Coral Ridge

Coral Ridge
David Thompson Highway, Alberta
July 20, 2008
Distance: 12.6 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 840 m

Although I find it hard to say anything good about Coral Ridge, I am prejudiced by the poor route description found in the David Thompson Highway: A Hiking Guide. We had no trouble following the horse trail as described, but after leaving it to ascend the ledges, we found the instructions made no sense. The book suggests repeatedly to “drift left.” Such instructions are useless when you are bushwhacking for the better part of an hour. Instead, a compass bearing or a waypoint would have been useful.

Somehow drifting left didn't feel correct so we went right. As it turns out, my instincts were correct. When we climbed high enough to see above the trees to view the ridge, we saw a scree slope topped by steep slabs. We had to work our way right to avoid the slabs to gain the ridge. (Later I realized the simple map in the book does show the route going right.) Also, the wrong elevation and elevation gain were given – off by 200 m – which can be determined by looking at the NTS map. The summit GR should have been added since this ridge is not named on any map I found.

When the trees didn't obscure the view, Abraham Lake from the ridge was impressive. We spent an hour and a half on the summit ridge before heading down. Instead of retracing our steps, we descended a steep slab and scree slope below the summit. Possibly this is the "avalanche slope" that the authors refer to by drifting left, although that would be contrary to the route on their map. But it would take luck to reach it by bushwhacking.

As good as the views were on Coral Ridge, it may be better to gain the ridge at the east end and follow it as curves west. This would give you the best scenery.

KLM and GPX Tracks

Coral Ridge from the highway