Many of the mountains in the Bow Valley and throughout the Canadian Rockies have relatively straightforward, easy-to-follow routes leading to their summits that can be negotiated safely without a rope or any specialized climbing equipment. Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots are a must, as is a daypack carrying food, water, first aid kit, a hat, gloves, a warm layer and rainwear. Many scrambles are single-day outings that allow you to be home for dinner, providing you get an early start. While most scrambles are considered ‘non-technical’ in nature, many are demanding and potentially treacherous. Some require moderate rope-work and ice axe placements, passing through terrain where a fall could be fatal. Travelling in the Canadian Rockies backcountry is always a serious affair and scrambling is a hazardous activity that should not be pursued without significant experience or preparation. If you are new to the mountains and itching to stand atop a Rockies peak, the best place to begin is by hiring a guide or by joining up with an experienced volunteer group leader.

By definition, many of the Rockies first climbs were scrambles. Near Lake Louise, 3,543-metre (11,621-foot) Mount Temple was the first peak to be climbed in the Canadian Rockies over 3,353m (11,000ft). As the Bow Valley’s most accessible peak over 11,000 feet – the average climb is an eight-hour round-trip from the parking lot – hundreds of eager scramblers ascend the mountain every summer via the same southwest ridge the first ascentionists followed in 1894. Still, it is not a climb to be taken lightly. In 1955, Temple was the scene of Canada’s worst mountaineering accident when seven inexperienced and ill-equipped teenaged boys perished on the route. Closer to Canmore, Ha Ling Peak – a popular scramble via its ‘backside’ – was first climbed by a Chinese cook working in Canmore’s mine camps. He reportedly bet his co-workers $50 he could make the round-trip to the summit from downtown within 10 hours. He won the bet, completing it in six.