Mt. Rundle
Whether crowned by a rainbow, capped by clouds, or sharply outlined by brilliant blue, Mt. Rundle's ridgecrest slicing the sky is one image every Banff visitor takes home. Which is why many hikers are powerfully drawn to Mt. Rundle when they learn a trail ascends part way up the its west slope.
Our advice: Appreciate Mt. Rundle from the Trans-Canada Highway viewpoint above Vermilion Lakes, west of Banff townsite. But do not hike up Mt. Rundle.
You'll be happier choosing almost any other trail in the area. Cory Pass, for example, is equally convenient and far more exciting. Scramblers too are better off elsewhere. Though Mt. Rundle's summit panorama includes Mt. Assiniboine, there are easier off-trail adventures that will reward you with more thrilling scenery. Try Cirque Peak, above Helen Lake.
For Mt. Rundle to be a worthwhile hike, you must be resolutely determined to accomplish one of two goals: (1) summit the main peak, or (2) attain the glorious, narrow perch beneath the first peak, where a cliff band blocks non-climbers' upward progress. Ascending only part way is a waste of time. We've seen people, miserable and exhausted, turn back below treeline, having earned zilch for their effort.
We've also seen others who were packless (and apparently brainless), carrying nothing more than a water bottle, wearing little more than running shoes and a cotton tank-top, setting out for the summit. Bring at least two liters (quarts) of water per person for the round trip to the base of the first peak. Bring more on your summit bid.
Curious about Mt. Rundle? Read Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies, The Opinionated Hiking Guide. It will help you make optimal use of every day you spend in the Canadian Rockies by guiding you along premier trails to grand scenery and preventing you from wasting precious time on inferior options like Mt. Rundle.
Go to http://www.hikingcamping.com/hike-rockies.php to learn more about Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies, The Opinionated Hiking Guide.
