|
|
|---|
|
Due to Covid Pandemic, 2021 looked to be 'Canada only' Year. Unwilling to spend another winter in Rockies I planned to winter in Victoria BC. But when US lifted travel restrictions in early November I switched plans on the fly and decided to head down south. As such Trip Reports in Log below are mix of 3 different areas - Rockies, Vancouver Island and Southwest US. Major summertime backpacks included Tonquin Valley in Jasper National Park as well as Banff Sawback Trail. Top 3 Hikes of the Year:
Most entries in log below have detail Trip Report linked in left column, but feel free to contact me if you need more information |
|---|
| Trip | Date | Section | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Lookout | Jan 8 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Sunny and not cold. Compact trail - snowshoes not required |
| Marmot Creek | Jan 14 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Micro spikes a must by frozen waterfalls. Skogan Pass trail groomed |
| Rawson Lake | Jan 18 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Easy boot-up. Crossed frozen upper K-Lake on return |
| Mt. Kidd Lookout | Jan 20 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Boot up with spikes. Couple of awkward spots at treeline |
| Bow Valley Provincial Park | Jan 29 | Canadian Rockies :: Canmore / Bow Valley | Road walk from Middle Lake. Nice light at Whitefish |
| Lake Minnewanka | Feb 15 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Crossed frozen lake to south side under Mt. Inglismaldie |
| Dolomite Shoulder | Feb 18 | Canadian Rockies :: Icefields | Snowshoe via Dolomite Highline. Fab summit views! |
| Horton Hill | Feb 24 | Canadian Rockies :: Alberta Foothills | Sunny, but windy. Boot up from Lusk Parking |
| Hector Lake and Little Pulpit | Mar 4 | Canadian Rockies :: Icefields | Deep non-supportive snow prevented crossing to Balfour Flats. Ascended Pulpit knob instead following ski tracks |
| Chester Lake | Mar 9 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Boot up compact trail, including Elephant Rocks |
| Sulphur Mountain | Mar 12 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Gondola Trail with free download. Cosmic Ray closed |
| Fairholme Benchlands (South) | Mar 17 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Great Ridgewalk south of Johnson Lake. Warm and Dry! |
| Siffleur Falls | Mar 18 | Canadian Rockies :: Alberta Foothills | Great trail beyond lower falls. Explored sunny ridge above North Sask. River on return |
| Barrier Lookout | Apr 5 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Mud/slush lower, snow up. Very slippery rise to McConnel Ridge. See here for full McConnel traverse |
| Yam Shoulder | Apr 13 | Canadian Rockies :: Canmore / Bow Valley | Mud, Slush then Slippery Snow. Backside all white |
| Miners Peak | Apr 14 | Canadian Rockies :: Canmore / Bow Valley | Slippery at upper staircase. Checked skier gully below Lawrence Grassi on return |
| Ya-Ha-Tinda | Apr 16 | Canadian Rockies :: Alberta Foothills | First time visit. After initial walkabout hiked "Poplar Ridge Circuit". 3hr drive (1-way) is major issue |
| Bow Valley Parkway cycle / Johnston Canyon / Ink Pots | Apr 20 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Awesome bike ride on 1A from Banff to Castle Junction followed by Johnston Canyon / Ink Pots hike in total solitude |
| Fairholme Benchlands (Water Tower) | Apr 26 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Return from Cascade Ponds, including Johnson Lake loop |
| Peechee Ridge | May 5 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Mt. Peechee east ridge scramble above Carrot Creek |
| Grassi Lakes / Whiteman Gap | May 11 | Canadian Rockies :: Canmore / Bow Valley | Usual "8" loop. Unseasonally snowy/wet conditions |
| King Creek Ridge | May 14 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Ridge snowbound. Fantastic light on return at first highpoint |
| Cascade Fireroad | May 21 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Cycle to Stony Creek Crossing. Brief hike on Elk Pass trail to Cascade River ford |
| Astley Drainage | May 22 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Investigate approach from Stewart Canyon up gully draining off Astley Ridge above Lake Minnewanka |
| Rats Nest Cave | May 27 | Canadian Rockies :: Canmore / Bow Valley | Explore Canyon above the cave with loop return via Grotto Carter Route |
| Stones Gully | May 30 | Canadian Rockies :: Canmore / Bow Valley | Loop scramble above Highline trail up gully between Lawrence Grassi and Miners Peak |
| Moraine Lake bike & hike | May 31 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Cycle Moraine road, then circumvent the lake. Very rough conditions on south side |
| Minnewanka to Ghost | June 3,4 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Backpack to LM9, then dayhike to Minnewanka east end |
| Highwood Pass / Elbow Lake | June 14 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Cycle from K-Lakes to Highwood Pass before seasonal road re-opening with brief side hike to Elbow Lake |
| Wasootch Ridge | June 21 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Finally made it to Wasootch Higpoint. Easy/Moderate Scramble past Hiker Summit. Hot day, ran out of water on return |
| Old Goat Glacier | June 25 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Heat Wave hike to cool off in glacial valley below Old Goat Mountain above Spray Lakes |
| Bald Hills | July 12 | Canadian Rockies :: Jasper | Evening run up to best Maligne Lake viewpoint. Buggy and Hazy |
| Tonquin | July 13-16 | Canadian Rockies :: Jasper | 4 day, 3 night Maccarib - Astoria through backpack. Worst bugs ever & wildfire haze, but still spectacular alpine |
| Muleshoe Ridge | August 9 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Bike&Hike up Mt. Cory west outlier. Bad deadfall in upper part, but great views of Bow Valley |
| Elk Lake | August 12 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | One of most-beautiful back-country lakes in BNP front ranges more than adequate reward for Long and Uninspiring approach |
| Gibbon Pass / Little Copper | August 18 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Long approach, but fantastic views in Alpine. Tons of larches at the Pass; likely terrific fall destination |
| Sawback Trail: Pulsatilla to Badger | August 24-26 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Backpack up Johnston Creek Valley to JO29, then dayhikes to Pulsatilla Pass and Badger Pass |
| Piper Pass | Sep 3 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Longer than expected hike below treeline leading to trademark Kananaskis Alpine. Took Tombstone Meadows shortcut on return |
| South Dolomite Pass | Sep 7 | Canadian Rockies :: Icefields | Most scenic trip of the year. Amazing light conditions at Dolomite Pass / Katherine Lake on return |
| Skoki - Tilted Valley | Sep 13 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Annual Skoki larch trip. Explored rarely visited Alpine valley below Mt. Lychnis / Tilted Peak |
| Walking on Sunshine | Sep 21 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Annual Sunshine larch trip, Standish meadows and classic Lakes District loop. Very peaceful early evening at Larix lake |
| O'Hara: Duchesnay to Cathedral | Sep 25 | Canadian Rockies :: Yoho | Annual O'Hara larch trip. Explored Duchesnay Basin, then looped behind Consummation Peak to Cathedral / Monica lake |
| Aylmer Pass | Oct 1 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Exceptional alpine with many opportunities for further exploration incl. Spectral Lakes basin |
| Falls Lake | Oct 12 | BC Coast :: Coquihalla | Quick leg stretcher on a drive over Coquihalla Summit |
| Strachan South | Oct 13 | BC Coast :: North Shore | Walked up Mt. Strachan Ski Runs above Cypress Bowl in Total Whiteout |
| Juniper Point - Shore Pine | Oct 14 | BC Coast :: Sea to Sky | Rainy few hours walk in Lighthouse Park |
| Mystic Beach | Oct 18 | Vancouver Island :: Victoria | First part of Juan De Fuca Marine Trail. Beautiful beach and magnificent Waterfall |
| China Beach | Oct 18 | Vancouver Island :: Victoria | Short hike combined with Mystic Beach. Fabulous Sunset |
| Thetis Lake | Oct 22 | Vancouver Island :: Victoria | CCW loop around lower and upper Lakes with side hike up Seymour Hill. Beautiful Autumn Foliage! |
| Witty's Lagoon | Oct 29 | Vancouver Island :: Victoria | Great few hours in Metchosin. Stanley Park on steroids! |
| East Sooke - Mt. Maguire | Oct 30 | Vancouver Island :: Victoria | Rugged Coast Trail from the west with loop return via Interior/Mount Maguire. Bluebird Day! |
| Matheson Lake - Roche Cove | Nov 5 | Vancouver Island :: Victoria | Linked Matheson Lake and Roche Cove via Galloping Goose. Nice views of Sooke Bay |
| Mount Tolmie | Nov 7 | Vancouver Island :: Victoria | Small hill near UVic with far-reaching views from the top |
| Mount Douglas (PKOLS) | Nov 7 | Vancouver Island :: Victoria | Largest park in Saanich with nice network of trails and great views from the top |
| Sooke Potholes - Leechtown | Nov 10 | Vancouver Island :: Victoria | Walked on Galloping Goose to Kapoor Regional Park with side trip to Mary Vine Falls |
| Darwin Falls | Nov 17 | USA :: Death Valley | Off the radar short trail to pretty Waterfall (!) west of Panamint Valley |
| Keane Wonder Mine | Nov 18 | USA :: Death Valley | Terrific trail with light scrambling up the Funeral range past several mining platforms |
| Wildrose Peak | Nov 19 | USA :: Death Valley | Little brother of Telescope Peak (2014 ascent) at North end of Panamint Range |
| Mesquite Dunes | Nov 20 | USA :: Death Valley | Linked ridges to highest Dune in Sahara-like surroundings. Very hot, over 30 Celsius |
| Sand Beach | Nov 21 | USA :: Zion National Park | Horse trail loop below the Patriarchs. Unstable footing, but great views of Canyon East side |
| West Rim Loop | Nov 22 | USA :: Zion National Park | Great loop on Horse Pasture Plateau and one of best hikes of the year |
| Hoover Railroad | Nov 27 | USA :: Las Vegas | Historic trail with 5 original tunnels from Lake Mead to Hoover Dam linking Boulder City and dam construction site |
| Valley of Fire | Nov 29 | USA :: Las Vegas | Several easy trails from main park artery, including Silica Dome scramble and 7 Wonders/Fire Wave |
| Turtlehead Peak | Nov 30 | USA :: Las Vegas | Easy scramble above famous Red Rock Canyon conservation area to prominent Las Vegas basin viewpoint |
| South Kaibab - Bright Angel | Dec 3 | USA :: Grand Canyon | Day through hike to Colorado River and back utilizing 2 classic South Rim Trails. Epic day with 28km, -1500m +1300m elevation |
| Courthouse Butte | Dec 6 | USA :: Sedona | Loop around Courthouse Butte utilizing segments of Bell Rock Trail Network |
| Baldwin Trail | Dec 10 | USA :: Sedona | Loop around Red Rock Butte west of Cathedral Rock. Terrific Ridge Views & one of nicest short Sedona Trails |
| Secret Slickrock | Dec 11 | USA :: Sedona | Loop around Crescent Moon ranch with ford of Oak Creek culminating with superb Cathedral Rock Viewpoint |
| Ridge Trail / Table Top | Dec 12 | USA :: Sedona | Linked Crescent Moon and Airport Loop via Ridge Trail. Spectacular views from Table Top, one of best in Sedona |
| Brins Mesa - Soldier Pass | Dec 13 | USA :: Sedona | Likely nicest moderate loop hike west of Sedona. Totally missed Seven Sacred Pools 4 yrs ago - what a find! |
| Teacup - Sugarloaf | Dec 14 | USA :: Sedona | Gorgeous afternoon sunshine from ledge below Teacup, followed by Sugarloaf sunset |
| Chimney Rock Loop | Dec 15 | USA :: Sedona | Loop above Amitabha Stupa Peace Park. Scrambled Little Sugarloaf then watched sunset from Chimney Rock plateau |
| Sunrise Peak | Dec 18 | USA :: Phoenix | 60th! Far reaching summit views across wider Phoenix area. Fab Sunset Colors! |
| Peralta Canyon | Dec 20 | USA :: Phoenix | Awesome hike in Superstitions! View of Weavers Needle from Fremont Saddle is as good as it gets |
| Piestewa Peak | Dec 22 | USA :: Phoenix | Ultra busy Grind. Smog filled valley, but nice sunset views |
| Papago | Dec 24 | USA :: Phoenix | Famous Phoenix Urban Park Wonderland |
| Outlook Mountain | Dec 25 | USA :: Phoenix | Combined Summit and Circumference Trails for few hrs stroll at north end of Phoenix Mountain Preserve |
| Hieroglyphic Canyon | Dec 26 | USA :: Phoenix | High quality scramble past end of official trail to intersection with Superstitions Ridgeline, and great way to end 2021! |