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Mount Sparrowhawk… a 3rd Time!

by Rick Chin 2 Comments

Such pretty green among a sea of rocks

Such pretty green among a sea of rocks

I am a glutton for punishment. Why would I hike Mount Sparrowhawk for a third time??

Well, Sparrowhawk probably has the best summit views that I have ever seen in the Canadian Rockies, so even though the hike is quite epic, long and exhausting, it’s worth it. At 3121 metres (10,240 ft), it’s the highest peak in the area. The third time around, I was hopeful I would beat my time of 8.5 hours, but alas, we did not. [Read more…]

Door Jamb and Loder Peak

by Rick Chin 4 Comments

Door Jamb seems so far away!

Door Jamb seems so far away!

Door Jamb and Loder Peak are easy/moderate scrambles near Calgary that can both be conquered in one half-day outing. It’s a surprise that I hadn’t experienced them sooner!

We’ve had a mild winter in Calgary this year, and the easterly location of Door Jamb and Loder Peak along the Bow Valley would almost guarantee a non-snowy May hike. Robbie and I parked at the side of the road on Highway 1A near the eastern cement plant near Exshaw, and the trailhead begins right from the parking lot. [Read more…]

Ha Ling Peak

by Rick Chin 2 Comments

From Ha Ling Peak: Mountain peaks all around and Canmore down below

From Ha Ling Peak: Mountain peaks all around and Canmore down below

So I’ve written about Ha Ling Peak before. It’s steep. It’s awesome. It’s quick. And the views from the top are incredible. With a round trip time of about 3.5 hours and an elevation gain of 700 metres, Ha Ling (2408 metres) is also a great one to do if you want to stretch your legs after a day at the desk job. From where I work in Calgary, I can leave the hospital and set foot on the trail within an hour. I’ve mentioned numerous times about how grateful I am to live in a city where this is possible.

What’s notable about this particular Ha Ling climb is that my brother Ry was visiting and he was eager to scramble up his first mountain in the Rockies! As expected, he was not disappointed with the view of Canmore, the Bow Valley, and the Spray Lakes area below. It’s was one of those breathtakng moments where he couldn’t even find the right words to describe the feeling of looking down at the world. Ry has always thought my photos were pretty awesome, but admitted that they never really capture the moment. I would have to agree. It’s that sense of awe that has drawn me in, leaving me wanting more with each and every mountain peak!

Ha Ling wouldn’t be the only mountain adventure during Ry’s stay in Calgary… [Read more…]

Mount Lady Macdonald: So. Much. Exposure.

by Rick Chin 1 Comment

Paul makes his way along the knife-edge. Incredible views all around.

Paul makes his way along the knife-edge. Incredible views all around.

Oh Mount Temple. I shake my fist so hard at you right now. They say the third time’s a charm; however, this is the third year that efforts for a Temple summit have been thwarted. It’s not that it’s an impossible climb, it’s just that I have promised two other nerds that we would reach the top together. Between a combination of weather obstacles and logistics between Paul, Dan and myself, conquering Mount Temple will wait another year. *Sigh*… clearly we needed another epic mountain to take its place. But which one?? [Read more…]