| The
Kananaskis Country Trail Guide describes a loop using Quaite Valley
Trail and Razor's Edge Trail. We were inspired to use a direct route on
the west side of the objective, see Hiking
with Barry and Marko's trip report on Trail
Peak. |
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The gate at the
beginning of Quaite Valley Trail. |
| Scramble:
RT 5.5; 2.5 up. It was very cold and overcast in
Golden, the sunny weather of the Bow Valley lured us in. We planned a
short trip in order to return to our hounds early and resume New Year's
festivities! The drive through Kicking Horse Canyon and West Louise was
nasty as
it usually is in the winter. We located the Quaite Valley service
road and parked: the temperature, -22° Celsius with a frigid wind. We
knew to look for a faint trail between the gate and the first junction
(about 100 meters); because of snow coverage, we didn't see it. When we
sighted the trail sign for Heart Creek Trail, we beelined in the
trees to gain the broad treed ramp east of us. We followed the ramp and
encountered bits of trail and ribbon on numerous occasions. Once at
the obvious drainage, we carried on with climbing sparsely treed
terrain. The snow concealed slabs making this section interesting.
Soon thereafter, we crested on the ridge and continued to the highpoint
with the little
shed. The sun was out; we walked around taking pictures and settled for
a break next to the shed. Sheltered from the wind, we felt the
warmth of the sun; I proceeded to burn mementoes for my
dad's birthday. Returning was fast and uneventful. We didn't have to
drive in the dark and we got home before kibble time! |
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Ascending treed
terrain. |
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Ribbon here and
there. |
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On the faint trail. |
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At the obvious
drainage, we climbed towards some slabs on the left. |
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Making our way
avoiding the slabs. |
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The highpoint is
just ahead. |
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Looking back. |
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The little shed. |
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Loder Peak (left)
and Old Goat Mountain. |
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Looking back again. |
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At the highpoint. |
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The connecting ridge
to the Barrier Fire Lookout
(Yates Mountain). |
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A nice pause at the
shed. |
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Leaving the top. |
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Back at the slabs. |
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Beautiful, even with
Lafarge's smoke stacks.
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