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Red Ridge
Kananaskis
February 14, 2004
Distance: 9.0 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 956 m
When Dinah and I climbed Red Ridge last summer, I realized it would make a good winter ascent. We invited Anita and Mike to join us. Starting south of the Sparrowhawk Recreation parking lot, we headed up the northwest ridge on snowshoes. The grade was easy and after 2 hours we popped out of the trees onto the ridge and into sunshine. This was about halfway up, both in elevation and in distance. Much of the ridge was dry after this point. After stashing our snowshoes, we continued up the ridge on foot. We hit a couple of deep snow pockets, but after that, it was careful scrambling in the snow and rocks.
Near the summit, we startled four pure white ptarmigans. 2.5 hours after dropping our snowshoes, we were on the top. I tried to take a 360° panorama but my camera batteries died.
Postscript: We returned and snowshoed Red Ridge in 2006 taking a slightly more direct route.
Anita, Mike and Dinah follow in my tracks
Gentle grade up the wooded slope
Coming out of the forest
The view ahead after leaving the forest
We dropped our snowshoes and set off on foot. I like to stick my
snowshoes upright in the snow so I can spot them easily on our return.
We continued along the ridge on foot
Shortly after dropping our snowshoes, we hit deep snow but it didn't last long
Mike dropped into a hole hidden under the snow
Mike peers over a cliff
Scrambling on the ridge. Spray Lakes sets the background.
Easy scrambling as we headed to the summit
Relaxing near the summit
Heading back
82 J/14 Spray Lakes Reservoir
