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bikes canada general moosling

Riding Whiteman’s Gap – Goat Creek – Legacy Trail is a silly ride and I’m never doing it again

It didn’t really help that it was unexpectedly cold. Riding from Canmore up to Whiteman’s Gap towing a Chariot was good training for Alex. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. I’d never biked Goat Creek before and was surprised by how rocky and rough it was (although the photo below was taken on a smooth section, there were rocks, honestly).

Definitely do-able with the Chariot, but all descents had to be taken slowly, and the riding really isn’t that exciting, with views of trees, trees and more trees along the way (also for a ‘downhill’ ride, there’s a lot of uphills). Finn did like the creeks though.

Stopping in the sun in Banff was pleasant enough, but then returning via the Legacy Trail was just beginning to get a bit tedious, probably because I was cold and cranky by that point. All in all, ride rating was a solid ‘meh’. Now I’ve done it I need never do it again.

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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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bikes canada general moosling

Cycling with the Chariot to a random point on Redearth Creek

It started raining as we loaded the bikes onto the truck. Thankfully, none of us are witches, and we decided the rain would probably go away again. After raining on us a bit, it did.

We’d skied the Redearth creek trail in Winter, but got bored and turned around. Biking it is much easier, and it was a lovely day once the rain cleared. Damp trail covered in red pine needles, and the flowing creek, and bright green mosses covering the forest floor.

It’s uphill most of the way, sometimes steep, sometimes gradual, but fairly constantly uphill. After about 7km of this, we reached the Lost Horse Creek campground and had a late lunch.

Then it was another 3.5km of flatter terrain, and we reached the “No bikes west of this junction” point. They even had little bike stands that allowed you to lock your bikes up. We decided we couldn’t be bothered walking the 3.5km up to Shadow Lake, or biking south on the Pharaoh Creek trail – which looked pretty narrow anyway.

Now of course, we’re wondering about the potential of camping at the Lost Horse Creek campground, and then hiking the Shadow Lake/Whistling Valley/Egypt Lake/Pharaoh Creek trail.

Turning around, we barely had to pedal on the way down. Weeeeee!

Trail conditions: Only a couple of puddles, and only a little snow to the side of the trail, the track is pretty clear.
Bears: None, but some scat and some prints.

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canada general

Scrofulous sheep

While out wandering in K-Country, on a rainy kind of day when we all had tired legs. We looked for moose but all we found were scrofulous Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep.

Our friend Katya was visiting, after running a very long way in the Banff Jasper relay (raising money for the Brain Tumor Foundation). After some initial concern, the Moosling decided she was ok. And more than ok once she started pulling funny faces and giving him toys to play with.

That was last weekend. This weekend just past, there was lots of sun (although a fair bit of rain too), and some more adventures. Which I’ll get around to uploading the photos of by next weekend probably.