All serious hikers should check the September edition.
Outside Magazine, September 2006 | Outside Online
more besthike photos
I just added another batch of our favourite hiking photos to the besthike Flickr stream. You can see our frequently updated photo collection by clicking on the Flickr thumbnails in the right hand navigation.
photo George Novak
10 years after failing to summit Storm Mountain, Ray returned and would not be denied. Only 3 of the 8 hikers who started got to the top, including Ray. But it was a tough day for all. Ray was reminded that the descent is much more dangerous on a scramble than the climb.
329 Lake O’Hara photos
I missed the big trip. Looks like they got some RAIN in the Canadian Rockies.
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walking Saskatchewan Glacier
I’m not sure how I got talked into it — but the Glaser boys convinced me to put on crampons and harness to walk atop a melting, receding glacier in the Canadian Rockies. It requires a lot more gear and hassle than regular hiking.
Walking the glacier was pretty cool, actually. But the hike in was even better.
More photos on Flickr.
hiking above Chephren Lake
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 hiking trailhead. Though the walk in was longer than we wanted, we had great fun playing in the snow fields and waterfalls above the lake.
More photos on Flickr.
Tamarack Trail, Canada
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 the legs scramble back up again and do Hawkins Horseshoe. That’s day 1. Day 2 we scramble out and continue on Tamarack to Twin Lakes. I expect that to be a very long day. Day 3 we plan to hit Avion Ridge to Goat Lake. Day 4 we hike out from Goat Lake to Red Rock canyon parking lot.
Good luck Lucas! If you survive the off-trail scramble down to Lineham Lakes, the Avion Ridge should be a breeze.
view down to the lake from atop Lineham Ridge – RMRA trip report photos
want to see alpine animals?
Our vote for the best National Park in North America for sighting wildlife is tiny Waterton National Park in Alberta, Canada. (Adjacent to Glacier National Park in Montana.)
In Waterton you are more likely than not to see bear on any given day.
Charming Waterton Townsite is overrun with deer. You can play hide and go seek with them as we did.
photo – George Novak
During the winter hungry cougars will come right into town after the deer. Locals told us the record was 5 cougars within town limits at one time!
If you need an excuse to visit Waterton, come for one of the world’s best hikes: The Tamarack Trail. 3 days, 2nights 36km (22.4mi)
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
The photogenic Teton Range extends from Jackson Hole, Wyoming 40mi (65km) in an impressive sweep.
We did just one dayhike off the Jenny Lake boat — and wished we had enough time for the Teton Crest trail.
The highlight of the Tetons for us was cycling the Park and taking photos of Bison. We’ve posted 24 pictures on Flickr.
scrambling Storm mountain
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 and topo even on an easy scramble.
scrambling Storm Mountain
Ray tells me this is a photo of Storm in the Canadian Rockies.
Ray tells me that we are ON for the weekend of July 22-23.
Kelly tells me he will fly all the way from Whitehorse, Yukon for a shot at this peak.
See you on the summit!
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