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"Going to the mountains is going home" – John Muir

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Category: Scrambles & Hikes

I grew up hiking. Though in my youth it was always a means to an end. Fly fishing was my primary obsession, and growing up, I had unlimited access to the trout-rich waters on and around our property. I would think nothing of hiking alone for several kilometres through dense forest and bush to fish a particular section of water. Not many parents would let an 8 to 10 year old boy do this, but mine did, and I’m forever grateful. Besides, I think they knew they could trust the judgement of my dog and constant companion, Sandy, more than my own…

As I grew older, my fishing world expanded and so did my hiking world. Learning to drive as a teenager allowed me to have direct access to the mountains which in turn, led me to hike into remote lakes and streams. If there wasn’t a trail, going off trail and slogging up a scree slope was just fine – as long as there was a place to fish at the end. At that point in my life, the thought of summiting a mountain or gaining the top of a ridge was secondary. When I did do it, it was only because the fishing happened to be subpar – which in the mid to late 1980s was a rare occurence, as the backcountry experienced considerably less fishing pressure than it does today.

Now however, as an urbanite husband and father of three young adults, I find myself just as passionate about hiking as I am about fishing. In fact, over the past few years, I’ve begun to choose hiking up to the summit of a mountain over the chance to flog a stream – though in my mind, the perfect day would see both a summit cairn and the rising of a trout. Indeed, my ‘rediscovery’ of hiking has been a joyful process and I am grateful that I’ve been able to share in this alongside of my family and friends.

The following is a photojournal of my scrambles and hikes since 2010. My general goal is to try and make it up 10 to 12 summits per year.

** I am not an expert mountaineer and cannot guarantee the safety, accuracy, or reliability of any of my trip reports. Hiking & scrambling can be dangerous activities, so if you decide to use one of my routes, you do so at your own risk.**

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Scrambles & Hikes

Mount Backus 2, 31 December 2020

Posted on January 2, 2021January 4, 2021 by Dave McMurray0 comments on “Mount Backus 2, 31 December 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

“Screwdriver Ridge 2”, 31 December 2020

Posted on January 2, 2021January 5, 2021 by Dave McMurray0 comments on ““Screwdriver Ridge 2”, 31 December 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

“Carbondale Ridge” & Carbondale Hill 2, 27 December 2020

Posted on December 29, 2020January 4, 2021 by Dave McMurray4 comments on ““Carbondale Ridge” & Carbondale Hill 2, 27 December 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

“Beaver Mines Ridge”, 12 December 2020

Posted on December 14, 2020December 29, 2020 by Dave McMurray7 comments on ““Beaver Mines Ridge”, 12 December 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

“Prairie Fire 2”, “Prairie Sky 2”, & “Prairie Oyster”, 28 November 2020

Posted on December 3, 2020December 30, 2020 by Dave McMurray4 comments on ““Prairie Fire 2”, “Prairie Sky 2”, & “Prairie Oyster”, 28 November 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

Prairie Bluff 4 (East Route on the Southeast Ridge), 28 November 2020

Posted on December 3, 2020December 30, 2020 by Dave McMurray0 comments on “Prairie Bluff 4 (East Route on the Southeast Ridge), 28 November 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

Mount Yarrow, 31 October 2020

Posted on November 2, 2020November 15, 2020 by Dave McMurray4 comments on “Mount Yarrow, 31 October 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

Ruby Ridge, 9 October 2020

Posted on October 11, 2020January 4, 2021 by Dave McMurray2 comments on “Ruby Ridge, 9 October 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

Mount Rowe, 3 October 2020

Posted on October 6, 2020November 15, 2020 by Dave McMurray0 comments on “Mount Rowe, 3 October 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

Anderson Peak, 26 September 2020

Posted on September 28, 2020September 29, 2020 by Dave McMurray0 comments on “Anderson Peak, 26 September 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

Bertha Peak, 5 September 2020

Posted on September 7, 2020September 9, 2020 by Dave McMurray0 comments on “Bertha Peak, 5 September 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

Darrah SE4, 29 August 2020

Posted on August 31, 2020September 1, 2020 by Dave McMurray0 comments on “Darrah SE4, 29 August 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

Darrah S3, 29 August 2020

Posted on August 31, 2020November 10, 2020 by Dave McMurray0 comments on “Darrah S3, 29 August 2020”
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Scrambles & Hikes

Andy Good Peak, 23 August 2020

Posted on August 26, 2020November 15, 2020 by Dave McMurray0 comments on “Andy Good Peak, 23 August 2020”
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    "Carbondale Ridge" & Carbondale Hill 2, 27 December 2020

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