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Red Ridge
Kananaskis, Alberta
August 9, 2003

Distance: 16.0 km (9.9 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1144 m
(3753 ft)

Although Dinah and I had climbed Mount Bogart from the east, we set out to explore a possible west approach. Kane's approach from Ribbon Creek is long and uninspiring. A west approach via Red Ridge would also be long, but perhaps more interesting.

We parked at Spray Lakes day-use area and started up the trail. We soon left the trail and headed to the northwest ridge. After hiking 4.2 km, we reached the summit of Red Ridge where I took the above panorama. Sitting at 2650 m, 920 m above the trailhead, however, it wouldn't be the highest point we reached.

We continued along the ridge, hoping to reach the west ridge of Mount Bogart, but we ran into an insurmountable cliff band. We ended up on a high point (221408) 150 m higher than Red Ridge. Unable to continue, we dropped down to the alpine basin below and followed the valley north of Red Ridge out. We finished the trip by walking back on the road to the parking lot.

We couldn't continue on to the west ridge as I had hoped, but Red Ridge turned out to be a delightful hike in its own right! It's such a gentle grade that we returned to climb it as a snowshoe ascent.

KML and GPX Tracks


On the lower slopes after leaving the trail


Spray Lakes behind us


Easy hiking along the ridge


Mount Buller dominants the background


On the summit


Looking back at the summit


Dropping down a huge scree slope


We reached the high point on the far right


Starting up a ridge. Red Peak behind.


Downclimbing a short cliff band


As far as we got. We couldn't continue along the ridge ahead because of a cliff band.


Mount Bogart (left) and it's striking west ridge seen from our turn-around point in this 360 panorama


Heading down to the tarns


In themselves, the tarns are a pleasant destination


Fossil looks like a nail driven in a rock


The likely way to reach the west ridge is to the col on the skyline. We reached the high point on the right, but cliff bands barred the way to the col.

A family of marmots


Following the Sparrowhawk Tarns trail back


Heading back to our car

Butterfly on a purple fleabane


82 J/14 Spray Lakes

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