Our recent trip to Kananaskis (July 17-19, 2026) was undertaken by the members of our Club with the intention to hike to the Ribbon Lake, which is a long and demanding hike of more than 22 km and around 1000 metres elevation gain.
However, we found out at the Visitors Centre that the trail to the Ribbon Lake is closed , due to flooding, therefore we needed to find an alternative. But Beatka quickly cheered us up by showing her new spectacular sunglasses.
Great things took place during this trip to Raspberry Ridge Lookout Loop, combined with the birthday celebrations of our Dear Mike. On the summit, perhaps a combined result of altitude, the presence of his beloved Barbara, and the champagne consumed, our Birthday Boy reached such the levels of elation that it looked he could have been taken to the heavens at any moment! (To see it all on the film, click: https://youtu.be/SwllDe-Ku3M).
17 Lipiec 2022
(Clicking on the photos allows to see them in greater size)
Troll Falls is an easy hike (3.4 km, +154 m) near the Wilderness Hostel in Kananaskis. It is an excellent objective for the "second day," assuming you hiked hard the previous day.
Sobota, 16 Lipiec 2022
Picklejar Lakes are described sometimes as "hidden gem of Kananaskis." They are, in fact, relatively remote (about a 2hr drive from Calgary, 67 km from Kananaskis Wilderness Hostel). In our case, they were not so "hidden." A few other trails were closed and it was a "free day" in Kananaskis (no need to buy a pass), so we encountered a lot of people and dogs. This however didn't take anything from the pleasure of this adventure. Beautiful mountains, a sunny day and a joyful company is always a winning combination!
For the record, our GPSs showed 5.4 km and +460m of altitude gain to the first lake. It took us 2.5 hours.
Saturday, 2 October 2021
Prairie Mountain, 2210 m, 6.8 km return, +680 m altitude gain, 4.5 hours. Elbow, Kananaskis. (To see pictures in higher resolution, click on them).
10 October 2020
Moose Mountain, 2437 m, is a popular mountain in Kananaskis region, southwest from Calgary. It featured in the award winning movie "Brokeback Mountain," which, as you all know, is about a love of one man for another. The trail is 13.8 km long (return, guidebook), or 16 km according to my GPS. The altitude gain is roughly 600 m, which makes this moderately strenuous trail very popular.
19 September 2020
Nihahi Ridge, South Summit, 2380 m, 10 km + 2 km, height gain +770 m. Mostly hike, some scrambling.
 |
| Yanek (Trip Leader), Basia, Michal, Mikele, Ewa and Barbara. The summit of Nihahi Ridge is above Mikele's head. |
After having to cancel this trip on account of poor weather for two consecutive years, we were finally back at the bottom of Nihahi Ridge in Little Elbow Provincial Park. California fires (and one near Canmore, I've heard) created somewhat hazy conditions, but ... what the heck!
Solo ascent to Mount Lougheed, peaks 2 and 3, Kananaskis,
Sept 05, 2020
I started my trip at 08:30 on August 5th 2020. A couple of cars were
already parked by the trailhead, a couple more pulled over as I did final
preparations. A few hikes will later become my temporary companions, as they
also were going to Lougheed 2 and 3.
As always, the first couple of hours were spent by walking through the forest, passing by Spencer Creek. Not
much excitement, nor photographs were taken until after I emerged above the
tree line into the valley between the wall of Mount Sparrowhawk on one side
