Summits
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Mount Lorette – South Ridge
On June 29, 2025, after years of studying the ridge from the highway as we drove by, we finally ascended the South Ridge route on Mount Lorette in Kananaskis It was our first alpine route using a rope and trad gear.
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Mount Hood
On August 18, 2024, we successfully summited Mount Hood in Kananaskis using Alan Kane’s recommended route. We encountered some pretty strange behavior from a group of sheep near the top of the ridge. The ascent over King Creek Ridge went well. For the descent, we took the creek. The route requires careful route-finding and offers…
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Pika Peak
The ascent of Pika Peak was the most challenging, engaging, and enjoyable of the three mountains we summited on our Hidden Lake expedition. The route up from the Hidden Lake campground involved steep hiking, scrambling, and exposed ridge walking. After reaching the summit, we descended and hiked back to camp, making for a tough but…
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Ptarmigan Peak
On the second day of the Hidden Lake trip, we geared up for the Ptarmigan Peak summit. After a cold, wet night, we took some time to dry our gear in the morning sun before embarking on the steep, rocky ascent. Despite the hardships, we were determined to conquer the peak and complete the trilogy…
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Mount Richardson
On the first day of our trip to Hidden Lake we summited Mount Richardson. We started at Hidden Lake campground and found some trails up the steep slopes and scree fields. Despite thick clouds at the summit, we felt the first day was a success. Our plans for the next day included an attempt to…
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Hidden Lake Campground: Planning, Permits, and Hike
On August 6, 2024, we hiked to Hidden Lake Campground in Banff National Park, planning a three-night stay and hoping to summit nearby peaks. Alan Kane’s book and apps like AllTrails and FATMAP were invaluable for planning. To secure a spot, backcountry camping reservations should be made well in advance. The hike in, although 8km,…
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Mount Burstall – Summit
On July 28, we summited Mount Burstall, our first “difficult” summit in the Alan Kane Scrambles book, after initially reaching the col below. The adventure was challenging, involving steep hiking, loose rocks, and a narrow, exposed summit ridge. We followed helpful resources and successfully navigated the route, gaining confidence for more challenging scrambles.
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Mount Cory
On July 28, 2024, we summited Mount Cory in Banff National Park. The route involved steep trail sections, off-trail route-finding, and moderate scrambling. The trail meandered through alpine meadows and rocky formations, culminating in a satisfying summit experience. We couldn’t find a lot of information about the route before we went up. I hope this…