Calgary hiker dies after falling on Mount Temple scrambling route in Banff

A 65-year-old Calgary man died Saturday night after slipping and falling on the Mount Temple scrambling route in Banff National Park.

Parks Canada visitor safety specialists responded via helicopter around 8 p.m. after the man's hiking group called for help. Staff used a heli-sling to move him to a staging area, where he was pronounced dead. Parks Canada released no further details on how the man fell or how far he dropped.

According to the Parks Canada website, Mount Temple is a "steep, strenuous hike" with nearly 1,700 metres of elevation gain and loose footpaths. The scrambling route on the southwest face is considered the easiest way up the mountain but still requires moderate-level hiking skills and endurance.

Jesse de Montigny, managing director of Yamnuska Mountain Adventures and a mountain guide for more than 20 years, said the scrambling route typically takes 10 to 12 hours and requires skills in hiking, scrambling, and exposed climbing to traverse rock bands — steep rock steps too vertical to scramble down easily.

Peak season generally runs from mid-July through September, though de Montigny cautioned that conditions can shift rapidly. "People need to be prepared on that mountain with a variety of gear. It can be one of those places where on a perfect day, you could probably do it in a pair of short-shorts and a t-shirt, but it's not a great idea," he said. "It can quickly turn on you weather-wise and you could be in big trouble that way."

Several fatal incidents have occurred on Mount Temple over the years. A Calgary woman died in 2015 after trying to descend when conditions deteriorated, a 70-year-old Winnipeg hiker died in 2019 attempting to ascend alone, and an experienced Edmonton hiker died in 2022 after slipping on a patch of ice.