High avi hazard so just did SSV
New skis and bindings – but skied like any stiff Volkl ski – maybe a bit light.
2 hrs 20 to base Wawa and 3 hrs to top trees ~ 800 m
Carried all the backcountry gear and weight including 2 L water which slowed me down a bit.
Little Lougheed Dec 8, 2018
Exercise workout. 5.8 km RT 795 m About 3 hours up 270 m/hr
Bypass boulder field in trees on left on way down at about 1960 m and then cut back right to rejoin trail at 1820 m.
Cat Creek Hills October 27, 2018
Nice trip on a warm sunny day – hopefully not the last one.
All the good pics are Wietse’s. Thank you.
8.8 km 600 m net and 800 m gain RT 2.5 hr up 4.5 rt
Mist Mountain Kananaskis Hot Springs Winter Avalanche Highwood pass
Mist Mountain Kananaskis Hot Springs Avalanche paths winter avi risk highwood pass
Snow shoe to Eagle Ridge by Mist Mountain Kananaskis
Bit early to be snowshoeing but needed to get out so nice little trip with Wietse and Vern. I get lazy about taking pics when I am out with semi-professional photographers so all the good pics are from those guys. Thanks.
7 km 650 m 4 hrs RT.
Note some pics of the mist hot springs with tele. The slopes on the way to the springs is steep and crosses several avi paths so be aware.
Wren and Ship’s Prow Mountain Scramble from South ridge – prow sticks out to right.
Ship’s Prow Mountain from ridge out to prow. Access on and off summit by left leaning gully.
Ship’s Prow Mountain Scramble up chimney that gives access to ridge out to prow. Ascent ramp in distance with trees.
Interesting scramble that is not in guide books. About 1100 m and 10 km 8.5 hrs RT if go out on prow.
The first part up to the col or the bump with big cairn is basically like Ha Ling without a trail so surprised that this doesn’t have a trail given proximity to Canmore.
Park just after bridge on left if coming from Canmore. Walk road beside canal and no trail so probably best to go to big pile of rocks at top of cleared area(old gravel pit) and head straight up. We wandered around a bit looking for trails but there were none.
First 400 m vertical is bushwack through widely spaced trees, moss and hornets up to ridge with scattered trees. Rained on us for an hour but we stuck with it.
Follow left edge of ridge in open trees to above treeline to meadow and up to main ridge col (another 400 m vert).
Take ridge northwest over bump with huge cairn to narrower ridge to Ship’s prow mtn summit- some easy scrambling along ridge. Some Moderate scramble on some ramps up to summit. There is a notch 30 m back South from summit with a Chimney down to ridge that leads out to prow – moderate with blocky steps. See pics
Looks like some people have ascended the Ship’s prow from Grassi Knob by going around the South side and up and down the scree.
Turned into a reasonably sunny nice day. Interesting flyby and acrobatics display by a small plane when we were at top.
Thanks Wren and Kevin for some pics.
Note looks like trail up from Grassi Knob or Three Sisters resort along three sisters creek to top of ships prow.
See last three pics.
Mount Sarrail Scramble – summit ridge
Mount Sarrail Scramble – summit
Long trip 26 km 1750 m gain – 12 hours RT – I cramped up at 2800 m and called it a day.
Hidden lake was very low so easy to walk along shoreline trail. Cairn and blue ribbon to head back into forest to catch the great trail which switchbacks up the headwall. much better than old trail which now is not maintained and has deadfall over it. Turn left up slabby ribs near highpoint on trail to catch Sarrail ridge. Above treeline on grass go left (cairns) on trail around a cliff to avoid steep loose scree band. follow ridge to summit.
Elbow Loop Bike Aug 6, 2018
Plan A was Threepoint but left my boots in garage so Plan B was Bike Elbow Loop which I had not done for 30 years.
43 km and 750 m but total more like 1000m with gain and regain.
About 7 leisurely hours with 1-2 hrs of breaks.
Decided to go CW which is against the flow but faster and easier down run.
Only bridge not completed is the one past Big Elbow Campground at 12 km? at start of hill.
Got sick above rockband. Fever and stomach flu.
Went home.
Wietse and summit of Mount Shark Kananaskis scramble
Climbing up the downclimb on descent of Mount Shark ridge kananaskis
Cold windy day with a hangover and tired legs from 30 km last weekend.
Rode bikes to Lake. Easiest to leave bikes in trees versus going down to lake. Up to Karst springs. Best trail starts of righthand side of trail about 50-70m before end of pathway/springs.
Up through trees on convoluted trail but stick with it as it comes out right at ridge. Lots of deadfall.
Should stick directly on ridge crest but storm blew in with unbelievable strong cold winds and snow/graupel. so we reluctantly decided to bypass on the scree traverse.
Poor scrappy scree and worse ledges to climb back to ridge. not recommended.
About 1150 m with regain and 18 km and almost 9 hours with diversions and wasted time.
Need to come back and do this on a warm sunny calm day.
A lot of the pics are from Wietse – thankyou.
