500 Adrenaline Adventures (Frommer's) - Lois Friedland [106]
Conditions for ice climbing are fairly consistent from year to year. It may be possible to go ice climbing at higher elevations in November and in shady locations into April. Again, always familiarize yourself with the weather conditions and check in with local experts about climbing conditions.
This region is a favorite with people who enjoy cold-weather sports. Cross-country trails thread the region, including more than 60 kilometers (37 miles) out of the Canmore Nordic Center (www.canmorenordic.com), which was developed for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. Several ski areas are within an hour’s drive of here, including Nakiska (www.skinakiska.com) and the larger resorts of Sunshine Village (www.skibanff.com) and Lake Louise (www.skilouise.com). You can also race along trails through the woods on a dog sled. Banff (www.banff.ca), a popular tourist destination with hot springs in the heart of Banff National Park (pc.gc.ca), is about a half-hour away. —LF
Tourism Canmore ( 866/CANMORE [226-6673]; www.tourismcanmore.com). Yamnuska Mountain Adventures, 200–50 Lincoln Park ( 866/678-4164 or 403/678-4164; www.yamnuska.com). Canada Guide Association (www.acmg.ca).
When to Go: Dec–Feb.
Calgary.
$$–$$$ Delta Lodge, 1 Centennial Dr., Kananaskis Village ( 888/890-3222 or 403/591-7711; www.deltahotels.com). $$$ Fairmont Banff Springs, 405 Spray Ave. ( 866/540-4406 or 403/762-2211; www.fairmont.com/banffsprings).
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Climbing 14ers
Peak Bagging in Colorado
Colorado, U.S.A.
How many mountain names have you checked off on your T-shirt normal Colorado’s 14ers? None? Maybe it’s time to start hiking! Upon peaking some of these great mountains you’ll be standing atop the Continental Divide. Eastward, there’s nothing higher than you are the entire way to the Atlantic Ocean. Westward, it’s all downhill to California.
Colorado boasts 53 or 55 mountains that top out at 14,000 feet (4,200m) or more above sea level. (The exact number is argued constantly by peak baggers, quoting a variety of ways the peaks are measured, including the official numbers posted by the U.S. Geological Survey.) Hiking as many as one can, until you can brag about climbing all of them (or wear a fully checked T-shirt, a common site), is a popular activity in this state. Even if you don’t want to climb every one, walking or scrambling up and down one or two during a vacation is a must for many visitors to Colorado.
The peaks are centered in several mountain ranges, including the Sawatch, the Sangre de Cristo, the Front, the Tenmile-Mosquito, the San Juan, and the Elk Range. Each of the ranges has a special character, and if you’re just starting to climb 14ers you should get local advice on which ones are appropriate for your skill level. A good online resource is 14ers.com, where you can learn more about these mountains, whether you live in Colorado or you’re planning a visit and want to connect with dedicated peak baggers. The site lists the 14ers, has routes, trip reports, and a forum where you can connect with other hikers and climbers.
Mount Elbert is the highest peak at 14,433 feet (4,330m), and Sunshine Peak just makes the list at 14,001 feet (4.200m). But choosing which peak to climb and what route to follow should be based on your experience and physical condition. Many of the peaks are walk-up hikes; others require scrambling or climbing skills. Among the 14ers with less difficult routes are Mt. Elbert, Mt. Bierstadt, and Quandry Peak. Some of the most difficult routes are on Mt. Wilson, Capitol Peak, and Crestone Peak. One popular way to “claim” two peaks in 1 day is to climb one peak and traverse along the ridgeline to another. Climbing Evans and traversing to Bierstadt, or the reverse, is popular. Other choices for claiming two in a day include Grays and Torreys, and Maroon