MY WEBSIGHT NOW HAS IT'S OWN SERVER WITH NO ADS.

Go to

www.travelsoftheorangeshirt.com

to see

Canadian Rocky Mountain Summits (all updates and additions there.)

-Mark Isleifson

---

Get to the summit: whether you climb, scramble, crawl, fly, or jump ... just get there!

For the definitive guidebook to this sport, see Kane's "Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies".

Essentials: water, sunblock, good attitude.

Clothing: optional. . . hiking boots aren't optional. (possible gear you could take)

---

Who the heck am I? Well, here's the story . . .

Years ago, I used to drive all night from Winnipeg to go skiing in the rockies for a week or so. Sometimes I did this journey three times a year. I remember many times looking up at Cascade mountain from a hotel or, more likely, a bar in Banff, amazed that some people had actually climbed it. Being from the prairies, such an accomplishment amazed me. I also remember actually commenting to my friends, "You and I will never be up there," thinking the attempt would require complex skills and several days.

In 1995 I moved to Calgary, and every now and again I would go hiking and biking on the Banff trails. One day I was looking for hiking books in the library when I stumbled across a book entitled "Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies" by Alan Kane. Inside, a whole new world opened up to me. Not only could a person reach a summit in a day, but no special skills or climbing equipment were necessarily required. I fumbled through my first few attempts until I bagged my first summit, Middle Sister near Canmore. From that point on, I decided I would try to reach as many peaks as I could.

Since then, I've swelled with pride at the summit of Cascade four times, and the swelling was literally everywhere.

I'm not trying to be a hero or risk my life, but I certainly get a natural high from this great sport. I've introduced many friends to the exhilaration and sense of accomplishment in scrambling.

Please have a look at the mountains I've scrambled below. Some of them I've done a few times, others required a few attempts to complete just once. My experiences will likely be different from yours depending on weather and conditions. Please use this webpage as a supplement to Kane's book.

Your first attempt at any of these peaks will reveal what kind of shape you're in. Exercising year-round ensures a more enjoyable time in the mountains. Kane could probably market his book as a weight-loss guide.

---

DISCLAIMER: Climbers use this and corresponding webpages at their own risk and the webpage author and webpage administrator disclaim any responsibility for any injuries, death, or any other damages that may be sustained by anyone attempting any of the routes or summits described. Before attempting any of these peaks, contact the park ranger or warden offices, or local RCMP offices for conditions or possible dangers.

---

Banff Area:

Easy Mountains Borgeau Rundle (west)

Moderate Mountains Cascade Edith Storm Vermilion

Difficult Mountains Norquay

Canmore Area:

Easy Mountains Grotto Ha Ling Heart Middle Sister Rundle (east) Yamnuska

Moderate Mountains Big Sister Rimwall Squaw Fable

Difficult Mountains Lady McDonald

Lake Louise Area:

Easy Mountains Castle

Moderate Mountains Eiffel Temple

Difficult Mountains

Kananaskis Area:

Easy Mountains Baldy

Moderate Mountains Kidd Opal

Difficult Mountains Wedge

Highwood Area and Kananaskis Lakes Area (South Kananaskis):

Easy Mountains Indefatigable

Moderate Mountains Rae Tyrwhitt

Difficult Mountains Arethusa Gap

Spray Lakes Area:

Easy Mountains Fortress Gusty

Moderate Mountains Buller Chester

Difficult Mountains Fist Burstall

Little Elbow Area (West of Bragg Creek, Alberta):

Easy Mountains

Moderate Mountains Fullerton Nihahi

Difficult Mountains

Photographs by Mark Isleifson except where indicated

To join a scrambling group, send me an email at markisle@shaw.ca

---