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View from Forgetmenot Mountain
Forgetmenot Ridge and Mountain
Kananaskis, Alberta
September 2, 2008
Distance: 20.0 km (12.4 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1042 m (3419 ft)
With cool temperatures and snow coming to the mountains, we settled on hiking up Forgetmenot Ridge and Forgetmenot Mountain. Although we didn't completely escape the snow, we did find sunshine.
The route unfolds as it is described in Kananaskis Country Trail Guide. We walked over the suspension bridge, but after that we deviated slightly from the book. We kept left, close to the river bank and in the sunshine. Then we caught an old road that took us into the trees and onto the main trail.
In a short time, we came to the cairn marking the trail up Forgetmenot Ridge. The trail ascends steeply without respite until it reaches an open ridge, and incidentally, the snow line. After that, the grade levels and the trail ends. We followed the open ridge toward the summit which is called Forgetmenot Ridge.
After reaching the summit, we continued along the ridge, losing nearly 150 m in the process, to climb Forgetmenot Mountain. The guidebook says the summits are of equal height. We were hoping that for the extra effort, Forgetmenot Mountain would be higher. It wasn't the case: our GPS units showed Forgetmenot Mountain was lower than Forgetmenot Ridge by 10 metres.
Nonetheless, Forgetmenot Mountain provided great views of Bluerock Mountain, Mount Rose and Threepoint Mountain. We spent forty minutes on the summit, mostly searching fruitlessly for the cave mentioned in the guidebook, before heading back.
I was expecting a monotonous hike, but for some reason – perhaps it was the wide-open vistas – Forgetmenot Ridge turned out to be a memorable hike.
Heading to the end of Forgetmenot Ridge (far left) where we'll start our ascent
Crossing the gravel flats by Elbow River
Harebell covered in frost: Record lows were reported in a few places in
Southern Alberta the previous night
Hiking up the ridge, we came across a tree with rocks hanging from it
Red crossbills were busy feeding on pine cones
Forgetmenot Ridge North is left but we didn't bother doing it
Nihahi Ridge fills the background
The summit is still far off
The trail ends at a cairn
Dinah reaches the cairn
We headed to Forgetmenot Ridge
The summit of Forgetmenot Ridge is near the point on the left
The trail heads up the left side of a minor cliff band
Glad we didn't have to climb straight up these cliffs!
Ascending the rock band
We continued our walk to the summit
We passed some interesting rocks (mouse over)
A lot of annoying loose, jagged rocks before the summit of Forgetmenot Ridge
Banded Peak, Outlaw Peak, Mount Cornwall and Mount Glasgow on the skyline
On the broad summit of Forgetmenot Ridge
Starting out for Forgetmenot Mountain
Looking back at Forgetmenot Ridge as we ascended Forgetmenot Mountain
Threepoint Mountain
Bluerock Mountain, Mount Rose and Threepoint Mountain
Hiking to the summit
Looking back at a dry stretch just before the summit
On the summit of Forgetmenot Mountain
Dinah gazes at the hills to the southeast
82 J/15 Bragg Creek
