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After first few months spent wintering in Southern California, 2022 was largely 'Rockies Year' I intended to do more backpacking but ended up with only 2 major overnights - Forty Mile Basecamp on Sawback Trail, followed by repeat visit to out-of-this-world Devon Lakes in eastern Banff National Park. I also had pleasure to chat with Brian Patton, author of iconic Canadian Rockies Trail Guidebook, which also included some of my photos in it's new colour edition. Overall it was good year with summer largely clear of wildfire smoke. 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. |
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| Trip | Date | Section | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrey Pines | Jan 1 | USA :: San Diego | Best beach hike anytime, anywhere. Full Pictorial |
| Bernardo Bay | Jan 2 | USA :: San Diego | Wonderful Lake Hodges East Shore, once daily RB routine |
| Iron Mountain | Jan 3 | USA :: San Diego | Return to old favorite via Ramona Lookout for Summit Sunset |
| Kwaay Paay | Jan 6 | USA :: San Diego | Short jaunt to 4th highest peak in Mission. Hazy Sunset |
| South Lake Hodges | Jan 9 | USA :: San Diego | Piedras Pintadas then rough South shore trail to Fletcher Point |
| Mount Woodson | Jan 11 | USA :: San Diego | Blue Sky / Lake Poway loop. Amazing Sunset colors on top |
| Mount Soledad | Jan 13 | USA :: San Diego | Short Jaunt to Fab La Jolla Viewpoint |
| Penasquitos Canyon | Jan 16 | USA :: San Diego | North / South loop with Wagon Wheel and Carson Crossings |
| Mount Cuyamaca | Jan 21 | USA :: San Diego | Loop via Azalea Spring. Snowy San Jacinto view from the top |
| Fletcher Point | Jan 23 | USA :: San Diego | Hike up Del Dios Gorge from S4. Lost trail / bad bushwack going in. Fantastic Views - new favorite Hodges spot |
| Laguna - Garnet Peak | Jan 30 | USA :: San Diego | First time in Laguna. Walk on Pacific Crest Trail from Penny Pines, followed by easy ascent of Garnet Peak. |
| Bernardo Mountain | Feb 2 | USA :: San Diego | Classic Hodges Viewpoint. Smog from L.A area ruined views |
| Laguna - Sunset Trail | Feb 4 | USA :: San Diego | Rolling Hills, Alpine Meadows and Lakes. And brutally cold! |
| Big Laguna Loop | Feb 7 | USA :: San Diego | Full sweep of Big Laguna Trail. Meadows on steroids |
| Mt. Fortuna | Feb 10 | USA :: San Diego | N/S Fortuna in Mission with loop return via Perimeter Trail |
| Hodges Coast To Crest | Feb 13 | USA :: San Diego | Hodges North to Boat Launch Overlook. Bye for this time |
| Tijuana Estuary | Feb 17 | USA :: San Diego | Bird Sanctuary with good views to Mexico. Noisy marine base |
| Lake Ramona - Lake Poway | Feb 18 | USA :: San Diego | Peaceful Lake Ramona. Bird dinner show at Lake Poway |
| Torrey Pines | Feb 19 | USA :: San Diego | So long! |
| Ryan Mountain | Feb 21 | USA :: Joshua Tree | Windy, but beautiful day in Joshua. Last US Winter 21/22 Hike |
| Hermit of Inglismaldie | Mar 9 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Stumbled on Billy Carver log cabin built in 1910 at south side of Johnson Lake |
| Grotto Creek Canyon | Mar 11 | Canadian Rockies :: Canmore / Bow Valley | Snowdrifts in upper canyon. Night Ice Climber show on return! |
| Chester Lake | Mar 22 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Annual boot-up, including Elephant Rocks. Total solitude |
| Lake Louise | Mar 23 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Avalanche prevented Teahouse hike. Nice frozen waterfalls |
| Jura Creek | Mar 29 | Canadian Rockies :: Canmore / Bow Valley | Breaking new boots; made it halfway up Loder descent route |
| Sulphur Grind | Apr 1 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Boot up & free Download. Cold and Windy. Sulphur Mtn page |
| Lesueur Creek and Ridge | Apr 6 | Canadian Rockies :: Alberta Foothills | Road Washout forced change of plans. Great ridgewalk and view of Ghost area Peaks |
| Barrier Lookout - Jewell Pass | Apr 18 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Loop return via Jewell Pass with nice view of frozen Jewell Falls. Full Barrier Page |
| Molar Meadows | Apr 24 | Canadian Rockies :: Icefields | Snowshoe to Ridge system between North/South Molar Passes. Bomber Bluebird in total Solitude! |
| Seventy Buck - Eagle Hill | Apr 29 | Canadian Rockies :: Alberta Foothills | Steep but short hike up to Seventy Buck viewpoint extended with Eagle Hill / loop valley return |
| Hummingbird Plume | May 12 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Marmot Waterfalls mostly ice free. Descended on "Balam" from the Lookout. Full report |
| McGillivray Canyon | May 16 | Canadian Rockies :: Canmore / Bow Valley | Turned back just above the Chokestone. Much potential for further exploring in upper Canyon |
| Doorjamb - Loder - Jura | May 26 | Canadian Rockies :: Canmore / Bow Valley | Great friction slab scrambling on Doorjamb Ridge. Loop return from Loder/Goat Saddle to Jura Creek |
| Grotto via Carter Buttress | Jun 1 | Canadian Rockies :: Canmore / Bow Valley | Snow Squall on East Ridge. Hardest of 4 Grotto routes |
| Opal Ridge South | Jun 9 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Overcast sky. Too much snow for Grizzly Creek Loop Return |
| Skogan/McGillivray - Pigeon East | Jun 19 | Canadian Rockies :: Canmore / Bow Valley | Skogan powerline to McGillivray Pass trail, then loop back via Pigeon East Summit. Great Views! Full Pigeon Report |
| Solstice Lake | Jun 26 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Bushwhack to rarely visited alpine cirque below Spectral Peak. Blew tire cycling Cascade Fireroad. Advanced trip |
| Packenham Junior | Jun 30 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Quick jaunt to grassy hill between King Creek Ridge and Grizzly Peak. Fairly steep upper part, but great views |
| Ships Prow | July 9 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Evening scramble from Smith-Dorrien. Fab light on descent! |
| Forty Mile | July 11 - 13 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | 2 Night FM19 basecamp. Fantastic alpine at 40 Mile Summit + rarely visited Sawback and Rainbow Lakes. Huge griz at FM10 hiking in. Main Sawback Trail Page |
| Rawson Ridge | July 19 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Return to old favorite. Roadside grizzly driving up. |
| Devon Lakes | Aug 6 - 8 | Canadian Rockies :: Icefields | In via Mosquito col, then explored Devon basin with light pack. Scrambled high saddle above upper Devon Lake - Deluc basin crossover. Full Devon Page |
| Iceline | Aug 17 | Canadian Rockies :: Yoho | Loop return via Little Yoho. Hazy, but still Rockies classic |
| Snow Peak | Aug 30 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Non-technical evening ascent above Burstall Pass with great views. Horror drive on ever worsening Spray Road |
| Helena Ridge | Sep 10 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Smoke/Haze changed plan. Explored Helena south on return |
| Lineham Ridge | Sep 15 | Canadian Rockies :: Kananaskis | Great Ridgewalk in South Highwood. Turned around at base of scramble part. Lovely views despite Wildfire Haze |
| Fossil Peak | Sep 22 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Annual Skoki Trip. Lose upper part, great summit views |
| O'Hara - Little Odaray | Sep 27 | Canadian Rockies :: Yoho | Terrific moderate scramble. Larches entering prime |
| Walking on Sunshine | Oct 6 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Annual Sunshine Meadows visit. Very busy access road and hazy. On return looped via Simpson Pass / Healy trail |
| St. Piran | Oct 12 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Loop descent via Lake Agnes. Louise still brutally busy |
| Bastion Ridge | Oct 19 | Canadian Rockies :: Alberta Foothills | Most adventurous trip of the year. Cycle Ghost river to Valley of the Birds, steep ascent and best ridgewalk in a long time |
| Plain of Six Glaciers | Nov 11 | Canadian Rockies :: Banff - Louise | Teahouse Walk Tradition. Trail broken, Louise half frozen |