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Calgary
198 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2012 : 3:21 PM
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Hi,
Does anyone have information on traversing from Carnarvon Lake to Loomis Lake (via Lake of the Horns) in the Elk Range near Highwood Pass? I've found a few brief trip reports of this on the internet so I know it is possible, but it would be helpful to know more about the route to avoid too many wrong turns.
Any information would be appreciated!
Matt |
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287 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2012 : 10:39 PM
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| I'd be interested in this as well. I have only studied the topo maps but any information would be nice. |
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calgary, ab
Canada
150 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 8:00 PM
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hey matt
I have no information for you, but if your planning a day trip out of it, i will join you. |
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High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1702 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 8:42 PM
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Yamnuska had a brief route description they called "Elk Highline" that entailed going in to Carnarvon and traversing into BC, across to Weary gap, Lake of the Horns, Loomis, and I think out at Running Rain Lake - obviously a backpack over several days, camping at each successive lake. Has had me quite intrigued for a few years now. I just looked for the link and it seems to be broken but in any event, it wasn't very detailed and stressed that this is borderline scrambling and route-finding required (no kidding). Anyway, beautiful country that would likely see more visitors except for the ford of the Highwood which can be high early in the season and the somewhat long approach.
I know that probably just makes you want it more. 
I've done Carnarvon and Running Rain but not the middle bit. Here's Carnavon:
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=36209 |
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High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1702 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 8:45 PM
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Here's Running Rain, http://claytonditzler.zenfolio.com/p278380355
One of last year's trips I never got around to annotating. Cool little lake I'd always been curious about so I hiked in there after hiking Lipsett with my wife earlier in the day. |
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Calgary
198 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 04:54 AM
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Thanks sodbuster - I've actually got your site already bookmarked in my research on this!
I've been hoping the Yamnuska link becomes active again as their description might be all I need, but when I first came across it last year I didn't take note of the actual route other than to think, gee, that would be awesome! I may give them a call and see if they'd be willing to share their route description with me. I'm also curious what their definition of scrambling on this route is. I've often found that descriptions of guided trips air on the side of caution and label everything much more difficult than it actually is.
I'll post anything I find out on here as it seems I'm not the only one interested in this! |
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High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1702 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 8:08 PM
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| I'd be interested to hear what you find out for sure. |
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287 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 10:24 AM
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| Dito. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3792 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 12:00 PM
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I believe the Yamnuska trip was an exploratory trip to be guided by Alf Skrastins. I'm not sure if they did it, but I suspect it was advertised as a scramble just to err on the side of 'we could run into it, so you shouldn't come if you wouldn't be able to work with that', rather than because it was expecting to specifically include any serious scrambling. When it comes to the ACMG, anything loose or with any potential of rockfall starts getting defined as non-hiking terrain, so they might have been again just being cautious in the explanation.
I don't recall any actual route information on the page - just a note of the start and end of the traverse, and the statement that it would be an exploratory trip and you should be up for whatever.
Is there something in particular that you are looking for about it? I might be able to see if Alf is interested in sharing the information he has. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3792 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 12:23 PM
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Actually, I just did a quick search with Alf's name attached to it to see if he had anything publicly available, and have discovered that they did do the route.
See note, and photos by one of the other guides.
No map or track, but the photos might give you some idea. - or just encourage the interest. :) |
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High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1702 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 12:29 PM
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^^ For me, no rush - just one of many routes that has piqued my curiosity. I would be curious about any crux spots, passes that must be hit because others don't go - that kind of thing. An approximate route on a map maybe? Many sketchy features can be hidden in the folds of the topo lines.
Or even just the knowledge that it 'goes' would probably be enough.
thanks in advance. |
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Calgary
198 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 1:24 PM
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Rachelo - I'd found that report, and as you suspected, it just piqued my interest. I've heard (via Gillian Daffern's book) that Alf Straskins discovered the Northover Ridge route, so my thinking is that this could be quite spectacular too!
If you had a way to get information from someone who has done the trip, that would be amazing. A map/GPS of a route would be awesome, but simply answering questions such as how to navigate around Mt. McPhail would be useful (down to trees, or sticking above treeline, e.g.?). I'm primarily looking to cheat a little with the cross country navigation and avoid following too many dead end sheep trails, saving those explorations for after I have my tent set and can go with a lighter pack. |
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calgary, ab
Canada
150 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 2:40 PM
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| This looks like an awesome trip, just skimmed through the pictures, i knew there was no way in doing this in a day, just by looking at the map. If you do this trip make sure you give a lot of detail! |
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Topic |
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Carnarvon Lake to Loomis Lake
