Lakeview Ridge

Lakeview Ridge
Waterton, Alberta
October 1, 2011
Distance: 16.0 km (9.9 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 723 m (2372 ft)

When Brandon Boulier from the Calgary Scrambling and Mountaineering Club contacted me and suggested we get together for a trip on Saturday, I agreed. I had never met Brandon but had followed some of the trips he had organized with the Club. Which mountain we would climb was another matter. The weather forecast called for rain throughout much of Southern Alberta, but Waterton held the promise of the driest conditions. We settled on a short hike up Lakeview Ridge. We would only traverse the West Ridge, however, and not the lower East Ridge.

As we drove through Pincher Creek on our way to Waterton, it began raining, and we wondered if we should even attempt a hike. But when we arrived at the trailhead, the rain auspiciously ceased, so we set off up Horseshoe Basin Trail.

Horseshoe Basin trail is a no-nonsense trail. Well-defined and free of junctions and forks, it's impossible to verve off it. The trail climbs over a rise, crosses a creek and continues to the Galwey-Lakeview col. But we followed it only to the creek. After crossing the creek, we climbed the south end of Lakeview Ridge and followed the ridge crest.

It had been cloudy during our hike, but after we reached the summit the sun made a weak appearance, although it wasn't enough to warm us up. Brandon and I had to don an extra layer.

After descending to the Galwey-Lakeview col, we reached Horseshoe Basin trail and followed it back. We weren't spared from rain, however; it rained nearly all the way back to the creek. Belatedly, in the last hour of our trip, the sun came out and followed us back to the trailhead.

KML and GPX Tracks

On Horseshoe Basin trail