copper to Bonnington Dam (via Plan B)
VARIOUS:
- 52 Hike Challenge – Completed!
- AST 2 Course with ACMG Paddy Jerome / Canadian Rockies Mountain Guides
- Backcountry Eats – Dehydrating Dinners for beginners
- Drumlins Among Us – They are hiding in plain sight 🙂
- How to Suck Less in the Mountains, Part I – Strong Legs and Lungs
- How to Suck Less in the Mountains, Part II – Strong Mind
- My 200th Strava Activity – The power of doing something small
- Cov-Idiots. Adventuring during a Pandemic
- How Adventuring Helps me Survive Self-Isolation – a humorous look at what we consider ‘hard’.
- The Ghost of Abbot Pass – a spooky post to celebrate Halloween
- How to Keep your Phone Battery Alive in Cold Weather – tried and true tips to keep your phone alive.
- Shoulder Season Shuffle – how to not destroy trails and severely piss of bears
- Cultivating a Pack Valet Relationship – The care and feeding of your pack b!tch 🙂
- World Cup Newbie:
- Confessions of a World Cup Racing Newbie – Part One
- Confessions of a World Cup Racing Newbie – Part Two
- Confessions of a World Cup Racing Newbie – Part Three
- Newly Minted Ski Instructor
Alisen Dopf 