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Where I come from, the guidebook Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies, 3rd edition by Alan Kane is essential. Increasingly my hiking friends prefer hard, fun one day adventures over multi-day walk hauling a pack.
I love this book. And curse it, alternately. Needless to say, route finding on scrambles are not without their challenges. (We’re still […]

Have you tried the sport of geocaching?
Here’s a good trip report:

San Diego rocks!
Indians called it “Mountain of the Moonlit Rocks”, while early settlers dubbed it “Cobbleback Peak”, both names appropriately describes the rugged, boulder strewn slopes of Woodson Mountain.
However, this mountain for the past 100 years appeared on maps simply as “Woodson Mountain”, in honor […]

Photographer Phil Armitage has a terrific photo gallery that any hiker will love. His best photos are available for sale.
I was particularly interested in Phil’s pics from a hike to shoot “The Hound’s Tooth” in the “Bugs”, a granite range in the Purcell Mountains of eastern British Columbia, Canada.

larger original

From Phil’s trip report:
… […]

There is talk of closing Angel’s Landing in Zion and Half Dome in Yosemite.
The controversy with the first two (American hikes) is rekindled — not surprisingly — each time a tourist falls to their death. Access is simply too easy for the inexperienced and under-prepared.
But if you (like us) feel you are capable […]

UPDATE from Brad in California:
Unlike every other report I’ve read on the internet, Brad’s actually been there.
It’s a good sidetrip out of Xian, site of the astonishing Terracotta Warriors.
A few more facts: It is not "Mt." Hua Shan. It is just Hua Shan. …
A hostel is available on the […]

We just discovered a cool new blog, 6-months-old, devoted to adventure in Waterton National Park. Eight contributors are participating, so far.
Good job guys!
Waterton Scrambling is a model for localized adventure sport blogs.
We have linked to you from our Blogs category (right-hand navigation) and subscribed to your RSS feed.

photo contest winner - Custer - Blair Piggot

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I had never heard of Waterfowl Lakes Campground, 57km north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper in the Canadian Rockies.
It seems to be mainly populated with visitors from Germany and Austria.
If you are car camping this is a good choice.
We camped beside pretty Mistaya River close to the […]

Lucas Rojek has a great adventure in mind. It’s a very challenging variation on one of our favourite hikes — the Tamarack Trail in Waterton National Park, Alberta:
Our plan is to follow the standard trail (Rowe Lakes up to Lineham ridge) then drop into the Lineham Lakes, set up camp and if we still have […]

Rated as “moderate” in Alan Kane’s Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies — we had a particularly gruelling day. Alan’s trip description is very confusing.
UPDATE - Dave Stephens has posted a trip report which will help you decide on the best route.
Dave’s goal is to scramble every mountain in Kane’s book.
Lesson learned? Bring the GPS […]

Climber Scott Whiteside who lives in the Crowsnest Pass recommends the Crowsnest Mountain scramble in the Canadian Rockies. It’s 4-7hrs return, 1100m (3609ft), non-technical. Good fun — but no mountaineering gear needed when dry.
No map needed, just Alan Kane’s book.
A group of us are planning to do it Saturday, June 17th. Email or leave a […]