As a Calgary resident, I often hear people say that summer is such a nice time to be in the city that they don't want to leave. I don't mind some city time - more to stay on top of my garden than anything - but what I really love to do is get into the mountains. Even with COVID in our midst, I feel like I'm leading a close to normal life while I'm…
If you're looking for a long day hike or a backpacking trip in the mountains, within a few hours drive of Calgary, check out Three Isle Lake in Kananaskis Country. It's a great choice as it also offers several options to continue beyond the lake - including the difficult but reportedly fabulous Northover Traverse along with the easy hike to South Kananaskis Pass and Beatty Lake. Fortunately the hike up to the lake is worthwhile…
I first learned about the South End of Lawson hike via Instagram. Someone had hiked it under cover of snow and their photo caught my eye. The hike sounded intriguing - and the views from the first photo I saw were outstanding. After a bit of research, John and I decided we'd do the hike one June day on the way up to a two night stay at Mount Engadine Lodge as the trailhead is…
The 10.0 kilometre return hike to Rummel Lake in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, is a great choice if you want an easy mountain hike that leads to a lake partially ringed by larch trees. You won't find nearly the crowds on this hike that you do on the nearby hike to popular Chester Lake. The Rummel Lake hike - which gains just 315 metres in total, also offers beautiful views of the Spray Lakes Reservoir.…
Alberta's Goat Creek Trail offers a fun mountain bike ride that traverses the beautiful valley between Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain. The trail starts above the town of Canmore at the top of the Smith Dorrien Road- Spray Lakes Road and finishes at the Spray River West trailhead, located approximately 150 metres beyond the Banff Springs Hotel at the northern end of Spray Avenue in Banff. From there you can cycle through Banff to pick…
If you live in the Calgary - Banff corridor chances are pretty good that you already know how fantastic the hiking is along the Kananaskis Trail (Highway 40). But out of town visitors largely have no idea that the hiking here is on par with much that is available in nearby Banff National Park. Most of the hikes on the Kananaskis Trail don't see anywhere near the number of people you see in the national…
When Alberta Parks got the go-ahead back in May to open parks for camping at half capacity beginning in June, I was intent on getting some reservations to parks and backcountry campgrounds I'd never visited before. A getaway to local provincial parks may not be as exciting as travel to far-flung places around the globe, but I am truly thrilled just to be out of Calgary and exploring a new part of Alberta. Kinbrook Island…
I've been camping now for 30 plus years. Growing up it was all about cottages - but when John and I moved to Colorado, camping and hiking became our focus. We were broke and camping was cheap. All we needed was the initial investment in camping gear and a tank of gas every weekend and we could get ourselves into some fabulous Rocky Mountain scenery. With high unemployment, under employment, tanking stock portfolios and a…
If you live in Bragg Creek you're spoiled for choice when it comes to hiking. Fortunately for those of us who live in Calgary, all of the trailheads for the Bragg Creek hikes described below are less than an hour's drive away. All the trailheads are accessed off of Highway 66, with the Fullerton Loop and Sugar Mama hikes the first ones you reach, only 15 kilometres southwest of Bragg Creek. These seven Bragg Creek…
Saskatchewan is much more than what you see from the Trans-Canada Highway. This prairie province is a wonderful destination - primarily from spring to fall when temperatures are pleasant. Before you venture to the province, have a read through these irreverent but interesting facts about Saskatchewan for some perspective on the province. My husband John penned these 47 interesting facts about Saskatchewan. As you'll see below he has an offbeat sense of humour. Enjoy. Saskatchewan…