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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
854 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2012 : 7:03 PM
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There is very little information about Red Ridge on this board so I thought I'll post a TR.
Red Ridge came to my mind when I did neighboring Read's Tower last year. When I'd noticed last week a CORA hike to the Ridge I decided to join it even though I had other plans for the weekend. I forgot to replace batteries on my GPS and kept it off most of the time so don't have a track. Suffice to say we followed roughly So's track:
http://www.soistheman.com/diary/print.php?id=09_12i
I was surprised to not find a distinct trail through the bush although bushwacking wasn't too bad, barring the snow. Half way through the bush we hit waist-deep snow. There was also a lot of snow above the treeline on the ridge, mostly knee-deep but in many places I sank up to my waist in quickly deteriorating isothermal snow. Walking on boulders covered with wet snow required some cautions. Many people in our groups got bruises and minor cuts on their legs. The ridge will need probably 3 more weeks to lose its snow.
Red Ridge is an easy scramble. Our hike involved a few moderate steps with mild exposure that can be avoided. It's a very scenic destination that offers perhaps the best panorama of Spray Lake. I'll likely do the Ridge again this summer from Sparrowhawk Tarns. Bushwacking to the highway isn't bad but I think a better route is to descend southern slopes to a creek (Red Creek seems like a logical name) and then follow it to the highway. In reverse, this is probably the best way to gain the Ridge. Anyone did it this way by any chance?
1-3. Amazingly calm water of Spray Lake; 4,5,7, 10-16. - Spray Lake from Red Ridge; 6. - Mount Bogart; 8. - Ridgewalking Red Ridge; 16. - Mt. Sparrowhawk still looks very wintery; 17. - On the Ridge; 18. - Descending the Ridge
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.  18. |
Edited by - Engor on 05/28/2012 7:26 PM
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Edmonton, AB
Canada
486 Posts |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
854 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2012 : 7:36 PM
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| Heck. I did Read's Tower in similar conditions :-) Did you follow the standard route (Bob Spirko and So's)? |
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Edmonton, AB
Canada
486 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2012 : 7:41 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Engor
Heck. I did Read's Tower in similar conditions :-) Did you follow the standard route (Bob Spirko and So's)?
Yes, I printed out So's track and I just followed it pretty much. But lots of bushwhacking and post-holing even with snowshoes. |
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Campbell River, BC
Canada
782 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2012 : 7:44 PM
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| Nice photos! |
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Edmonton, AB
Canada
220 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2012 : 8:33 PM
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I felt compelled to stitch 13 & 14 together... :)
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Edited by - Arcturus on 05/28/2012 8:33 PM |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
854 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2012 : 8:56 PM
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Very nice job! You can say these two photos asked for it :-)
quote:
Originally posted by Arcturus
I felt compelled to stitch 13 & 14 together... :)
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294 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2012 : 10:19 AM
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Good job! Here is my TR from Dec 2011. I'd also like to do this again in summer to include the Sparrowhawk Tarns. I think Daffern describes this somewhat in his book, I'll have to look it up.
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42172 |
Edited by - jeffs78 on 05/31/2012 10:22 AM |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
854 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2012 : 5:07 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by jeffs78
Good job! Here is my TR from Dec 2011. I'd also like to do this again in summer to include the Sparrowhawk Tarns. I think Daffern describes this somewhat in his book, I'll have to look it up.
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42172
Thanks Jeff, I seen your TR. It looks like we got more snow than you did  Red Ridge and the area should be in the 3rd volume of Daffern's book. It didn't come out of print yet as far as I know. In vol. 1 she describes a hike to "Red Peak" from North Buller Pass, an unnamed peak right southeast of Red Ridge.
This area offers a few nice scrambles, ridgewalks and hikes. I'll be glad to join you if you interested in exploring it more. Now I have more free time than used to have in Edmonton. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
661 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2012 : 6:41 PM
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quote:
This one looks fab; I always feel "K-longing" whenever I see something like this. Seems still very low water level in Spray reservoir |
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Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
28 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2012 : 7:00 PM
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Heading out that way this weekend, what did Reids Tower look like? Is it doable or still to early?
Mountains always look best with some snow on them. |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
854 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2012 : 8:05 PM
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quote:
[i]Originally posted by zeljkok[/i
This one looks fab; I always feel "K-longing" whenever I see something like this.
Thank you. It instantly became one of my 100 favorite photographs that I keep on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57583799@N00/
quote:
[i]Originally posted by zeljkok[/i
Seems still very low water level in Spray reservoir
Right. We haven't seen the snowmelt this season yet! |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
854 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2012 : 9:21 PM
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Rod, this is a photo of Read's Tower and Mt. Sparrowhawk from Red Ridge. Read's Tower still looks very wintery as of last weekend. don't think you will have problems though. It's a very straightforward hike.
quote:
Originally posted by rdgmann
Heading out that way this weekend, what did Reids Tower look like? Is it doable or still to early?
Mountains always look best with some snow on them.
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294 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2012 : 9:51 PM
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| Hey Taras, are you in Calgary now? I wouldn't mind exploring this Red Ridge area sometime. Any upcoming plans? |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
854 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2012 : 12:26 AM
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That's right, Jeff. I like it so far in Calgary. Very easy to get to the mountains. Try to do it at least once a week. Fable-to-Gap Traverse is high on my list for the month of June. Marko has a great TR on it:
http://www.calgaryoutdoorclub.com/events/archivedetails.asp?eventid=2663
Hope to explore more Kananaskis in June before moving further west to Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway (mid July to late September). Let me know what you're up to. Hopefully we can work something out. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
661 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2012 : 02:17 AM
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quote:
Hope to explore more Kananaskis in June before moving further west to Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway (mid July to late September).
Good for you. I almost envy you -- brings back memories when I moved from Edmonton to Calgary in 96. But don't rush with Louise/Icefields; K-country is such a fantastic area -- even simple hikes (like Barrier Lookout, Wasootch Ridge or -- Red Ridge (!)) -- are very rewarding. You will generally find that Hwy40 side comes to shape 1-2 months sooner than Smith Dorrien. Best part though is K-lakes area, with fantastic backcountry destinations (such as Aster Lake/Northover Ridge) best done mid to late August.
I'll try to ping you when I'm there later this year, maybe we can hookup for a peak. |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
854 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2012 : 3:54 PM
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quote:
Best part though is K-lakes area, with fantastic backcountry destinations (such as Aster Lake/Northover Ridge) best done mid to late August.
This is my favorite Kananaskis area as well. Northover Ridge is one of the best backpacking trip in all Rockies. It's such a sublime experience!
    
I hope to explore Kananaskis Passes and Elk Lakes this summer.
quote:
I'll try to ping you when I'm there later this year, maybe we can hookup for a peak.
Would be great! |
Edited by - Engor on 06/01/2012 3:56 PM |
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Red Ridge
