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Rainy Summit Ridge (East Approach)
Kananaskis, Alberta
July 27, 2019
Distance: 4.5 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 426 m
When Dinah and I first hiked Rainy Summit Ridge in late 2012, it took 3.5 hours. Back then, when the trail only went partway, we were hampered by routefinding as well as snow. But now a trail runs all the way to the top, and in dry conditions, it's a quick trip. For a longer trip use Powderface trail.
We parked at a pullout on Highway 66, on the rise before Forgetmenot Pond. We could have walked down the highway a bit to catch the dirt road, but instead, we crossed the meadow and intersected the road before it entered the trees. Soon after, the road forks and we kept left. We followed the road until it ended and a single track began. After that, we stuck to the trail all the way to the summit.
Despite being relatively short, we found the trail engaging. It follows a rocky spine and crosses a couple of clearings before climbing steeply to the bare summit. Here our solitude was broken. Two groups were already on top with another group on the way from Powderface Ridge. We were also met with a blustering wind, strong enough to make one stumble. We stayed long enough to take some photos and then skedaddled back down.
From the pullout, we crossed the meadow to find a road
Chunks of trees apparently placed on the road to discourage off-roading
Going up the road after taking the left fork
The road ends and a single track begins
A red squirrel gnaws on a pine cone
Huge burls encircle a tree near the trail
The trail follows a rocky spine for a time
Afterwards the trail flattens out
Going up a meadow dotted with wildflowers
Forgetmenot Mountain and Forgetmenot Ridge
The summit appears ahead
The trail dips back into the woods and then starts climbing
We hiked up a semi-open slope before reaching the summit
A Canadian flag fluttered from a pole on the top
82 J/15 Bragg Creek