Summit Master
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Anywhere except social media
Posts: 5,435
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Mt. Allan via Centennial Ridge
Mid November '16
This is probably the nicest ridgewalk along the Hwy 40 corridor. I've been here >10 yrs ago; that time it was 1-way traverse from Ribbon to Canmore (the best way,with 2 cars). On this very clear and warm shoulder season day I ascended via Centennial Ridge and came back the same way. Whole outing is well-known and documented in Daffern K-Country Trail Guidebook, so I'll just focus on condition update:
1) Initial part is on network of logging roads; if you never hiked BC Coast, this is how lots of approaches look like -- sans signposts and often brutally overgrown. Despite being here before I still managed to take a wrong turn near Mine Scar; pay good attention to sign posts
2) The slope you have to ascend on shady right (east) side below Olympic Summit had hard, frozen snow. Without spikes I'd not be able to descend safely
3) Super strong wind along entire ridge, mushroom garden and finally worse on the summit - did not allow me to take much needed break
4) There is actually scramble step just past Mushroom Garden. It is a bit tricky downclimb I conveniently forgot; low class 3 probably (see pic below)
Photo story:
[View back to Kananaskis Valley just below Olympic Summit after very steep ascent on grassy, open slopes]
[Olympic Summit. You climb on the shady right side -- in hindsight this was the crux of the day because of hard, frozen snow that required spikes]
[Centennial Ridge looking across Mushroom Garden to Mt. Allan; still ~1hr from here]
[Mushroom Garden - rock obelisks and probably highlight of the day]
[Looking back just as you descend the crux step -- about 1.5 m wall, left end of the photo]
[Lougheed Wall from the summit of Mt. Allan at Sunset]
[Looking at North side from the summit; long curling ridge descends towards Canmore & it is highly recommended 1-way traverse]
Whole thing took ~7 hrs, which is probably on the slow side but that strong wind really tired me down. GPS data disagrees with Daffern -- 20km return, and ~1400m vertical. Highly recommended ridgewalk on clear, sunny (and windless!) day
Full trip report with many more high-res photos, map and downloadable GPS track here
This is probably the nicest ridgewalk along the Hwy 40 corridor. I've been here >10 yrs ago; that time it was 1-way traverse from Ribbon to Canmore (the best way,with 2 cars). On this very clear and warm shoulder season day I ascended via Centennial Ridge and came back the same way. Whole outing is well-known and documented in Daffern K-Country Trail Guidebook, so I'll just focus on condition update:
1) Initial part is on network of logging roads; if you never hiked BC Coast, this is how lots of approaches look like -- sans signposts and often brutally overgrown. Despite being here before I still managed to take a wrong turn near Mine Scar; pay good attention to sign posts
2) The slope you have to ascend on shady right (east) side below Olympic Summit had hard, frozen snow. Without spikes I'd not be able to descend safely
3) Super strong wind along entire ridge, mushroom garden and finally worse on the summit - did not allow me to take much needed break
4) There is actually scramble step just past Mushroom Garden. It is a bit tricky downclimb I conveniently forgot; low class 3 probably (see pic below)
Photo story:
[View back to Kananaskis Valley just below Olympic Summit after very steep ascent on grassy, open slopes]
[Olympic Summit. You climb on the shady right side -- in hindsight this was the crux of the day because of hard, frozen snow that required spikes]
[Centennial Ridge looking across Mushroom Garden to Mt. Allan; still ~1hr from here]
[Mushroom Garden - rock obelisks and probably highlight of the day]
[Looking back just as you descend the crux step -- about 1.5 m wall, left end of the photo]
[Lougheed Wall from the summit of Mt. Allan at Sunset]
[Looking at North side from the summit; long curling ridge descends towards Canmore & it is highly recommended 1-way traverse]
Whole thing took ~7 hrs, which is probably on the slow side but that strong wind really tired me down. GPS data disagrees with Daffern -- 20km return, and ~1400m vertical. Highly recommended ridgewalk on clear, sunny (and windless!) day
Full trip report with many more high-res photos, map and downloadable GPS track here
Last edited by zeljkok; 11-14-2016 at 06:57 PM.
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Scaling New Heights
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 94
Nice report! Amazing photos as always!
Super Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Andorra.
Interest: hiking, backpacking, scrambling, climbing
Posts: 4,437
Crazy November conditions! Way to take advantage.
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Summit Master
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Anywhere except social media
Posts: 5,435
Thanks guys
Interesting pic as far as conditions go -- zoom to Memorial Lakes area; totally snowbound, being in shade of Bogart, Ribbon Peak and Sparrowhawk most of the day
Interesting pic as far as conditions go -- zoom to Memorial Lakes area; totally snowbound, being in shade of Bogart, Ribbon Peak and Sparrowhawk most of the day
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