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Gerald’s Ridge
Kananaskis, Alberta
July 9, 2011
Distance: 7.2 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 510 m
The Kananaskis Country Trail Guide recommends doing Ridge 735663, or Gerald's Ridge as Alltrails calls it, as a traverse with cars at either end. After taking care of some necessary business in the morning, Dinah and I only had time for a quick trip so we hiked up the south end to the summit and returned. Being the shortest way to the top, it left the bulk of the ridge traverse untouched.
The trip began like a lion but soon turned into a lamb. After ascending a steep, rugged slope, the climb relaxed into a plod with little variety. We followed the ridge to the summit. The views were far from outstanding, but we were jaded since we had climbed many of the surrounding peaks, all of them higher than Gerald's Ridge. But despite the familiar scenery and a strong wind that attempted to blunt our spirits, it felt good to reach the open summit with its far-reaching views.
The trailhead: we started up the slope, keeping right
We climbed alongside a bluff until it petered out
Dinah climbs the rocks behind me
Soon after gaining the ridge, we broke out onto a meadow
We followed alongside a drainage for hundreds of metres. East Peak of Pasque Mountain behind.
The grassy slope was rather monotonous
It eventually reaches trees
In the distance we see ... a false summit
Raspberry Ridge lies northwest
Heading to the false summit
True summit seen from the false summit
Looking back along the ridge
Looking at the lower north summit from the true summit
View ahead of the ridge
Looking back at Dinah
Greenish blue gossamer wing butterfly on a Forget-Me-Not
82 J/2 Fording River
