Category: hiking

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canada general hiking moosling

Buller Pass

Another K-Country hike which is absolutely amazing (although around this time of year, just about everything is).

Buller Pass starts with wending through a mossy forest trail, passing a mushroom which Alex thinks is edible (and which we pick up on the way back, google intensively and then throw in with the BBQ dinner that night). There’s a waterfall, lots of trees, less trees… then a lunch stop. We spent a good chunk of our time trying to identify trees and flowers with the help of a couple of laminated guides that Joel and Kristy had brought along with them. Unfortunately all I retained from the whole experience was that there are some white/pink bell shaped flowers that grow on a knickers plant.

There was still some snow lying around on the final portion of the hike through the amphitheater and up to the pass – as a result we didn’t do the sneak around the back to make a loop via North Buller Pass. Instead there was just some lazing in the sun and a trot home again (via the edible mushroom)

Distance: 13km return
Elevation gain: 671m

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canada general hiking moosling

Mt Allan

Our day-after-solstice hike was up Mount Allan (named for the first professor of geology at the University of Alberta, he was responsible for going “Hey, there’s coal here… and here… and here…” all around this area).

There’s a good description of the trail at trailpeak, but in general: you follow Centennial Trail. There’s an old mine. It’s quite steep. Then it’s not for a bit, and there are nice views, and some meadows. Then there are some funky rocks. Then there’s some scree. Then you’re at the top.

For a 16km hike with 1350 metres of elevation gain it really didn’t seem that long. Although it took us seven hours, so perhaps it was just the gorgeous day making time fly. It was the first day after the end of the seasonal closure for the area (so the Rocky Mountain Sheep can raise their lambs in peace), and there were just two other people on the mountain with us. And apparently a bear, although we never saw him.

the way up to the summit

Looking up to Mount Allan from Olympic Summit

Hanging out for snacks and photos just below the summit

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Walking back along Olympic Summit (after doing a test spray of the bear spray, discovering it was a little blocked, and then getting that tasty capsicum liquid all over places it shouldn’t go… the spillage on the hydrapack nozzle gave the water a nice bite for the rest of the day)

Back down to Kananaskis Valley

Summit: 2819m
Return distance: 16km
Elevation gain: 1350m
Trip time: 7 hours (with plenty of breaks for snacks, photos, changing baby, lazing in sun, admiring marmots and wildflowers etc)
Snow levels: There are a few snow patches, but nothing you can’t get around with ease

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canada general hiking moosling

Wind Ridge

This is such an awesome little hike, and so close to town, I can’t believe I’ve never done it before.

Sudden views out to the spectacular Wind Valley as you leave the fire trail in the trees

We parked at the Pigeon Mountain carpark, along with hoards of others (after arriving there the first time and realising we’d forgotten bear spray, and having to go back home and pick it up). This was the first weekend since the Wind Valley seasonal closure had ended, so perhaps we weren’t the only ones to come up with the cunning plan to hike in this area.

Up steeply through the meadow to get to the ridge

There are two different options to gain some height and reach the start of the ridge. Both involve following fire road, and my preference is the shorter way – after crossing the good bridge and the dodgy bridge, as you’re heading uphill, there’s a turn off to the right. Hike steeply up there for a few hundred metres until you reach a cairn marking some single track disappearing into the bush – follow. Soon enough you’re on fire trail again, and you meet up with the original track higher up.

We came across bear scat, but no bears. Just a lot of squirrels, and ground squirrels once we reached the open meadows along Wind Ridge itself. As the trail climbs the ridge, there are more and more fantastic views, out towards the Wind Valley and West Wind Pass, towards Skogan Pass and Mount Allan, and out towards Calgary and the scenic Lafarge plant.

Descending Wind Ridge

As the ridge narrows, you reach a rock band (can’t go round it, have to go over it). Despite appearances, there’s just a metre of scrambling, then a short walk along a narrow ledge, then you’re back to grassy path for the ten minute walk to the high point.

Despite the weather seeming kind of ominous the whole time we were hiking, with humid heavy air, it stayed dry until we got back to the car. And then the rain came.

Back to Papa and the Moosling, left at the bottom of the rock band

Distance: 12.6km return
Elevation gain: 760m

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canada hiking moosling trip reports

Barrier Mountain in the clouds

Trying not to be put off by the miserable weather forecast, we decided to set off for a hike anyway – it might make for a good time to test our rain gear, including the new little Oaki Adventure Suit for the Moosling.

In the end it never rained, just stayed cloudy and drippy and miserable all day. At least it was atmospheric. The trail up Barrier Mountain (in K-Country) was thoroughly muddy too – definitely not good cycling yet.

Thanks to the cloud we didn’t bother going all the way to the summit. Just most of the way. Still a nice little hike though, and thanks to the weather we had the place to ourselves.

Distance: 12km return

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canada general hiking moosling

Let’s try this again

After last month’s disastrous Ha Ling Peak attempt – well, not disastrous exactly, we didn’t fall off the mountain, and weren’t eaten by bears or grues, we just didn’t make it to the top, but did spend a lot of time wallowing about in thigh-deep snow.

Anyway, I thought we’d had enough warm weather that it was worth trying things again. So the Moosling and I set off from the carpark. But only after we’d spent some time discussing whether or not he’d be wearing a hat and sunglasses – the removal of which is a new trick that he’s working on perfecting.


 

The first half of the track up is nearly bare, although with plenty of snow patches and mud. Closer to the tree line the snow patches morph into permanent snow. The traverse across the treeline to get to the start of the scree trail isn’t clear at the moment, and nor is there a packed trail in the right spot – there are a couple of meandering paths that are getting down to bare ground in completely the wrong spot though, and some good deep snow to wade through otherwise. The scree to the summit is clear though.

mostly bare

Mostly bare trail

 

nearly a chipmunk

Not quite a photo of a chipmunk

 

It was a lovely warm day with barely a breeze (unlike the gale you get sometimes), so we hung out on the summit for a while, and the Moosling had a play with some rocks and dirt, but totally failed to notice the chipmunk that was bouncing around all over the place.

summit shot

mountain baby

Mountain baby