Last Minute Excursion

I don't often spend money on my outdoor pursuits, especially when the activities take place in my own back yard..... However around noon on Saturday, I learned that I would be able to skip out of work early and not have to come back until Monday morning. So on a whim, I looked up an endeavor that I'd been curious about for quite sometime, and as luck would have it, one spot was available. By 4:00pm that afternoon I had booked myself in for a Sunday cruise up the via ferrata at Mount Norquay, and by 4:15 I was on the road to Canmore.

Now I'm not gonna lie, I went into this little adventure with fairly low expectations. I mean really - a relatively large group of people, following a guide, clipped into cables, using man-made hand and foot holds, etc.... I was prepared for it to be somewhat impersonal and maybe even a bit cumbersome. Honestly, I was mostly looking forward to simply being outside and getting my hands on some lovely Rockies limestone. Of course scrambling up to a high point has long been one of my favorite things to do, so the fact that this route ended on a peak was an added bonus.

Well let me just say that my presumptions were completely and totally one hundred percent incorrect. My expectations were blown so far out of the water I could hardly believe it! I did the Summiteer, which is the all-day version, and I absolutely loved every minute of it!

Beauty view of Banff from the Norquay Road.

And.... we're off!

The climbing starts right away.... no 'easing into it'.... LOL!

One of the cool obstacles!

Wheeeeee!

Doing some 4x4-ing!

Don't look down!

Hanging bridge.

Slacklining.... sort of!

Lovely spot for lunch.

Did I mention that lunch was provided? Yum!

And the fun continues!

Nepalese bridge... the only obstacle we had to cross twice.

Summit view!

Look at that vista!

I had a most excellent time!

Time to head down - apre-climb
appetizers and beers were provided also!

The peeps in my group were fabulous - George and his brother Harry from the UK, Allan and his wife Allison from Atlanta, Richard and his kids Malcolm and Kirstin from Edmonton, and of course our witty, fun, friendly, competent and knowledgeable guide Robbie. The obstacles and the exposure of this cleverly laid out, iron path ascent were super rad, and the virtually perfect weather put the enjoyment factor off-scale high! I would definitely consider doing the other routes at some point - perhaps one of you will join me?

Cheers!