Thu 15 Feb 2007
Length: 18km
Time: 6-7 hrs
Book: David Thompson Highway - A Hiking Guide
Elevation: 1365m-2515m
Date done: June 3rd 2006
Effort: High
Rating: 7/10
Map: 83 C/1 Whiterabbit Creek
This is a nice hike up to a high-level ridge with some good views in the Nordegg/Lake Abraham area. Park at Two O’Clock Creek campground on Highway #11 22km East of the Banff Park Boundary. Its a nice easy (well not physically easy, but technically easy) to get up really high in some nice alpine terrain.
The first part of the hike is stiff climb up through forest along side a nice creek that deepens to a bit of a gorge. This steep path eventually brings you out onto the crest of a ridge above the treeline. There are awesome views of the North Saskatchewan river and the surrounding rocky peaks. The path then becomes a slightly less steep climb along the ridge to the high point marked by a cairn. The views here are spectacular and you really feel high up compared to everything else around.
To follow the route, you must now retrace your steps back to the campground.
If you are very fit and get here early enough, a superb option would be to carry on along the ridge, descending to a saddle, and then follow the line of the ridge up the steep shoulder of the mountain in front of you. I think it would take around an hour and a half more to reach this summit, but it would be an excellent side-trip.
An alternative route back is possible, if like me you hate retracing your steps. From the summit of the ridge where the cairn is, instead of descending the ridge you came up, start making your way down into the grassy valley on the west side, aiming for the ridge parallel to the one you came up. This is a gorgeous area with many alpine flowers. Once on the ridge stick to the East side and look for an avalanche shoot that appears just at the start of the treeline. It is possible to descend here fairly easily through some rough scree to the creek below. From here follow the creek all the way along to where you originally crossed it on your hike up, and follow the path back to the campground. The creek is fine to hike along in low water levels, if you don’t mind numerous crossings and some wet feet and some stumbling. I had fun taking some good falls down the creek and ending up jumping in thigh deep in freezing cold water brrrrrrr. My girlfriend at the time found this hilarious. This is rough terrain because it is not a path. Don’t attempt in high water.
Book Links
David Thompson Highway - A Hiking Guide
