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!

We’ve had this mountain on our list for years and it was better than we’d imagined. It’s in the fold of our beloved Kananaskis Range with intriguing views of classics like The Fortress and Gusty Peak.

We’ve wanted to tag this Kananaskis peak for a long time. In 2019, we tried—but called it due to a throbbing tooth (and a bit of nerves). We revisited Rae in 2022 and it did not disappoint—with its spicy ridge—and scrumptious views west to the Continental Divide.

Climbing the highest peak in Kananaskis Country has been a distant dream for us—and to achieve it—was incredibly meaningful.

If exposed scrambling is your jam—this three-headed mountain in Banff National Park is for you. We joked throughout the day about the 10+ cruxes—pure joy!

This mountain stands prominent next to Loder Peak and Mount Yamnuska. Judging by the lack of footprints and garbage—the route looks rarely travelled—only adding to its allure. The slab scrambling from the col to the summit was some of the best we have ever experienced.

After 2 attempts we were able to cross this Rockies classic off our list. The ridge walk was short and sweet but the weather flushed us off the summit.

After three attempts of this Kananaskis mountain—we finally got it done. This summit marked our 100th as a father/son team. The wintery views of the Lougheeds and Bogart made this slog worth every step.

This colossus with the intriguing name pushed us around—but we held our nerve.

Being visible from Calgary—Mount Bogart definitely has an obvious presence. Its “sidewalk” feature and ascending shape resemble Godzilla’s back, only adding to its mystique.

This is a marathon traverse that you will not soon forget. You feel, at times, like you are hiking from summit to summit on a strange but familiar planet. The curvy lines, oddly coloured lichen and untouched hanging valley blow your mind on this day out.

The sound of dinner plate talus and the unexpected views of The Fortress were distracting but we made it to the summit of the tallest mountain in the Kananaskis Range—with Mount Bogart, Kidd and James Walker, all below us.

This was our first 11,000er in the Canadian Rockies. After a weekend course introducing us to mountaineering—we headed up Mount Athabasca as our final exam. We all made it to the summit that unforgettable 38C summer day.

This ridge walk scared the crap out of me to put it lightly, but once we got on it—we settled in and kept our nerve in the VERY exposed sections. The endless, loose, sketchy side-hilling will test your patience, yet, Yuri and I were gawking around looking for what summits to do next.

This epic scramble is proof that frontal range mountains in the Canadian Rockies should never be overlooked. The ridge walk was unforgiving with the endless ups-and-downs but it was well worth the grind.

This is a mountain we all drive by entering Kananaskis Country and never give much notice. It has a river crossing to kick start your alertness for this short and peppy scramble. It's a beauty but watch your feet.

After being nearly blown off the mountain during our first attempt—we managed to get this frontal range classic off our list. The overnight snowfall only added to the experience.

Mount James Walker is a Kananaskis gem with its untouched approach valley, respectable summit elevation (at 3,035m) and tarns with green tinted mini-icebergs.