A third multi day trip into the fabulous Kananaskis Country.   This area is a little further south than we have explored in previous trips and there are less facilities available as it is not so developed, although there is a small grocery store and gas station at the Highwood Junction.  This event is a hiking trip from a base camp at a campsite at the south end of Kananaskis Country and is suitable for tenters or hard sided RV units.   The campground has water, pit toilets, and fire pits.  We will drive to trailheads every day.

Day 1:   Drive from Kamloops to the campsite.     Approx.  8 hour drive via Banff and Canmore and up over the Highwood Pass.  No park pass necessary unless you plan on making a stop in the National Parks.  To break the journey it is possible to overnight camp en route (Hoodoo Creek in Yoho is a basic overflow type) or reservations would be necessary in any front country campsite through Yoho, Banff or K-country.

Day 2:  Bull Creek Hills/Grass Pass.   Approx. 11 km, 800 m elevation over rolling ridges on some unofficial trails.   An end to end hike so we will need several vehicles to shuttle – about a 15 minute shuttle.  Fabulous views over the Highwood and Cataract Creek watershed and hills travelling mostly on open grassy ridges.   Lots of ups and downs on this one!   More strenuous than it sounds.

Day 3:  Raspberry Ridge lookout.  Approx. 9 km circuit with height gain of 650 m on unofficial trails and overgrown fire roads.   A winding climb takes you up to a fire lookout, the eastern escarpment has eight parallel grassy buttresses in view.  Alpine rock gardeners will recognize borders of Jacobs ladder, alpine forgetmenots and purple rock cress.   At the lookout the full grandeur of the view is revealed up and down the Great Divide, Crowsnest Mountain, Mist Mountain, and the Highwood and Livingstone ranges.  Also in view is Mt Burke’s lookout to the south – which is planned for day 4.

Day 4:   Mist Ridge.  Unofficial trails approx. 18 km with height gain of 1020 m to highest summit.   This is an out and back hike along a superb grassy ridge and is approx. 9 km to the furthest summit but if bodies and weather dictate we do not need to go all the way to that point to appreciate the stunning views  over the Highwood Range, Sheep River ranges and Gibraltar Mountain.   The ridge itself is a ruler straight and comfortably broad with rocky outcroppings with many ups and downs.   Watch out for sheep pellets and sheep.

Day 5:  Mt Burke.  Approx 8 km to summit fire lookout, height gain 845 m.   The trail starts just a few km south of the campsite.  The first 4 or 5 km corkscrews up through a soft forest trail to treeline.   A short grass slope is prelude to a wild landscape of yellow scree slopes and cliff bands.  The trail crosses the crest of a short rocky ridge (can be a very windy area) to a summit trail that traverses above a rock band up to the old fire lookout.   As is expected from a lofty fire lookout extensive views abound at the elevation of 2450 m.

Day 6:   Pack up and drive home.

(There are many many other options in this area for bad weather or shorter days but these four hikes will give the hikers a taste of four different directions).

We will base camp at Etherington Creek campground which is 7 km south of the Highwood Junction (gas stn, basic grocery store, water, ice, liquor) on hwy 941.  Campsite has 60 large treed sites suitable for RV’s or tents, fire pits, pit toilets.   Water is from pumps so may need treating at site although the water in these campgrounds is potable unless there has been some issues, RV’s can fill up tanks at the Highwood Junction and there is a dump station.   Participants need to get on their computer on MONDAY MAY 27TH on AB Parks reservations, or phone 1-877-537-2757  to reserve sites.   Sites are $26 a night, plus reservation fee, and we are allowed several tents per site, but only one vehicle,  RV folks can accommodate one or two tents on their site but no more vehicles.  We need to reserve 5 nights starting 25th August (Sunday) through to Thursday 29th August (drive home on Friday 30th day).  The drive day on 25th could be long but if you have a site just arrive any time.  Some folks may wish to start a day earlier and camp at Hoodoos in Yoho (overflow site), Lake Louise overflow (pretty yukky but ok for RV’s if you just sleeping) or the Casino (RV’s only) at the junction of Hwy 40 and Hwy 1 to reduce the drive day.   I estimate 8 hours with breaks.

By the end of August the bugs should be pretty non existent and weather could be anything from mid-20’s to true mountain weather so plan on bringing many layers.   Evenings could get chilly so hopefully there is no fire ban at that time.   We will be well into grizzly country and indeed I have met said furballs on all of these hikes.  We could plan some group meals if participants wish or just some happy hour appy get togethers.   We will talk carpooling closer to the date.

Pooches are welcome but would have to be leashed on all hikes.