Hiking 2021 Starts Early - Mt. Coliseum Feb 20, 2021

Mt. Coliseum and Nordegg Area Winter Hike

Unexpected event is always the best. So, when the weather says go, and the mountains say come, there is no excuse but to try a winter hike.

We recorded 9 km up with the elevation gain of 700 m and actual time of 4 hours. True winter summit! 

 Team comprised of Yanek, Ania, Brian, Asia, and Jola started the hike around 10AM on the beautiful Saturday morning.

We started on the well defined path and enjoyed the stroll

Soon the beautiful views made us to slow down and enjoy 

Now, with the objective in the view, we gear up for a traverse with very strong wind

Views stayed with us for the whole day, but deeper snow made the hike even slower

Snow was very deep in places and the path was difficult to follow

We believe the last successful summitting happened a month earlier

Due to unplanned circumstances group needed to split

Asia, Jola and Yanek continued on the ridge to the point where summit finally opened up

Still amused with the view we relax before the final push

Here the snow was very uneven and packed rock solid by the wind

My companions pushed through it like there is no tomorrow

Next thing are the smiles on the summit

Very unusual, but there was no wind during our visit on the top

Four hours is not bad for the winter ascent

Last look back at the crown of Coliseum

Now is just fun on the way down

There is also time to play in the snow

And the vistas continue

After total of seven hours we were back in the cars

But the venture continued the next day

Bighorn Canyon offers a lot to explore in the winter

 

This is the only time when Bighorn River is quiet

 

We didn't make further than about 4km, but it was great to be walking on the ice

More walking on very slippery ice on the Abraham Lake. Here the ice bubbles attract many visitors

Winter can be fun, as long as weather allows...

See you all on the trail.

Yk