Help me become a hiker!

[MickMcGeough]

It's just a shame how little I make use of the Rockies during the summer. I know basically nothing about hiking. I'm in reasonably good shape but I'm not a marathon runner. I want to do a bunch of hiking in and around the Rockies this summer; mostly just day hikes. I'm doing a 5-day moderate-difficult hike in the Andes in Peru in September and I want to get in hiking shape.

I'm looking for hike recommendations within about a 3hr drive of Calgary anywhere from 2-8hrs in length. Tell me about the hike and what I'll need; I'm woefully unequipped and uninformed. Help me CPers!!!

[JD]

Crypt Lake in Waterton!

You catch a boat in the morning that takes you to the trailhead across the lake. The hike is about 5-8 hours, but make sure you're back in time to catch the last boat back to the townsite!

It has a lot of climbing, and there is a harrowing portion where you crawl through a tunnel and then shuffle along a cliff hanging onto a steel cable. The hard work is all worth it when you get to the lake at the end... an alpine lake high up. The journey is fantastic too.

Bring food, but make sure it's sealed so you don't attract bears. Pack out whatever you pack in.

Have good shoes and a good backpack. Dress in layers as the mountain weather can change in a jiffy.

That's my favourite hike, but there are many of them near us that are wonderful.

[LChoy]

Don't tell anyone where you are going. For a challenge hike at night. Bear cubs are cute and cuddly and should picked up and hugged. Don't worry, Mama bear won't mind


Calgary and surrounding area are great for hiking. As someone who is starting out, go to some of the more popular hikes that have clearly out mapped out. Start with lower elevation ones to get use to hiking ~2-5km before doing the harder higher elevation and >5km routes. Especially in steeper hikes, get a good pair of shoes. Hiking can be tough on the ankles if walking on uneven or rocky paths. They don't have to be uber expensive, but be snug and breathable so you won't get sores (from the inside of your shoes rubbing against your foot). Lastly, I have much of a problem, but my friends of the fairer sex find it easier to use a walking stick, especially when going downhill. We were thinking it had something to do with men and women having a different centre of gravity.

[Aeneas]

I have always reccomended for starting out: Ribbon Creek. A pleasant 11 or 12 km to the waterfall along a creek. Then you can climb a short cliff with the use of chains to get to Ribbon Lake. Then if you want some altitude, circle the lake and head up to Guinn's Pass (sp?). Great view all around. You can return that way or go down a steep scree slope to Lake Galatea, I think it is...then down to the Kananaskis river. You'll then have a level hike back to the start point, or hitchhike to the village at Kananaskis if tired.

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by Aeneas

I have always reccomended for starting out: Ribbon Creek. A pleasant 11 or 12 km to the waterfall along a creek. Then you can climb a short cliff with the use of chains to get to Ribbon Lake. Then if you want some altitude, circle the lake and head up to Guinn's Pass (sp?). Great view all around. You can return that way or go down a steep scree slope to Lake Galatea, I think it is...then down to the Kananaskis river. You'll then have a level hike back to the start point, or hitchhike to the village at Kananaskis if tired.

Great hike! The pass is Guinn Pass, named after the Guinns who own and operate Boundary Ranch, just off highway 40 across from the golf course. If you hike this route, the best way back is along Terrace Trail South, along the front edge of Mt Kidd back to the village.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

I'm doing a 5-day moderate-difficult hike in the Andes in Peru in September and I want to get in hiking shape.

Are you going to Machu Picchu? I've been planning that trip since I first read about it as a kid. One of these years...

[DFO]

A good resource is the Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies book - at MEC for sure. Has a good intro section that might help out. All of the routes in the guide are ranked by difficulty and have good descriptions. Good luck!

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Are you going to Machu Picchu? I've been planning that trip since I first read about it as a kid. One of these years...

Yes, a couple buddies are taking the Inca Trail which is apparently quite easy but my girlfriend and I are doing the Salkantay Trek which is a bit longer, much less crowded, and supposedly more difficult. We're also going to be cutting it close with acclimatization so I don't want to add being out of hiking shape to that!

Thanks for all the great responses so far everyone! Keep em coming, I'd love to do about a dozen this year if I've got the time.

I've got a pair of Merrell hiking shoes from the "day hike" section of MEC. I'll be getting a set of proper hiking boots before heading down south; any recommendations?

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by JD

Crypt Lake in Waterton!

You catch a boat in the morning that takes you to the trailhead across the lake. The hike is about 5-8 hours, but make sure you're back in time to catch the last boat back to the townsite!

It has a lot of climbing, and there is a harrowing portion where you crawl through a tunnel and then shuffle along a cliff hanging onto a steel cable. The hard work is all worth it when you get to the lake at the end... an alpine lake high up. The journey is fantastic too.

Bring food, but make sure it's sealed so you don't attract bears. Pack out whatever you pack in.

Have good shoes and a good backpack. Dress in layers as the mountain weather can change in a jiffy.

That's my favourite hike, but there are many of them near us that are wonderful.

I second this hike. It is even better if you take your own boat that way you can hike with no worries about the ferry leaving you behind.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by DFO

A good resource is the Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies book - at MEC for sure. Has a good intro section that might help out. All of the routes in the guide are ranked by difficulty and have good descriptions. Good luck!

That is a good book, but it's more about scrambling then hiking. I'd suggest a few easier, more level hikes before attempting the scrambles.

Ribbon Creek (as previously mentioned) is pretty good. Getting to be really busy though.
Upper Kananaskis Lake has some good trails around. I always enjoyed Hidden Lake and if you can, Asper.

If you want a challenging hike spread over a 2-3 days, check out the Northover Ridge loop. Fantastic views from the top (get to see a glacier from the top down!), and two absolutely beautiful alpine lakes. I've done it in one day... but I don't recommend that. It was... painful

[Locke]

Get a friend to drive you to the coquihalla. Drop you off. Hike back to Calgary. Dodge traffic.

You'll be in great hiking shape after that.

You can thank me later.

[Regulator75]

This site is awesome for finding hikes. http://www.trailpeak.com/index.jsp?cat=def&region=ab

Same with this one - http://hikealberta.com/

Here are a few easy ones that are close to home, should help you warm up.

• Pickle Jar
  
• Heart Creek trail - pretty easy
  
• Rawson lake - really nice mountain lake, a little steep though.
• Jumping Pound Mountain - nice elevation, that isn't too steep.

Make sure your boots are worn in good, nothing worse than breaking in new boots on a new trail. Ouch.

Grab yourself some hiking poles, I can't hike without them. I scored a pair of light weight poles from Wholesale Sports in deerfoot meadows for 30 bucks last year (clearance). Don't spend a bunch of money on poles, they will get damaged or lost.

I also recommend some bear spray, I got mine from Campers Village on Macleod trail. It was only $25.00 or so. It's better to have it and never use than need it and don't have it...

Have fun!

[DFO]

Originally Posted by llama64

That is a good book, but it's more about scrambling then hiking. I'd suggest a few easier, more level hikes before attempting the scrambles.

Ribbon Creek (as previously mentioned) is pretty good. Getting to be really busy though.
Upper Kananaskis Lake has some good trails around. I always enjoyed Hidden Lake and if you can, Asper.

If you want a challenging hike spread over a 2-3 days, check out the Northover Ridge loop. Fantastic views from the top (get to see a glacier from the top down!), and two absolutely beautiful alpine lakes. I've done it in one day... but I don't recommend that. It was... painful

True enough, I thought about that point a while after posting. Another good book for longer alpine hikes is Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies by Graeme Pole. Its got alot of the common trails as well as a few interesting & lesser known destinations.

[RW99]

Yes, get some bear spray. As for the hiking, I have no clue

[Slava]

You might want to check and make sure that you can fly with the bearspray, or else buy it down south.

Rawson Lake mentioned above is a great hike to start out with..steep and gets your heart going but not incredibly long either. Its worth bringing a fishing rod up to catch the cut-throats there!

Peter Lougheed also has Mt. Indefatigable which is a nice hike although closed for bears all the time. You can continue from the top of the trail to summit the mountain if you wish as well.

I would recoomend Vasque boots. (Of course its all up to your feel!) They are super comfortable though and I'm about 1/2 way through my second pair. The best place i found for boots in general is on the corner across from MEC on the corner of 8th and 10th.

[Shazam]

Galatea. Do yourself a favour and do Galatea.

[Boblobla]

Don't forget your mole skin and bug spray. Bring way more water than you need and never ever drink water from a creek.

[Delthefunky]

I don't get what the big deal is, just go!

[V]

Three easier mountains that I've done with my wife are Heart Mountain, Mount Baldy and Mount Indefatiguable.

I've done Chinaman's Peak with my 8 year old nephew. That's probably the easiest climb around.

Ribbon Falls is a great hike, probably the only one I've done in the area that isn't a scramble.

[Tyler]

Hiking reminds me a lot of walking