Tag: canmore

Categories
canada general moosling snow trip reports

Chariot multi-sporting (walking and skiing counts as multi doesn’t it?)

So, today I tested the theory that I could stroll with the Chariot to the Nordic Centre carrying my ski gear; switch wheels off, skis on, attach skis and boots to me, ski a loop, then walk home again.

It worked!

The hardest part of the workout was pushing the Chariot up the hill to the Nordic Centre through all that slush.

 

Nearly there now (it’s a 3.5km walk)

 

 

Canmore Nordic Centre… January… 8oC!

 

 

On the snow, ready for transition

 

 

Transition complete, now to put skis on and away!

 

We ran into four other Chariots also out skiing – the warm weather was too tempting. Thanks to the wind though, a lot of the trails had a good coating of pine needles… and twigs… pine cones… small branches… a squirrel…

 

Back at the Daylodge

 

 

Hiking home with skis and poles strapped to backpack

 

(How it was done: The Chariot skis and pulling pole things fit in the back pocket, leaning against the handlebars. Meanwhile my ski boots went in my backpack, and skis and poles were strapped on the outside. After switching into ski mode, I locked the back wheels to the fence at the Daylodge, and just turned the strolling wheels upside down)

Categories
canada general moosling snow trip reports

Checking out the Goat Creek trail with Chariot

Goat Creek is the trail that goes from one end of Mount Rundle to the other, on the south side of the mountain. The Canmore end starts in the parking lot just beyond Whiteman’s Gap, and today we were just doing an out and back, not going all the way to Banff. We didn’t even get all the way to Goat Creek, as we had a “must turn around” time limit to meet up with friends who were hiking Ha Ling Peak (although in the end we probably could have made it down there).

Skinny skis were on – I’ve the feeling there’s a couple of downhills between the Canmore end and Banff that I’d happily walk while towing the Chariot with skinny skis. The Goat Creek trail is multi-use, and often looks like herds of elephants have been trampling along it – which can lead to challenging skiing conditions.

 

 

 

 

Finn naps, as per usual

 

Categories
canada general hiking

Ha Ling: Seven

After work, and my first snow-free ascent for the year. I had the mountain to myself (there was barely even a squirrel to be seen), and it was lovely blue sky weather too.

 

Look, no snow! Well, still a bit on Mount Lawrence Grassi, but the Ha Ling trail was clear

 

 

It was a bit cool and windy at the summit though (finally wearing my new jacket too, see how clean and shiny looking it is – well compared to the old one which is seven years old and not very water proof any more)

 

Categories
canada general

around town … canmore

The snow and ice are finally going away and we’re getting some warm weather. It’s mostly snow-free around town now, although it does keep snowing again, and getting cold again.

 

 

Down by Policeman’s Creek, in the middle of town.

 

Categories
canada climbing general

perhaps my ice climbing trips are jinxed this season?

Unfortunately this time the jinx did not take itself out on me, but my hapless climbing partner. We drove to Haffner Creek, changed into boots, loaded ourselves up with climbing gear, hiked in to the climbs, picked a likely looking first climb, climbing partner racked up and started leading.

The ice was quite hard, the climb was very vertical, and climbing partner started to get pumped and shaky, attempting to place an ice screw that just wouldn’t bite. Front bail of one of climbing partner’s crampons popped off, and climbing partner rapidly went from being a few metres up on the ice to being on the ground.

Luckily he was falling onto snow and his legs were fine, but unluckily he nicked himself in the face with his tool on the way down. Meanwhile the other tool was still up in the ice. And a lot of blood.

 

Kind man bouldering up to retrieve the tool

 

After the lone tool was rescued we packed up and drove home. A hospital visit and two stitches later and he was as good as new again.

 

Post-hospital with a couple of stitches under the left eye

 

So we dashed off to the Junkyards for a couple of hours of laps on a toprope – and ended up getting some climbing in after all.