Kananaskis - 3 day hikes

July 24-26, 2023

Fourteen of us Chilliwack Outdoor Clubbers, drove out to Kananskis, just east of Canmore. Seven stayed in the Ribbon Creek Hostel and seven in the Mt. Kidd RV campsite. The weather was on our side for the most part, but it could flit quickly from cold to hot and from calm to wind gusts that almost knocked us off of our feet. We experienced ice-rain, freezing temperatures and sweaty sunshine.

Hike #1 -- July 24: Centennial Ridge to Mt. Allen in Kananaskis Valley

Stats: 18 km / 1776m gain! / 2819m high / 6:10 hours MT

We started with the hardest hike first, on the highest trail ever built in the Canadian Rockies.

The trailhead was just past the Ribbon Creek Hostel. After about 15 minutes on a gently graded trail in a fir & pine tree forest, we came out into the open where the steep climb to the ridge started. A meadow of clover, Indian Paintbrush and bluebells were backed up by Mt. Kidd.

John was our faithful leader. He organized and coordinated the group.

To our left were open views of Ribbon Creek Valley.

At the Olympic Summit by the weather stations. The ski slopes were to our right.

Lougheed Mt. dwarfs Mt. Allan to the right.

The elevation dropped here before resuming it's climb to the summit.

The orange lichen grows only where the air is pure.

Ribbon Peak (left) + Mt. Bogart.

The Mushroom Garden.

Wind & Lougheed mountains.

Passing through the 25m high conglomerate pinnacles in the Rock Garden.

Made it! We had to hang onto eachother for this pic as we braced ourselves for the next gust of wind. Gregg from the hostel took this photo. He joined us for the final stretch to the top. He wasn't so sure about continuing alone because the wind was so strong and the trail was close to the edge of the ridge.

From northwest to east. We could see the village of Kananaskis to the northeast.

Jerry in his happy place (as were we all). Forest fire smoke obscured the more distant peaks to the north and northeast.

Seven reached the summit.

OK Iraj, time to go.

We ran into Case & Christine just past the pinnacles. They turned back there.

Approaching the Olympic Summit, before the steeper drop to the forest.

1) Blanket Flower 2) Aspen Daisies

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Hike #2 -- July 25 - Rummel Lake & Pass in Spray Valley Provincial Park

Stats: 16.8 km / 833m gain / 2440m high / 4:30 hours MT

This was a rooty but nicely graded trail. No steep stuff as in the day before.

Pig's Tail & Mt. Birdwood.

Spray Lake.

1) Bovine bolete 2) Shingled Hedgehog

At Rummel Lake.

The pass is at the low point between the moutains.

Mt. Galatea.

Group shot: John McL, Steve P, Jaco V, Iraj F, Cindy W, Jerry U, Christine C, Christine F, Grace V, Case T, Allana W, Lorenz B + me (Cammy took the photo)

Seven of us continued to Rummel Pass.

Looking back at approaching dark clouds. Commonwealth, Birdwood & Smuts Peaks -- west.

Moving towards the pass.

The first tarn was dried up. Not so with the second one.

At the pass looking east at Lost Lake.

The Tower -- north. This was our turn-back point.

A lone mountain sheep (lower centre).

Suddenly Cindy jumped up and said, "We've got to get out of here!" Without much warning, the winds had picked up with a vengence and the sky was dark. It started to pelt tiny ice balls onto my frozen face. It was hard to keep my eyes open. And hard to take a focused photo with numb hands and blasting wind.

We couldn't see much of the mountains anymore. Threat of lightening was real. We were like sitting ducks in the open pass. So we switched into high gear, and fast-walked out of there.

The storm left as quickly as it came.

1) Aspen Daisy 2) Squirrel

Halt! Never get between a mama and her babies.

Three grouse chicks.

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At the intersection of Hwy 742 (Smith-Dorrien) & Hwy 40, we ran into this herd of Rocky Mt. sheep.

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Hike #3 -- July 26 - Ptarmigan Cirque - in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

We parked at Highwood Pass (2206m) which is on the highest paved road in Canada, open from June 16 to November 30th.

Stats: 5.35 km / 520m gain / 1:55 hours MT

Cowparsnip

John set off on this dirt footpath but soon stopped, realizing we were on the Pocaterra trail, not the Ptarmigan. All but three hikers turned back, and crossed the highest point on Hwy 40. The other three continued on to do a crossover on HIghwood Ridge. They'd had more sun and believe it or not, less wind. They'd seen seashell fossils there!

It was about 9:00am and the sun had not risen high enough to touch this part of the bowl yet.

Looking southwest across the highway at Highwood Ridge, Grizzly Peak & Mt. Tyrwhitt.

Kings Ridge.

We passed the junction of Ptarmegan Loop and continued to the upper terminal moraine.

Its hard to get a photo of a pica. They're so skittish. They're actually a member of the rabbit family.

The gusts of wind were so strong, that I had to stop moving a few times, to concentrate on staying upright.

John & I decided to continue on a bit, just to "see what's around that corner".

Approaching Mt. Rae's Peaks.

It would've been a scramble to get to the peak which would've been too risky in the wind.

Heading back.

Looks like Iraj is trying to fly.

Descending, we branched off to the right to hike the other half of the Ptarmigan loop.

Mt. Rae's peak -- northeast.

Arethusa Mountain above the Sometime waterfall in the split rock.

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A walk to Troll + Marmot Falls: 1 hour

In the afternoon we walked to Troll Falls, close to Kananaskis village.

Troll Falls.

I found Marmot Falls to be prettier, especially because you can walk right behind them. Its about 15-minutes further up the trail.

It was the very first time Christine ever stood behind a waterfall.

1) At the upper part of the falls I could see the profile of a face. Do you?

2) Christine, the perpect picture of relaxing and unwinding post-hike.

There were four couples along on this trip. Seven of us had happy hour together at Steve & Christine & Lorenz's place. Then we figured we might as well prep our dinner there too. Our three camperized vans meant we had our kitchen with us. And I thought I might as well feed Lorenz too. Apparently Christine had fed him the night before. Lucky guy.

Steve took his home-made guitar & amplifier along to the campfire at the hostel. What a lovely way to spend our last evening there. I'd come down with a nasty cold so we left a day early. Steve's band is named, The Night Hawks. Our club has posted events for it. Afterall, dancing is exercise too.

Thanks to John for organizing this wonderful adventure in the great outdoors!