Hike up a road, you say?  Well, normally I avoid hiking on roads, but at this time of year, trails are often icy.  And, as long as the frost is in the ground, trails are just as hard underfoot as a road.

I had not hiked up the access road before and it’s been years since I’d even driven the road.  So, I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable it was.  At this time of year, the road is in the sunshine almost the whole way.  And  the views along the way were pretty impressive.

It’s just over 7 km to the summer trailhead for Moose Mountain with a gain of about 450 meters.  If you want a nice spot for lunch, climb up through the trees on to a ridge to the right of the beginning of the summer trail.  It doesn’t take long and once on top, you’ll have a great view of Moose Mountain as well as lots of other peaks.

The ability to read terrain is the most important skill to develop if you wish to enjoy the winter backcountry safely. On a downhill run in challenging terrain it is the judicious choice of route — avoiding convex rollovers, staying away from weak areas, keeping away from terrain traps — that will reduce your risk to a minimum. If you are backcountry ski touring you need to be able to recognize avalanche slopes so that you can stay away from them or cross the runout zones quickly.If you are going to spend much time in avalanche terrain you need to:

• Recognize avalanche paths and estimate the angle of steep slopes above your route.
• Recognize a variety of terrain features and how they affect avalanche safety.
• Identify features that are potential Terrain Traps in the event of an avalanche.
• Know which areas of an avalanche slope are possible Trigger Points.
• Learn how a slope’s aspect to Sun and Wind can influence snow stability.

Avalanche Terrain Rating
Parks Canada has developed a terrain rating system that evaluates the complexity of avalanche terrain and makes recommendations on the suitability of avalanche terrain for various users. A major strength of the rating system is that the majority of backcountry destinations in Canada’s National Parks and in Kananaskis Country have been rated, and lists of rated trips have been made available to the public. Waterfall ice climbs have also been rated for exposure to avalanches from above or on the approach. The terrain rating covers specific backcountry trips. It does not rate individual slopes. It also assumes that backcountry tourers stay on the route used in the rating. Heading up a slope to get in some turns will negate the rating.

The terrain ratings, Simple, Challenging and Complex, are geared to less-experienced backcountry tourers and organized groups such as outdoors clubs. The more detailed rating worksheet is a useful tool for more experienced and ambitious backcountry users to evaluate terrain for themselves. It is also used as a key component of the Avaluator, a trip planning tool developed by the Canadian Avalanche Association for backcountry enthusiasts with little experience of avalanche terrain.

Simple Terrain
Exposure to low angle or primarily forested terrain. Some forest openings may involve the runout zones of infrequent avalanches. Many options to reduce or eliminate exposure. No glacier travel.

Simple terrain requires basic winter travel skills and the discipline to respect avalanche warnings. Simple terrain is usually low avalanche risk. Ideal for novices gaining backcountry experience. However, these trips may not be entirely free from avalanche hazards, and on days when the public avalanche advisory is rated  ”Poor” you may want to re-think any backcountry travel that has exposure to avalanches — stick to groomed cross-country trails, or stay within the boundaries of a ski resort.

Challenging Terrain
Exposure to well-defined avalanche paths, starting zones or terrain traps; options exist to reduce or eliminate exposure with careful routefinding. Glacier travel is straightforward but crevasse hazards may exist.

Challenging terrain requires skills to recognize and avoid avalanche-prone terrain — big slopes may exist on these trips. You must also know how to understand the public avalanche advisory, perform avalanche self rescue and basic first aid, and be confident in your routefinding skills. You should take an avalanche course before travelling in this type of terrain. If you are unsure of your own, or your group’s ability to navigate through avalanche terrain, consider hiring a certified guide.

Challenging terrain. Photo Leon Kubbernus.

Complex Terrain
Exposure to multiple, overlapping avalanche paths or large expanses of steep, open terrain; multiple avalanche starting zones and terrain traps below; minimal options to reduce exposure. Complicated glacier travel with extensive crevasse bands or icefalls.
Complex terrain demands a strong group with years of critical decision-making experience in avalanche terrain. There may be no safe options on these trips, forcing exposure to big slopes. A recommended minimum is that you, or someone in your group, should have taken an advanced-level avalanche course and have several years of backcountry experience. Check the public avalanche advisory regularly, and ensure everyone in your group is up for the task and aware of the risk. This is serious country — not a place to consider unless you’re confident in the skills of your group. If you are uncertain, consider hiring a certified guide.

What are your favourite winter activites in Kananaskis?

As we drove out to Sandy McNabb this afternoon to check the condition of the ice on the Sheep River, my thoughts drifted to snowshoeing and cross country skiing – my two favourite winter activities.  Of course I realize there are lots of other winter activies.  I know back-country skiers, snowboarders and ice climbers.  And in warm, dry weather like the current weather pattern, winter hiking is popular.  But these are all back country activities.

Now I have to admit, I don’t use the front country facilities in K-Country much.  It was early afternoon when we pulled in to Sandy McNabb day use area – a time of day that usually finds me far from the trailhead.  It was a hive of activity!  People were skating and some were sliding down the hill.  Families were gathered around picnic tables and campfires.  It was great to see.  Sometimes we need to be reminded of the many diverse opportunites Kananaskis has to offer.

Oh…yes, I almost forgot.  The ice on the Sheep River is holding up nicely, making for an easy crossing to the south side and access to Wolf Creek and Price Camp trails.  Snow on that side ranged from ankle deep to almost knee deep.  The trails are well packed – at least the short distance we did, so hiking should also be possible.

I think it it a good time to blog about pruning saws having recently had my sun glasses knocked off my head by a protruding eye-level branch. I have been carrying one for the past three or four years to lop off offending branches and clear encroaching alder as my contribution to the maintenance of both official and unofficial trails.

If you are going to carry and use a pruning saw regularly it has to be in your pocket rather than in your pack, so has to be lightweight and ergonomically shaped when folded. The one I have weighs 200 g, is 9″ (23 cm) long when folded and has an 18 cm blade. Here are some of the things to look for in a folding pruning saw:

• The blade should lock in place in both the open and closed position.
• The blade should be stiff enough it doesn’t buckle in use.
• The teeth should be coarse set to cut green wood.
• Blades vary from 16 to 22 cm. The longer the blade the thicker branches you can cut—in theory. A lot depends on how the teeth are set.
• Many pruning saws cut on the backstroke, a few cut on both push and pull. If you anticipate cutting larger branches go for a saw that cuts both ways. With my pull-only saw I can lop off half-inch diameter branches with one swift pull.
• The handle should feel comfortable in you hand when the saw is extended and the saw should slide easily into your pocket when folded.

Available locally are:

• Bahco Laplander Folding Saw – 20 cm blade, 180 g, MEC $29.50
• Gerber Sliding Wood Saw – 16.5 cm blade, 145 g, MEC $10
• Gerber Folding Sport Saw – 16 cm blade, 190 g, Canadian Tire, $24.99
• Coghlan’s Sierra Folding Saw – 18 cm blade, 155 g, Canadian Tire, $21.99
• Aluminum Folding Saw – 22.8 cm blade, Lee Valley, $28.50
• Compact Pruning Saw – 18 cm blade, Lee Valley, $17.50

The budget of the day before affected a few issues — funding for parks has been cut in half. Strangely, funding for tourism has been increased. (There were mutterings of never mind the tourists, let’s  do more for Albertans.)

So grooming and tracksetting at Ribbon Creek next season is again likely to be sporadic. PLPP and Mt. Shark will continue to be the two areas concentrated upon. We will be trying to get half of the Sawmill parking lot plowed next winter. This winter there have been definite safety issues from parking by the side of the highway for both people and the moose. We suggested that next year they not plow the access road to Black Prince and wait for the outcry from the telemarkers!  X-C skiers and snowshoers are not known for making a fuss, but all of you out there REALLY REALLY need to make your feelings known to K Country and Alberta Transportation on this issue. PLEASE DO IT! As an aside, the Sawmill biffy was supposed to be locked but was left open in error. Thank goodness!  Don’t you just hate going off into the bush?

Also affected by the budget  is next year’s summer trail work. It will not be known for some time what trails, if any, will be worked on. Don’t expect any good news there. On the subject of trails, some seniors clubs have been hoping to get permission to clear away the big deadfall from the fire road leading to historic Upper Kananaskis Viewpoint. Citing wildlife  concerns, the K Country environmentalists seem set on vetoing the idea.

As you know the hours at the information centres have been chopped, and it was suggested that, while keeping to the same number of hours, they open an hour earlier to catch the majority of Albertans heading out to the mountains.

Kiosks are undergoing improvements and  with support from the various conservation officers should better reflect the trails the trailhead serves.

The Chester Lake trails received a lot of  discussion. Just why are so many snowshoers not following the  snowshoe trail?  On six different occasions, Alf Skrastins held an informal survey and you may be interested in the findings — see  Alf’s forthcoming blog.

Drove the Mt. Shark Road for 1 km and parked up a short side-road to the left. The mist had just lifted and the sun was shining as we plodded south along the N-S logging road, enjoying the glittery snow on either side of the packed trail. Lots of skiers had turned up the first logging road to the right — you could see their tracks high on the east slope of Peak 154311.  We carried on for another 4oo m  to the Tryst Lake turnoff  at 1.9 km. In winter there is no indication of the summer trail (the cairn is hidden); you just turn off into the forest.  After crossing the creek that was partially open,  you start up the draw to the lake. It  suddenly occured to us that  on a beautiful sunny day we had chosen a route that was totally in shade.

A sunless Tryst Lake

The trail had been well-used by snowshoers and by skiers who had been carving turns on the sunny avalanche slopes above it. Lower down, the draw is obviously raked by occasional spring avalanches. I asked the avalanche expert about this. “How safe IS this route”? His opinion was that it was safe when the Danger Level was below High. He says not to go during or after a heavy snowfall or on a hot day in spring.

The 1,000 ft-high draw seemed a lot steeper in winter and I was really glad of the heel lift on my snowshoes which saves  calf muscles and achilles tendons from being over-stretched.  There were  two steep steps where we REALLY appreciated the snowshoe’s crampons that dug in beautifully on the hard-packed snow. On the return we found a better route down the upper step that zig-zaged down to skier’s right. It would probably make a better uphill route, too, for anyone who doesn’t have heel lifts.

As we climbed higher we noticed wind caused by frigid air in the cirque above drifting down the draw. At the lake itself the temperature dipped to -20 from -11 and  we could feel our faces, hands and feet  starting to numb up. Oddly enough, it was warmer at the far end of the cirque where we made a little loop below The Fist and the Tryst Chutes (popular with alpine skiers). Another oddity was the sunlight lighting up a small patch of forest just before the lake. We reckoned that at this time of year the spotlight was turned on for about half an hour each day. The slight air movement of very cold air emanating from the lake coupled with a snow surface warmed by brief sunlight had coated the larches with one to two inch-long leaf-like hoar crystals. Even the moss hanging from the spruce  had been crystallised and was waving around in the wind like tinsel on a Christmas tree.

Hoar frost on larch branch near Tryst Lake

Distance to lake 3.3 km, to cirque 3.7 km. By starting from Hwy 742 2.2 km south of Mt. Shark Road (see  Commonwealth Lake),  the distance can be cut down by 200 m.  Some skiers  reduce the distance even further  (though likely not the effort) by starting from Hwy 742 about 1.6 km south of Mt. Shark Road, crossing Engadine Flats and climbing up the steep forested bank to gain the N-S logging road closer to the Tryst Lake turnoff.

Note that on the map Tryst Creek is incorrectly marked. It crosses the logging road 170 m south of the Tryst Lake trail.

Last Monday the weather was supposed to be sunny in the mountains which is why we went to Commonwealth Lake to get  pics of spectacular Commonwealth Peak jutting up against a blue sky. The reality was a grey day with snow flying  and mountains  barely visible in the mist.  Still a good trip, though. A bit short — only 2.3 km to the lake if you take the shortcut (4.2 km if you don‘t) — but  it”s one of those places where you can add on extra kilometres easily enough. Snowshoers had been in there before us and there was a good trail to follow and lots of ski tracks.

You can start from the Mt. Shark Road at the parking lot at 1 km. It’s 2.6 km along the logging road heading south past the Tryst Lake turnoff and Commonwealth Creek crossing to where the shortcut intersects the road.  Most people take the shortcut. Drive 2.2 km south on Hwy. 742 from the Mt. Shark Road and park next to the guard rail. After you’ve climbed over the guard rail (the crux), head downhill and cross Engadine Flats to an avenue in the trees on the far side. A little way in, at a snowshoe trail junction, follow the right-hand trail past a sign (no camping, no fires, dogs on leash) and up a hill and through a cutblock to the logging road. En route, the left-hand trail joins in. Just before the logging road keep straight and cross the road.

Commonwealth Peak from the upper valley

The trail continues along the southeast bank of Commonwealth Creek for 1.3 km to  a clearing. Again the trail divides. (The right-hand trail heads into forest  and along the bank top for about a kilometre to join the summer route up Commonwealth Creek on the opposite bank.) For the lake keep left  and climb up the cutblock to the left of the mature trees. Enter forest and wind up a steeper hillside. The zigs are fine, it’s the corners that are steep. Reach a high point, then angle slightly downhill to the lake.

We carried on up the valley for another  1.2 km  into larch meadows below avalanche slopes falling off Commonwealth Ridge. The avalanche expert reckoned we were safe on that particular day, and the obviously avalanche-aware trail breakers had taken a conservative line to the right. When the risk is above considerable  he suggests  you don’t go, even though you’re right at the edge of the runout zone.  Anyway, we ended up on a little ridge above the boulderfield and, like the people before us, decided to go no farther because the ridge ahead was melding with the next lot of avalanche slopes and we would have been crossing them part way up. Descending to the  bouldery draw on the right isn’t a good idea either, because then you are exposed to avalanches off the Pig’s Back. So the decision to turn back is easily made.

A more strenuous  alternative to the upper valley is the north ridge of Commonwealth Ridge. Leave the  trail at the high point before the lake and flog up 244 m (800 ft.) or so  of forest to treeline. Has anyone carried on along the open ridge toward the top?

Went down to the Highwood on Sunday and hiked to Grass Pass on a dull wintery day. Fortified by a good breakfast at High Country Cafe, we quickly warmed up on the steady climb up the well-trodden, but now lightly snow-covered, trail. The vagaries of recent weather had covered the trees with with a dull white tracery of rime covered hoar frost; a somewhat unusual combination of winter precipitation.

Boundary Pine near Grass Pass

From the pass we wandered southeast along the cow trail, past the summer springs, to check out the Boundary Pine, a limber pine that was made famous by R. M. Patterson’s book The Buffalo Head. We then backtracked along our trail a short distance to where grassy slopes allowed us to short-cut down to the upcoming trail.

For those who haven’t hiked this trail before, it starts at Sentinel day use area on Hwy 541 west of Longview. From the day use area, walk east along the highway a short distance to where the trail starts near a road sign.

On the way back we stopped at the Black Diamond Hotel Bar for beer and wings in the comfort of their arm chairs.

Since we first promoted it in December 2008, this easy 8.3 km snowshoe trail is becoming increasingly popular. Yesterday we hiked and snowshoed  the trail to follow up on reports of improvements and check out a worthwhile extension at the north end. Someone has been in there with a chainsaw and cleared the extensive area of deadfall mentioned in the original post, as well as trimming trees and alder at the side of the trail. Hopefully North Bragg will be included as an official snowshoe trail in the upgrading of the West Bragg trails proposed by the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association.

Head north from West Bragg parking and follow Telephone Trail to the first junction. Turn left on Hostel Loop. About a kilometre from the parking area you will see a trail sign pointing to the right. Bear left on an old logging road and follow your nose and occasional flagging up and around a ridge then down through trees to the valley that contains the west leg of Telephone Trail. Traverse an open area and pass through bad blow-down (now cleared). Round a right-hand bend and watch for the trail heading down to the left.

You can extend your trip by 1.9 km if  you continue straight at this junction. After 150 m you reach a cutline. Go straight up the old logging road to the height of land. Note a line of alders growing on the old road leading left. Follow the edge of the alders and continue on the same line when they end, watching for trimmed trees. The old road makes a sharp turn left and becomes increasingly obvious. Follow the road down (some alder) and round to join your upcoming route.

Heading up the optional northern loop.

If you want a shorter day, a cut-off route, shown on the map by a dashed line, leads down a sheltered valley. The upper half is all meadow. Lower down, the going is still easy in trees with the odd deadfall to circumvent or step over. On reaching an obvious track turn left and follow it down to Bragg Creek. Cross and  reach Mountain Road just west of the bridge. This shorter loop is 7.2 km.

This updates and replaces the December 2008 post.

Download GPS track log

Check out this excellent video on Strategic Shovelling from Backcountry Access (BAC). It highlights the research done by Dale Atkins and Bruce Edgerly on the most efficient method of digging your buried companion from under an avalanche.

Here is the text from Backcountry Avalanche Safety to go with the video:

• Leave the probe in place, noting the burial depth. Avoid tramping around directly above your buried companion to avoid injuring them or reducing their air pocket.
• Put your gloves back on once you have finished assembling the probe and shovel.
• If the depth of burial is less than a metre, dig straight down the probe from the downhill side.
• If deeper, mark a rectangle on the snow with your shovel about as wide as your extended arms for a single rescuer, or about 2 m wide for multiple diggers. This is to discourage the digging of an increasingly narrower hole that would eventually slow down access to the person’s airway. The rectangle should extend downhill from the probe a distance of 1.5 times the burial depth.

Single Rescuer

• Excavate the “starter hole,” working on your knees if necessary, and throwing snow out to the sides of the hole. Chop hard snow into blocks and scoop it out rather than prying. It’s faster and uses less energy.
• Stand up when you need to and continue throwing snow to the sides where it won’t have to be moved again.
• Maintain the full width of the starter hole as you dig deeper.
• When the snow surface gets to be level with your waist, you may need to dig a terrace on the downhill side so that you can throw the snow clear.
• You will now need to excavate to another level. Start at about half the distance to the probe and work toward the probe. This will give you a bench to sit on.
• If the debris is on a slope and the probe is perpendicular to the slope, make sure you keep the probe exposed all the way down. You may need to begin your starter hole a little above the probe,
• When you first reach your buried companion, dig to uncover their head and clear the airway as soon as possible.

Two Rescuers

• The starter hole should be wide enough for the two rescuers to work side by side, each person throwing snow to their own side. Otherwise the procedure is the same.

Many Rescuers

• Two of the rescuers should begin digging the starter, hole throwing the snow out to the sides as described above.
• You can deploy extra diggers using the principles of Genswein’s Conveyor Method that employs more people downhill of the primary diggers. In self-rescue situations you are only likely to be able to use two or possibly three extra people effectively for shovelling. Additional people can be part of the rotation or can be preparing to deal with the evacuated person.
• Rotate shovellers frequently.
• The extra shovellers, offset from each other, clear snow from the downhill side of the starter hole so as to create and maintain a ramp toward the burial location.
• The ramp should be flared out at the back to allow the rear diggers room to work. As the starter hole gets deeper it will become easier for the two front diggers to throw the snow up the ramp behind them to where the rear diggers can scoop it out of the way.
• Once the buried person is reached, the extra shovellers can enlarge the hole and maintain the ramp to facilitate extraction while one of the rescue party is attending to the airway.