Ha Ling Peak

Locals originally called the mountain the Beehive. Wikipedia reports that Ha Ling, a Chinese cook, accepted a $50 bet that he could not climb the peak and plant a flag in under 10 hours. It cites the Medicine Hat News of October 22, 1896, saying he set out at 7 a.m. and was back for lunch. When doubters questioned him, he reportedly led them up and planted a larger flag. Details of the story, including his employer, vary by account and should be read as local tradition as much as documented history.

The mountain then became known as Chinaman's Peak, a name that became official in 1980. Because the term is viewed as derogatory, it was changed to Ha Ling Peak. Sources disagree on the date: Wikipedia describes the renaming as 1997 while citing a July 1998 news brief, so it was in the late 1990s. A 2018 CBC documentary covered the controversy.

Alberta Parks describes a trail from the Goat Creek day-use area that is maintained for 3.5 kilometres to the saddle, with the final stretch to the summit about 400 metres and 103 metres of elevation on an unmaintained trail through loose, rocky terrain. Its total distance to the summit is 3.9 kilometres one-way, as listed in the Alberta Parks trail report. Published elevation gains vary by source, from about 700 to 825 metres, so treat any single figure as approximate.

The trail is steep and exposed in places. Snow and ice can linger high on the mountain well into the season, and Alberta Parks has reported mud lower down in spring. A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park. The Goat Creek trailhead was reported to have reopened in February 2023, but check Alberta Parks for current access, since the Bow Valley has had trail and parking changes.

The easiest route to the top is a south-side walk-up, which Wikipedia calls an easy scramble, while the north side holds technical routes and a difficult scramble up Canmore Couloir. Rockfall on the north face has been reported by climbing sites, but none could be tied to a confirmed date here, so we state only that loose rock is a known hazard on the steeper faces.

The summit looks north over Canmore and the Bow Valley, with the Three Sisters and Mount Rundle nearby. The view makes the effort worthwhile on a clear day, but weather in the Rockies changes quickly.

• Start early, carry water and layers, and turn around if conditions turn.
• Travelling on a private Voyzo tour means a driver and private vehicle with door-to-door pickup, but the hike itself is a fit-dependent, self-paced climb; for those who prefer a lighter day, the same route's early sections or a viewpoint walk elsewhere may suit better.
• Check Alberta Parks for current conditions.