A Canadian Adventure - Day 46

Sunday 17 September 2017

Pocaterra Ridge

Another bad start, despite it being a beautiful day with no toothache.

The three keys for Charlie were all on a metal band that can't be split. So they lived happily together. We had a routine whereby we always opened the car before we opened the boot. This morning I was distracted. The keys got locked in the boot. The Bow Valley receptionist was very helpful and called out a rescue service, and Sue got a taxi to the Kananaskis Visitor Centre on Highway 40 where we were due to meet Peter and his friend Kevin.

I followed on half an hour later after a very efficient rescue service. The mechanic also did us a favour by cutting the metal band and releasing the three keys. "You wouldn't believe how often I have to do this" he jested.

The delay wasn't crucial as today's 10 km walk could still be undertaken at a leisurely pace. We dropped Charlie off at the car park at Little Highwood Pass and continued on to Highwood Pass in Kevin's Jeep. At 2206 metres this is apparently the highest tarmaced road in Canada. The car park was full so we were by the roadside, which was positively swamped by cars when we returned later. It's a popular day out from Calgary. We soon found out why.

Sue takes up the story from (before) here:

"On this blue sky morning, the views along the road were superb, of mountains, adorned by ski pistes in one area near Kananaskis Village, and avalanche tracks in another. It was slightly hazy but we didn't think it was smoke. The road climbed and after about 40 minutes we reached the parking lot at Little Highwood Pass where we left our car. It was another 4-5km to reach Highwood Pass at 2206m, where the car park was already full (10am) and cars were now using the wide verges.

The Pocaterra Ridge was justifiably popular today. Initially it was level, on a muddy path, then it ascended in woodland, where the path was quite icy in places, and snow lingered in the shade. A short descent brought us out of the trees, and to a gentle climb through sparse, yellowing larches, with snow on the slopes above. It was beautiful. Above, we could see a line of people climbing, on the skyline. Small streams crossed our path, and soon the trees were behind us, as we climbed, with views growing. There was banter between people as they passed, all enjoying the conditions, although the wind was cool.

The summit, at around 2680m, had excellent views, but we weren't alone! The ongoing ridge could be seen, as we traversed the highest part, looking for a good spot for lunch. This was achieved, and we enjoyed a sunny, sheltered picnic, just off the first top.

The next section was the hardest, as it was north facing, steep, partially frozen and consequently icy. We moved slowly, taking care, but after that it was lovely, walking on the crest, with views in all directions. Some of the warped rock striations were impressive.

The ridge gradually descended, with four tops in all. The final hill was a patchwork of yellow and green larches, and included the last ascent. The ridge ended abruptly with a view of Kananaskis Lake, and a direct descent through the trees took us out of the cold wind that the open ridge had invited.

The final part had us negotiating a section of woodland that had been altered by flooding, so we weaved around, finally emerging opposite the Little Highwood Pass car park, where the Toyota was waiting, around 4.10pm. After dropping Peter and Kevin back at Kevin's car, we set off back to Canmore at 4.25pm. More hazy now, it was still a scenic journey back to Canmore, during which we had to slow down for some errant Bighorn Sheep.

Shopping was completed then baths and dinner in number 32 - shrimps with the rest of the chipotle dip, then egg and avocado salad, with raspberries and blueberries with cream. 

The day that started badly gave us a truly wonderful and memorable ridge walk."

Thanks Sue

Thanks also go to Peter for suggesting this route, and to him and Kevin for providing such good company. My apologies for the hiccup at the start of the day.

The pictures are chronological, with no proper rendition of the more tricky ridge bits, partly because the sun was in the wrong place and partly because I was concentrating on survival rather than on photography! 

10.5 km with 600 metres ascent, in 6 hours.