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Black Prince Outlier
Kananaskis, Alberta
December 13, 2015
Distance: 4.3 km (2.7 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 467 m (1532 ft)

I joined Zora and Kari on a snowshoe trip up an outlier east of Mount Black Prince. The short trip would have been unremarkable except for the moose licking a car in the parking lot. It was a surreal experience, getting our gear ready while a cow (female moose), just a few feet away, nonchalantly tongued Zora’s car for salt. A bull soon joined her, and when a couple in a truck stopped to watch, the two moose ambled over to taste their vehicle.

Eventually we turned our attention to our objective, a treed ridge a short distance away. The ridge is popular with skiers, so from the start, we had to avoid trampling over ski tracks. After finding a snow bridge over Smith-Dorrien Creek, we plodded up a steep slope in soft snow to the ridge crest. Parts of the ridge were open, but leaden skies dulled whatever winter beauty the nearby mountains held. We didn’t get far along the ridge. From my 2003 trip, I knew that the highest point was hundreds of metres away at the north end of the ridge, but the traverse through trees was uninspiring even under clear skies and the summit was not much higher. We turned around and followed our tracks back to the parking lot.

When we returned to Zora’s car, we noticed that the moose had left tongue streaks on the side panels. They also slobbered over the windows. This is not a trip we’ll likely forget.

KML and GPX Tracks


Black Prince Outlier (mouse over for a close-up of the moose)


Cars take a licking


A moose kneels to lick the salt on a car. Later she laid down to lick the undercarriage!


Kari takes a photo of a moose licking Zora's car


Looking for a place to cross Smith-Dorrien Creek


Crossing a snow bridge on the creek


The grade was gradual at first


We enjoyed good snow conditions


Kari cuts switchbacks in the steep slope


On the ridge crest


Looking east at the South Peak of Kent Ridge


Looking at Blacksmith Ridge


Kari and Zora standing on the flattened area we stamped out for lunch


82 J/11 Kananaskis Lakes

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