To The Mountains I Go: 2015

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Marl Lake

Short Hike

Distance: 2km both ways

Elevation Gain: 20m

Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Extremely Easy

Access:

Trans Canada going West to Hwy 40 going south. Take a right turn onto hwy 742 into Peter Lougheed Park, but stay straight after that going towards Kananakis Lakes. Take left turn into Elkwood Campground. Follow signs going into the D-Loop. Park near the outhouse in between sites 114 and 115. There is a little sign pointing to a hiking trail. Just go down that hill and the trail sign is right there.

Experience:

This hike is full of lots of signs and is a very easy walk. There is lots of meadows and it was very green and lush with loads of flowers! Marl lake is very beautiful, and the water is very clear and clean which was very nice to look at. We met a very nice lady that took our picture and that was nice. Other than that lady there wasn't many people that were on the trail which was nice, because we got to hear a loon sing and that was the first time I had ever heard one sing.

The sign down to the trail sign

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Wind Ridge

Half Day Hike
Distance: 6.5km
Elevation Gain: 800m
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

Access:
From Hwy 1 take Dead Man Flats turn off (#98) and then follow signs to Banff Gate Mountain Resort going over hwy 1 and drive past Thunderstone Quarry, then the next right is Skogan Pass parking lot.

Experience:
At the beginning the trial is very clear and easy, but when you get down to the creek it is so washed out that its a bit of a climb and maze to figure out where to go. Our skills at walking across trees were definitely tested because we crossed a lot of trees to get over the creek the first time. On the way back it we found a easy way to get over it all.

We actually got lost because I thought we were doing a completely different hike but we were doing Wind Ridge which I don't regret the change of location because the view is beautiful! You can see Mount Lougheed and Windtower most of the time and they are very majestic mountains!

The hike is mostly in the trees which is nice on a hot sunny day. The trail does get pretty steep for a while but it isn't that bad. There is also a lot of Douglas Fir, and Lodge Pole Pine trees in the area and we saw some huge trees which is a rare thing to see in Kananaskis.

Not many people were on the trail and we saw 4 piles of bear dropping which was a little alarming. The hike was amazing though. It is one of my favorite views I have seen in all the hikes I have ever been on. I will go back there some day!

Falls that go into ThunderStone Quarry

At the trail head

Just a note for future hikers

Found a wild rose!

Let the tree crossing begin!!

Following the Carins

Crossing the creek

This Popular tree has had a tough life

SO MUCH HORSE TAIL!

Huge Douglas Fir!

Mount Lougheed

Mount Lougheed and Windtower

Going up to Windy Ridge

The View!

YAY!

Can you see the little bug?

Love this view!!

Monday, May 18, 2015

Grotto Canyon

Short Hike
Distance: 3km (total)
Elevation Gain: 128m
Time: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: Easy

Access:
Take Hwy 1 to Hwy 1X going towards Canmore. Follow road to a T intersection and take a left. Follow road and run right when you see a sign for Grotto Pond.

Experience:
We decided to do this hike first because I had heard that the parking lot fills up fast which it did. The first part of the hike is getting to the Canyon which is following a power line until there is a difficult sign to read then you take a right. The path is a bit washed out so at times it is just easier to be on the creek bed which you have to get into anyways. The hike is very easy, at least it was for a bunch of young adults, but we also saw a lot of families with little children there too.

The towering walls of the Canyon were pretty cool, and there is many places where people can go rock climbing. When you reach the end Canyon there will be the very wet wall dripping water, a better view of the stream, and the walls will reach their tallest.

You can go farther into a back country but there isn't anything there to see. It was fun and I was not disappointed with the experience. Its always fun to have fun people to be with as well.