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Olympic Summit
Kananaskis, Alberta
July 3, 2021
Distance: 10.8 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1025 m
Rising 1000 m above Ribbon Creek parking lot, Olympic Summit is no nature walk and offers views in all directions. It uses Centennial Ridge trail, a trail that reaches its zenith on Mount Alan west of it. Olympic Summit may be just a bump on Alan’s east ridge, but it’s still a worthy goal.
Dinah and I set off up the trail as it ascends the east ridge. Following signs, we easily stuck to the trail. It winds through the forest and crosses old mining roads before reaching a meadow. Most of the hike, in fact, is in the open.
But above the trees, we were assailed by flies, sometimes over a dozen would be on each of us. The little bloodsuckers had a bite worse than mosquitos, and we were bitten several times. After the trip, I discovered several had made their way under my shirt where they died, their miserable lives ended.
The trail continues up the ridge switchbacking until the summit ridge comes into view. After climbing a short, steep pitch through cliffs, the trail relaxes on an easy grade, although a couple of false summits stretch out the final jaunt to the true summit. Arthritis in her knees had set Dinah back this season, otherwise we would have continued to Mount Alan 2.5 km farther and 300 m higher. But after receiving hyaluronic acid injections, she's doing better and is poised for bigger climbs. Perhaps we'll come back to climb Mount Alan (for the third time), but Olympic Summit itself is a satisfying hike.
Starting up the broad trail
Centennial Ridge trail turns onto a narrower trail
The trail is closed April 1 - June 21 for the protection of bighorn sheep during sensitive birthing period
The trail begins a long ascent up a meadow
Clark's nutcracker
Wasootch Peak rises above Dinah
Wildflowers like this yellow columbine abounded
The summit is still not in sight
Haze obscured the mountain views
The summit ridge appears on the left
A hiker appears far above us
The switchbacks finally end
Looking back at where the previous shot was taken
The trail climbs a short, steep slope through the cliffs
Ahead is the first false summit
In the centre is another false summit
Marmots roamed the ridge
The trail continues to Mount Allan
The true summit
Standing by the summit cairn
82 J/14 Spray Lakes Reservoir
