East End of Rundle (EEOR)
On this day of May, I was on my way to the mountains while still not knowing what peak to climb. The one I had in mind in Kananaskis had to be kept for a better day as the weather was quite bad to the south. With Canmore being the only sunny area in the front range on that day, I settled on a Canadian Rockies classic: East End of Rundle (EEOR). Mount Rundle is a popular mountain. It overlooks both Canmore and Banff, as its ridge is 12KM long. In the summer and on the weekend, this is one of the most popular hikes in the area so choosing a week day evening to cross it off my list was perfect.
Mount Rundle with its numerous peaks.
EEOR summit as viewed from Canmore.
I made it to the trailhead after a drive up Highway 742 on a bumpy gravel road. With less than five other vehicles in the parking lot next to Whiteman’s Pond, I knew I would end up having this mountain all to myself.
The trail wasted no time to gain elevation. It was steep and I had to stop a lot to catch my breath. It didn’t take long before the trees made way for rock slabs and scree.
Already though, the views were spectacular. Ha Ling Peak, which I had climbed a few years back, is just across the road from EEOR, overlooking the town of Canmore and Grotto Mountain at the back.
Ha Ling Peak
The scrambling was moderate and fun. There were tons of different routes up the mountain. They were all leading to the same ridge so I had a great time making my way up using different paths.
The views opened up as soon as I left the treeline. I was rewarded with this awesome view of the Spray Valley for the rest of the hike.
Goatview Peak
With a clear view at the summit, I started to doubt that I would make it all the way to the top. The last little bit of scrambling just before the top still had a lot of snow. If there is one disadvantage of hiking late in the day, it has to be the snow condition. It gets warmer and softer during the day and becomes extremely slick in the evening. The few snow patches I had to cross so far confirmed it.
The Town of Canmore in the valley.
A good indication of the steepness of EEOR. It’s a very good workout let me tell you!
I left yet another ridge and pushed on to the final section. It was covered in snow and post-holing was an issue, sometimes up to my waist. But it added to the fun and the excitement.
My concerns were real about the last section. Just 70 meters below the summit was a steep uphill before the cliff band that was impassable so late in the day. I tried to hike it up but without crampons or an ice axe to self-arrest it was too risky. The snow was so soft and wet that one step up brought me back down twice the distance. With people sliding back down over the kicked steps, it had just created this slippery mess. Oh well. Like I’ve always said, my goal is not to reach the summits. My goal is to get out, enjoy the mountains and look at spectacular views. Summits are just a bonus. I’ll always opt for safety first. I stayed at the bottom of this cliff band for a while but the wind was relentless. I could see that the low pressure system over Kananaskis was making its way towards me. I had to get back down to the treeline as soon as possible.
On a side note, the backpack that have made has been great so far! It’s really cool to be able to make and use your own gear!
The bad weather ended up reaching me. I stored my camera and rushed down the mountain as it started to snow on me. The last thing I needed was a slippery trail on the rock slabs. I made it back to my truck safe and sound. By then, I was completely alone in the area. Perfect! I was happy with what I had just hiked and for what it’s worth, EEOR is back on my list for later in the season when the summit will be snow-free.
I sat down along the Whiteman’s Pond to cook dinner. I had brought everything with me so that I didn’t have to stop in Canmore on my way. The town was still is under COVID-19 restrictions and avoiding any contact with the community was something I had to be respectful of.
Dinner with a view – Ha Ling Peak
Homemade dehydrated rice with veggies.
On my way down Highway 742, I witnessed the storm closing in above Canmore. It was moving fast and with hail coming down, I couldn’t have been happier to be back in my truck.
Beautiful sunset to my left.
But nasty storm to my right.
The sky cleared out right past the Lac Des Arcs on my way back to Calgary. I was tired but also satisfied to have spent the evening where I feel the most happy, the Rockies. On to the next one!
