Looks high, but I'm not calibrated to know what's a safe, fordable level.



Between high river levels in the valleys and heavy snow packs in the passes, it's hard to find anyplace that's both accessible and remote. I was thinking of leaving for Cairn Pass via Rocky Pass on Saturday. I don't own snowshoes.

The water is very high in Jasper at the moment. This is the Whirlpool River and the Moab Lake Road, which is closed. Numerous backcountry bridges, the few that we have left, are in jeopardy.

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We are going to attempt Rock Lake to Hardscrabble/Glacier passes and back in a couple of weeks. I will report back when we are finished!

- Stuart

You're heading up there with Marty? He invited me along but unfortunately I can't make it. Have a great trip.

Yep! Too bad you can't join us. Gonna be a good one if we don't have any high water issues. Next time!!

Awesome post. Heading out there this week. How far downstream is the beaver dam? We encountered that deep spot with no bridge late last summer heading into the NBT - but waded. (we were running very late due to cars dropped at Mt. Robson) Not interested in wading if I can avoid it this time!!

Thanks!!

The beaver dam downstream is not far off the trail at all. I had a big snow drift to go through which made it more difficult. On my return I crossed on the much bigger beaver dam upstream, again not verY far from the trail, which was considerably easier. I’m not sure what those dams will look like at the moment because of the flooding going on, but if you can, take the larger upstream crossing. You may even be able to cross where the old bridge was because the flooding may have wiped away the lower dam. Rock Creek could also be a challenge during high water.
I hope that you and Marty have a good time.

Just watched the "Injury hike" video. I am sorry you had the mishap. But it's for the better; you guys went WAY TOO EARLY. I was just on the area (July 14, 8 days after you) and had aerial view of Pipestone - too much snow! Too early!



(see https://forums.clubtread.com/130-can...pipestone.html it will also give you bit more info for future).



You also mixed up peaks; looking back from Molar Meadows is Noseeum peak, not Mosquito. Mosquito is second left of North Molar Pass.

Heal, and come back in August. And listen more to people that know the area and conditions when planning such ambitious backcountry trip

Beautiful photo, Zeljkok.

Love that scene.

Amazing this thread started by Rachelo more than 11 years ago, and still going strong.

K

Thanks man. Apologies on the mixup I was not quite myself on this trip obviously. And yes it was way too early this year no question. But you know when your book planes and have a plan you look for a plan B or C and adjust from there. I keep threatening to move the Canmore and opening up another family bakery so perhaps I’ll be much more in the know as a local when that happens. Ha ha!

I’m fully recovered it was my IT band again and I’m about to do a quick two or three day hike in Fundy national Park just to make sure I’m good. I will be back out in August but I think I’m going to head up to the Willmore wilderness area and hard scrabble pass OR do around Southesk lake. I’m not sure yet I’m just gonna wait and see what the conditions are like and pick something remote. I really want to get out there away from the crowds.

Yeah and when I wrenched my knee I knew the conditions were not gonna be good. In fact when Marty's video comes out I think we will see some serious crap over Pipestone pass and down to Devon lakes etc...

Seeing snow just up the trail from mosquito Creek campsite helped me make my decision not to carry on with my injury because I knew that the further we got up the alpine the worse it was going to be.

As always I think this is the best hiking forum on the Internet and I appreciate all of the advice you guys have given me over the years.

Stu

Glad you recovered. There is real passion in you for the outdoors in you & I really think you need to cross the next step. Watching your terrific videos and seeing you going "ahhh" and "ohhh" when you see some peak from valley bottom, I just can't help thinking how much much much more you can have. For example, South Boundary is epic and all that, but in many respects a waste of time from scenery perspective; 7-10 days for Cairn Pass (where it rained for you), Brazeau Lake and Nigel Pass?? Way too little! Patton&Robinson book I think you are basing your trips on is legend, but just a tip of the iceberg. There are so many other places you can spend entire day after day in the alpine without seeing anyone. It's all right there for someone with your backpacking skills I wish I had.


Looking forward to learn how was the next hike


(Btw, Canmore bakeries suck *hint, hint*)

Headed out two weekends ago to do the Molar Pass Loop.

Gallery: https://imgur.com/gallery/Io8LrTU

Map: https://caltopo.com/m/092A

Itinerary:
• Day 1: Trailhead to Mosquito Creek CG (5.2km, 200m elev gain)
• Day 2: Mosquito Creek CG to Molar Creek CG (28km, 820m elev gain, 925m loss). Likely more like 32-34km with all the bushwacking and trail finding...
• Day 3: Molar Creek CG to Trailhead (18km, 495m elev gain, 560m loss)

Absolutely beautiful area but for about 15km inbetween Fish Lakes and Molar Creek, the trail was utterly savage: Thick, overgrown willows, disappearing trail, creek / river crossings, bushwacking, and trailfinding. Didn't help that the mosquitos and blackflies were relentless either. The Gaia and Caltopo GPS tracks are but a mere guide showing you the general direction you are going.

Took about an hour of bushwacking to find the Molar Creek campsite. Barely got set up before a thunderstorm rolled in. I thought I was being sly, I had heard the GPS location was not accurate so I took the coordinates off of Parks Canada's website which was about .5km south of the actual location. For anyone headed out that way, the actual coordinates are lat/long: 51.58842, -116.20174.

Overall, it was a great, challenging hike with some incredible alpine views but I'll probably never do the back section between Fish Lakes and Molar Creek again. Once is enough haha.

Dustin

Aug. 20, 2020. There are 8 crossings of Poligne Creek between the Poboktan junction and Maligne Pass. The first two bridges are intact, the 3rd one is a single wobbly plank, and the 4th one is intact, crossing a tributary. The 5th bridge is gone, but there is a tree spanning the creek that looks precarious. Some hikers are comfortable walking on it, but the easy ford is safer. The 6th bridge is washed out, but the ford is easy. Bushwhacking to avoid 5 and 6 is steep, nasty and not recommended. The 7th bridge at Avalanche camp is intact, and the 8th bridge between the camp and the pass is half broken but crossable without fording (easy).


The true summit of Elusive Pass is blocked by a cornice, but the slightly higher, western summit's cornice is easily bypassed, and then you scramble to the bump that separates the two. On Aug. 21, the long meadow section between Elusive and 2nd Pass of the Six Passes route was in full bloom, with swarms of mosquitoes unlike any I've previously experienced, anywhere.

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Oct 17 '20


After beauty summer and way above seasonal September, snowy blast descended upon Rockies in October and everything is pretty much like deep winter now. This is pic along Bow River in Canmore looking north to Fairholme Range: R - L: Lady Mac, Charles Stewart SE, Bald Eagle's Peak (formerly 'The Tit') and Princess Margaret. Left in distance in Cascade Mtn, and extreme left Rundle Range. Looks like long and bloody cold winter ahead

Oct 25 '20

After over a week of Arctic blast that brought head-on winter to Bow Valley, things are clearing up. Went for a walk on Horseshoe loop at lower slopes of Grotto Mountain on sunny side of the valley. It is snowy, but just few centimeters and already some bare parts. It is very beautiful right now, totally unlike fall


And pic of Grotto Mtn from start of ACC trail; I think it was doable without much problems and there were tracks going up



Finally pic of snowy Bow Valley the day before. Totally not October-like


For photographers, this last one is fairly unknown spot but outstanding to catch sunset. It is on east side of Cougar canyon approach above Benchlands, basically where Horseshoe loop starts. There is good trail from residential area below. Cougar btw is seriously closed with no end in sight, like they are building metropolis not simple dam.