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Calgary
198 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 7:06 PM
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With the weekend approaching I thought I'd post details on another early season hike that is in shape, at least as of last weekend.
Wasootch Ridge is located just 17 km south on highway 40, making it just over an hour from Calgary. The parking area on the left hand side if signed and is just after signed Porcupine Creek. It's hard to miss!
The trail itself starts behind the lone picnic table in the far parking lot. Be careful with this - many people are heading up Wasootch Creek to Wasootch slabs, which is a fairly great rock climbing spot, apparently - and we met someone who had asked a climber "is this the trail?" and ended up way up Wasootch creek before realizing there was not going to be a way up the ridge from the creek. Potentially adding to the confusion is the ridiculously steep actual trail. It immediately starts heading skyward at the picnic table and doesn't relent for about 150 m (vertical). Traction is only ok on the dusty sand and gravel trail and I actually slipped going down, but that turned out to be ok as upon landing I found myself right next to a calypso orchid! I'm a bit surprised they grow on that slope (seemed dry) and this early, but there it was. Lots of prairie crocus' as well and a few yellow and purple tiny flowers I haven't identified yet up higher.
After the initial rise the trail levels for a short distance, then steeply climbs another 200 m. After this rise the first good views appear - north all the way to Yamnuska; shorter views in the other directions - and you get a foreshortened view of the remaining ridge. Basically from here on the ridge consists of rather steep bumps, each requiring a loss of about 40 m and gains varying from 40 to 60 m or so. The constant ups and downs wears you out faster than many might think, and although we went to the "hiker's end" (more below), many turned around much earlier.
The ridgewalk actually has two ending points: The usual end is marked by a large-ish cairn on a broad gravelly part of the ridge. The ridge continues for about a km past here, but the last bit to the highpoint of the ridge apparently involves serious scrambling and we were content to stop at the cairn.
As for trail conditions as of May 20, most of the trail was bone dry. There were one or two muddy patches, and midway along the ridge a few snowpatches covered the trail. Avoiding these was easy, although walking on them was also possible as we discovered on the way back.
A few photos are below; more at http://mattclay.zenfolio.com/wasootch_ridge
 View northwest towards Barrier Lake and in the far distance, Yamnuska, from the ridge just after the second ascent.
 View southeast from about halfway along the ridge. Note the knarly tree - the ridge was covered in these personality-rich pines.
 View east
 Looking back along the ridge from the end cairn. Note the undulating nature of it. |
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Calgary, Alberta
318 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 7:17 PM
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Beware of ticks on all highway 40 Kananaskis hikes at this time. Most active tick time is April to June depending on how the spring unfolds.
Regards
Allan A |
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Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
28 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 10:25 PM
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| thanks for the TR, will be in area next weekend, good to know what the trails are like. Probably won't do Wasootch, may end up at Grizzly peak instead. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1197 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2012 : 09:48 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by mclay1234
but the last bit to the highpoint of the ridge apparently involves serious scrambling and we were content to stop at the cairn.
If you bypass the ridge just before the summit, the scrambling is easy or moderate at best. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1197 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2012 : 09:51 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by rdgmann
thanks for the TR, will be in area next weekend, good to know what the trails are like. Probably won't do Wasootch, may end up at Grizzly peak instead.
Wasootch Ridge is most likely much drier than Grizzly Peak. |
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Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
28 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2012 : 3:32 PM
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quote:
quote:Originally posted by rdgmann
Wasootch Ridge is most likely much drier than Grizzly Peak.
Thanks Marko, will keep all my options open, still have a week to go before I head out that way. |
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Calgary, Alberta
47 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2012 : 12:14 PM
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| Last year I did this ridge in reverse. Walked up Wasootch Creek and climbed to the true summit of Wasootch ridge then walked back on the ridge to the parking area. A very pleasant alternative and yes the scrambling near the summit is difficult in places and even class 5, but as mentioned can be skirted lower down to make for an easier ascent or descent. |
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Wasootch Ridge
