Top ten lists
I have been asked many times for a list of my top ten hikes, backpacking trips, scrambles and climbs. It seemed better to split them into categories, so here goes. These are obviously subjective and are rated as much on the weather and the mood I was in at the time as on the trip itself. Each list is alphabetical — choosing an absolute best one is beyond me. 😏
Long-time readers will know I am weird about what I find satisfying. Some of these will leave you wondering whether I am dumb. I rate Recondite as a top ten alpine climb, and most people avoid that loose, distant peak until they have to climb it. Apologies in advance for a soft spot for long off-trail approaches and obscure summits.
Recent trips
Favourites from the past few years, in alphabetical order. Eventually they will work their way into the other lists or be replaced by newer ones.
- Job Lake Excursions (Coral Creek, Job Pass)
Aug 2024, first range, bighorn backcountry
SC77 m147 km4.5 daysscramble, hike, backpack, camp
Overall scrambles
Hard to choose only ten. What you will notice is that my favourites are either remote, difficult, or both — I get the most satisfaction out of long trips that are not done often and are not too easy.
Honourable mentionsAbruzzi, MountBarrier to Gable Mountain Traverse
Easy scrambles
Less fierce options that many hikers will enjoy, without a ton of bushwhacking or exposure. You should not feel like you are going to die on any of these, or that you are off route. I make no promises about the ease of access. 😏
Honourable mentionsPharaoh Peak, Greater
Moderate scrambles
No need to feel like you might die on route, but there are wonderful views and some hands-on work involved in reaching the summit.
- Cone Mountain, Turbulent, Fortulent Peaks
Jul 2021, sundance range, banff national park
SC62800 m44 kmscramble, hike, backpack, bike
Honourable mentionsApparition Mountain
Difficult scrambles
A mix of short, difficult cruxes and loose, terrifying ascents which will take coins from your luck jar no matter how proficient you are at climbing without a rope to arrest a slip. Treat all of them with proper respect.
Honourable mentionsFisher Peak (Kananaskis)Lougheed I, Mount
Remote scrambles
These will have you pretty bagged by the time you drag your tired carcass back to the vehicle, either after a very long day or several days off grid. All of them left an impression of untouched beauty, special alpine views and solitude.
- Apparition Mountain
Jul 2021, palliser range, banff national park
SC6500 m4 kmscramble, hike, backpack, bike
- Bonnet & Hickson Peak
Aug 2022, sawback range, banff national park
MN63200 m70 km2 daysscramble, backpack
- Cheshire & Dormouse Peak
Aug 2022, ram range, david thompson country
SC61700 m20 kmscramble, backpack, bike, camp
- Profound Peak (Simpson) & Mount Osgood
Sep 2023, clearwater ranges, siffleur wilderness area
SC71640 m9 kmscramble
Honourable mentionsObstruction MountainRevenant Mountain (Steacie)
Alpine climbs — non winter
The cream of the crop. Mountains I dreamed about for years before ascending them, and some I never thought I would stand on top of. At heart I am nothing other than a hiker and scrambler, so any alpine climbing is a gigantic bonus — I owe the folks who dragged me along on most of these.
- Alexandra, Mount
Sep 2014, alexandra group, banff national park
MN83900 m32 kmalpine climb, backpack, camp
Honourable mentionsCline, MountPresident, The & Vice PresidentRecondite Peak
Easy alpine climbs
Either not requiring special climbing gear, or a very minimal amount of it — a short rappel or an easy glacier crossing.
- Brazeau, Mount
Jul 2015, le grande brazeau, jasper national park
MN72500 m24.5 kmalpine climb, backpack, camp
- Christian Peak (Lyell V)
Jun 2015, lyell group, banff national park
MN7600 m6 kmalpine climb, snowshoe
- President, The & Vice President
Jul 2008, president range, yoho national park
MN71800 m26 kmalpine climb
Honourable mentionsWarren, MountWoolley, Mount
Winter alpine climbs
These will make you work for their summits. The hardest part with most of them is surviving the approach and the winter camping. Many have severe avalanche slopes or crevasse fields and should not be underestimated — though technically none are especially difficult.
Honourable mentionsAndromeda, MountErnest Peak (Lyell III)Patterson, Mount
Easy winter alpine trips
Easier winter trips, many of them snowshoe outings in big alpine terrain. As with the harder ones, these should only be attempted by people with training and experience on an Alberta snowpack, and on glaciers.
Honourable mentionsRamp PeakSpine Peak
Ski tours
A ski tour might still involve a peak but is more focused on the tour than on snow climbing. In general these are more benign and less exposed than the winter ascents above — though several are still somewhat exposed. Assumes you are familiar with avalanche risk and how to mitigate it.
Backpacking trips
Strap on a pack and give any of these a shot — but only if you like adventure and some of the most in-your-face views in the Canadian Rockies. They range from remote and hard to access to easy with good trails and established campgrounds. Rated with hikers in mind, not scramblers.
- Job Lake Excursions (Coral Creek, Job Pass)
Aug 2024, first range, bighorn backcountry
SC77 m147 km4.5 daysscramble, hike, backpack, camp
- In the Footsteps of Sergeant Kowalski (Laughing Bears Creek)
Sep 2023, clearwater ranges, siffleur wilderness area
SC75050 m90 km3.5 daysscramble, hike, backpack, bike, camp
- Trekking along McConnell & Roaring Creeks
Aug 2023, clearwater ranges, banff national park
SC64000 m121 km3 daysscramble, hike, backpack, bike
Worst trips
My readers thought it only fair that since I post so many favourable trips, I should include ten of my least favourite. I agree. A good number are snowshoe trips, which is no surprise, and they are all fairly easy — probably chosen because of crappy conditions when I did not really feel like being anywhere other than my warm, comfortable couch.
Honourable mentionsOkotoks MountainMustang Hills, TheTwo Pines & Last Break (Lyon)