Cutline Ridge

Cutline Ridge
Kananaskis, Alberta
February 8, 2015
Distance: 13.5 km (8.4 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 577 m (1893 ft)

After climbing a few rewarding unnamed peaks by Highway 532, I was searching for another when I came across a J-shaped ridge. I was especially drawn to the cutline running up it. It doesn't pass near the top of the J where the summit is, but it does reach the bottom of the J. Significantly, the cutline takes the brunt of the elevation gain leaving only a ridgewalk to finish the climb. Since the cutline is such a prominent feature, I called the little mountain “Cutline Ridge.”

I parked at the east end of Willow Creek Bridge on Highway 532 and made my way up Willow Creek trail. It's a dirt road that's usually icy in the winter. In half an hour I came to a side road branching left to Willow Creek. After crossing the frozen creek, I passed through a small meadow to reach a road. This short road merges with a north-south cutline, but before reaching Iron Creek, I turned right to follow another short road. This accesses the east-west cutline, my ascent route.

The cutline crosses a couple of good-sized meadows before plunging into trees and launching up the steep east end of Cutline Ridge. Partway up, I took note of an intersecting road on my right; I wondered if I could use it on my descent.

The cutline is incredibly steep, and I quickly gained elevation. Near the top, a road peeled off to the right, no doubt looping back to the intersection I passed earlier. I followed the road to a saddle. Then I stepped into the forest and began bushwhacking along the ridge. Travel here was easy as there was little deadfall and no underbrush, but I was disappointed at the lack of views. I couldn't see above the trees until I topped a rocky high point before the summit, and then I dropped back into the woods and made my way to the apex of Cutline Ridge. The summit, I learned, is open to the west and permitted views of snow-covered peaks.

I stayed on the top long enough to have lunch, take photos and send a text before heading back to the saddle. Instead of following the road back to the top of the cutline, I decided to finish the loop by descending the road to where it intersects the cutline partway down the slope. But I didn't get far before I became entangled in bushes, so dense at times I was forced to leave the road. Thankfully, the undergrowth soon eased and I quickly got back to the cutline.

I picked a beautiful day to hike, and I encountered little snow along the route. It was surprisingly warm for the middle of winter – much warmer than Calgary. While still high up on the cutline, I removed my jacket and sauntered back to my car.

KML and GPX Tracks

Cutline Ridge in the centre