Canmore Alpinist Breaks Records Climbing 58 Highest Rockies Peaks

A Canmore-based alpinist has broken records by becoming the youngest and fastest climber to summit all 58 peaks surpassing 11,000 feet in the Canadian Rockies.

Haldan Borglum, 26, completed the feat on June 14 in two years and six days — shattering the previous record of five-and-a-half years. His background as a World Cup biathlete gave him a significant advantage. "I'm doing them faster than a lot of people, just because of the biathlon background," he said. Some peaks that typically require multiple days, Borglum completed in a single push under 24 hours, and his longest single expedition stretched 26 hours.

Growing up in Calgary, Borglum moved to Canmore after high school to pursue his biathlon career before retiring earlier this year. With the mountains nearby, he began hiking and developing mountaineering skills with friends and mentors. "Around that time is when I stumbled across the 11,000ers list, and then was like, 'Oh, it'd be cool to do some of these'," he said.

When he started in June 2024, he had no plans to break records. Many of the peaks are treacherous or remote, requiring skilled climbing, rappelling, navigation across varied terrain, avalanche training, and substantial physical endurance. His final two peaks — Mount Clemenceau and Tusk Peak — proved particularly challenging. Located deep in remote wilderness, they require a helicopter or complex logistics to reach. After two failed attempts with partners, Borglum pressed on alone for his third try after his climbing partners turned back due to bad weather and challenging conditions. "It's a personal thing — everybody has their own opinion on when it's time to turn around, when it's OK to press on," he said. He spent roughly two hours at his final summit, taking time to absorb the moment.