Outdoor Video Magazine

Length: 3.2km
Time: 2 hours round trip.
Height: 1400m-2050m
Book: The David Thompson Highway - A Hiking Guide Book
Date done: Easter 2007 (April 9th)
Location: 32km West of Nordegg, Alberta on the David Thompson Highway.
Rating: 8/10

This very short outing is surprisingly entertaining. Its an off-trail hike/scramble up to a little rocky summit above Lake Abraham. If you like rock, you can find a lot of interesting (not exposed) scrambles on the way up. If you don’t, nearly all can be avoided and hand-use becomes necessary on only a few occasions.

Park 1km West of the Mt Michener view point…right before you go round the bend through the rock-cleft. Cross the road, and climb the trail that leads to the rocky bluff directly above the road. Then just pick a path directly up the ridge until you reach the obvious knob that is the hikes high-point. Big sheep are more than likely to be seen here, one of their favourite haunts. Consequently beware of ticks! They are all over the place on this hike. The scrambling is very easy and basic, but you can make it more entertaining if you wish. There are some wicked dead trees to be found, that seem to have been twisted round and round.

This ridge is free of snow very early due to it’s south facing, wind blown nature. Its called Windy Point for a very good reason. Bring something windproof.From the top you can also make your way along the narrow ridge that leads to the base of ‘The Buckle’. A popular place for climbers. See photo below top-right.