Yuri and I have had our eye on these two peaks for several years. They looked so enticing from nearby Victoria Peak summit — so we HAD to climb them. The ridge walk is the most eccentric in the Rockies.

Don’t let her good looks fool you—it’s a long, up-and-down slog to the summit. The austere beauty of the old burn with snow—and the azure blue southern Alberta skies—made for a perfect combination.

We couldn’t help feel a connection to the cosmos when you are driving towards the Rockies, in a predawn commute—with a huge, bold moon directly in your field of view. Then, after a 10 hour winter adventure—the snowshoe approach back to the car is moonlit.

The scrambling on ascent was exquisite, and the ridge walk (heralded by Andrew Nugara as one of his faves) was intoxicating in every way. The views, the fall colours, the topography and the banter made this one of our best days out—ever!