TRIP 275
Sunday, 3/11/2018,
Mt Quirk – Hwy549, Fisher Creek P.R.A., Kananaskis, AB
· Round Trip: 25.4km;
Elevation: 1892m; Elevation Gain: Net - 408m, Accumulated – 950m; Time: RT – 8:30hrs
(09:25-17:55), ascent – 4:10hrs, descent – 3:20hrs; Strenuous hike.
· Books: ‘Gillean Daffern’s
Kananaskis Country Trail Guide—Volume 4’ by Gillean Daffern
References:
Drive
From Calgary, drive
west on Hwy 1 for about 16km and take the exit for Hwy 22 heading south, turn
left and keep driving on Hwy 22 when reach the 4 way stop in Bragg Creek. On
the T junction, turn left driving east for a short distance and then turn right
onto Hwy 762 for about 22.2 km, turn
right onto Hwy 549 for another 16.2 km until reach the winter gate, turn left
into the Fisher Creek parking lot. Driving time would be around 1:00 hour.
Hike
With high avalanche risk forecast, we had to choose a small object
in the foothill again even though the weather was terrific. Last time we went
to Fisher Creek Provincial Recreation Area to hike Mt Barwell, and this time we
would hike a long way to bag Mt Quirk, a small bump to the northwest of
Barwell.
From the parking lot, we marched along
the gated road for around 1.4 km without snowshoes, and then turn right (north)
before another winter gate and walked for another 1.3 km. Here, we turned left
(west) leaving the bare road onto the snow-covered Fisher Trail that runs along
Fisher Creek. Since it had been packed by Off-Highway Vehicles, we didn’t need
to break trail but did stumble a little on the uneven tire ruts. In a point
when the trail makes a sharp turn towards north, Gua was aware that it was too
early to make such turn. After consulting the map, we backed track a bit and
walked through deep snow to the correct trail that brought us to the ascent
ridge heading north. When this OHV trail turns left heading west down to the
valley bottom, we broke our own trail towards north in the woods instead. We were
treated for great views in several open areas along the way up before hiking
down a bit through knee-deep snow in the woods and then hiked up again to reach
the open summit bump.
This was a very long and strenuous
hike without much reward since the mountains are a bit too far away from us,
but the sun was so warm and cozy that we didn’t regret at all at the moment.
However, the tedious and exhausted return
almost killed our feet and legs. We didn’t talk much on our way back but only focused
on how to walk easier and faster on the tire ruts that now under melted snow. Finally,
we survived the long way back with sore hip, legs and feet.
Marching along the gated road for around 1.4 km
Turn right (north) before another winter gate
Turn left (west) leaving the bare road onto the snow-covered Fisher Trail that runs along Fisher Creek
A beautiful bluebird day
Stumbling a little on the uneven tire ruts
Crossing over a fancy metal bridge
Walking through deep snow to the correct trail
The steepest ascent of the day looks flat in the picture below
The ascent ridge heading north
Here, the OHV trail would make a sharp left (west) turn and go down to the valley bottom, and the route to Mt Quirk would go through the treed bump ahead.
Great views looking NW along the way up
Hiking in the trees
Another viewpoint looking SW
Walking beside a long cliff
A camp?
Hiking down a bit through knee-deep snow in the woods
Hiking up again
Looking back to the treed ridge we came from with great views in the skyline
Last bit ascent to the open summit bump
Standing on the summit of Mt Quirk
Summit view towards south
View southwest
View west
Northwest
North
To the northwest, some tiny man-made structures can be seen on the top of Moose Mtn
Zooming-in on Prairie Mtn
Bluerock(CL) and Cougar (R) Mountains forming a backdrop to the SW
Looking southwest over Forgetmenot Ridge towards Banded(C,B) and Outlaw(R,B) Peaks
Mounts Cornwall(L) and Glasgow(R) rise beyond Forgetmenot Ridge to the southwest
l-r: Banded(L) and Outlaw(CL) Peaks and Mounts Cornwall(C/CR) and Glasgow peek from behind Forgetmenot Mtn and Ridge
Mt Glasgow in the background
On the right of the picture, Mt Remus(R,F) overlaps with Mt Romulus(CR,B) to the SW
To the west-northwest, peaks in the Fisher Range including Fisher Peak(L), Mt Fullerton(CL), Mt Howard(CR) rise beyond the seven km long ridge of Nihahi Ridge(summit at right)
From front to back: Nihahi Ridge, Mt Fullerton(CR), and Fisher Peak(CL) to the west
Compression Ridge(C) and Mt Bryant(?,R) to the northwest
The Massive Mt Bryant? with summit at left
Tiara(C,dark) and Belmore Brown(R) Peaks to the northwest
Prairie and Moose Mountains also to the northwest
The foothills to the north
A Panorama with the summit of Mt Quirk at right
Mt Rose(C, low) in the front of Cougar Mtn(CL,B)
Retracing our steps aiming the treed ridge ahead
Going down a bit before entering knee-deep snow slope
Back on the OHV trail
Back to the intersection missed on the way up
Struggling on the tire ruts that now under melted snow
So glad to see this welcome sign
The end.
