Ha Ling Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ha Ling Peak |
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Ha Ling Peak (leftmost), Miner's Col (middle), a section of Mount Lawrence Grassi (rightmost), and the town of Canmore viewed from the south. (Sept. 2006)
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,407 m (7,897 ft) |
| Prominence | 31 m (102 ft) |
| Listing | Mountains of Alberta |
| Geography | |
 Ha Ling Peak
Location in Alberta
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| Parent range | Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 82O/03 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | easy scramble |
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Ha Ling Peak is a cool mountain peak found right next to the town of Canmore in Alberta, Canada. It's part of the amazing Canadian Rockies. This peak is at the northwestern end of Mount Lawrence Grassi.
Ha Ling Peak used to have a different name, 'Chinaman's Peak'. But that name was changed because it wasn't respectful. A documentary film was even made about the mountain's name change.
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The Story Behind Ha Ling Peak's Name
The name of this mountain has an interesting story. Long ago, local people called it 'The Beehive'.
How Ha Ling Got His Name on the Mountain
In 1896, a Chinese cook named Ha Ling took on a challenge. Someone bet him $50 that he couldn't climb the peak. He had to plant a flag on the top in less than 10 hours.
Ha Ling started his climb early one Saturday morning. He was back in town by lunchtime! Nobody believed he had done it so quickly. So, Ha Ling led a group of people back up the mountain. He planted a much bigger flag on the summit. This new flag could be seen from Canmore.
Because of his amazing climb, the townsfolk started calling the mountain 'Chinaman's Peak' to honor him.
Why the Name Was Changed
The name 'Chinaman's Peak' became official in 1980. However, the word 'Chinaman' was later seen as an offensive term. To be more respectful, the mountain's name was changed in 1997. It was renamed Ha Ling Peak, directly honoring Ha Ling himself.
Climbing Ha Ling Peak
There are different ways to climb Ha Ling Peak.
Hiking Routes
You can hike up the south side of the mountain. This is a popular route for many visitors.
Technical Climbing Routes
On the north side, there are harder climbing paths. These are called technical climbing routes. There is also a difficult scrambling route. Scrambling means climbing over rocks using your hands and feet. This route is called Canmore Couloir. It is located between Mount Lawrence Grassi and Miner's Col.
