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Lakeview Ridge (Attempt)
Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
June 14, 2008
Because of snow at higher elevations in the mountains, Dinah and I settled on ascending lowly Lakeview Ridge. We had done the east arm of the horse-shaped ridge on a beautiful fall day two years ago, but now we wanted to return to reach the summit which was on the west arm.
To reach it, we hiked up Horseshoe Basin Trail. My only concern was fording Galwey Creek where it intersected the trail. Sure enough, weeks of rainfall had created a swift current.
We probably could have forded it, but we couldn't be sure of recrossing safely on the return after the creek gained strength from melting snow in the afternoon. We looked for a ford upstream, but after following the bank – mostly bushwhacking – for 600 m, impenetrable trees and bushes stopped us. There was no sign of the flow abating upstream either.
Given the blue sky day, it was a disappointing outing. We'll be sure to return in the fall when water levels shouldn't be a problem.
As we drove past the bison paddock to the trailhead, this eastern
kingbird kept ahead of us, flitting between sections
of fence
Bellevue Hill from the Indian Springs trailhead
On the Horseshoe Basin Trail
The trail nearly disappears in the forest. We avoided the path since water was running down it.
Sofa Mountain in the background (mouse over for a close-up)
Lakeview Ridge comes into view
Mount Galwey on the left
We studied the creek near where the trail crosses it
We headed up the creek but the fast flow didn't diminish
Looking back at Lakeview Ridge: the summit is the distant point on the right
Vimy Peak
Sticky purple germanium
Bison standing and in repose (mouse over) in the bison paddock