TRIP 271
Sunday,
01/14/2018, Strawberry Hills – Hwy940, Highwood Area, Kananaskis, AB
· Round Trip: 13.7km;
Elevation: 1985m; Elevation Gain: 483m; Time: RT – 6:40hrs (9:30-16:10), ascent
– 2:55hrs, descent – 2:15hrs; An easy to moderate snowshoeing trip with an
unexpected nice view and minimal avalanche risk
· Book: ‘Gillean
Daffern’s Kananaskis Country Trail Guide—Volume 5’ by Gillean Daffern
References:
Drive
From Calgary, drive south on Hwy 2/Deerfoot
Trail, take the exit for Okotoks driving south on Hwy2A for 10.9km, turn
right/west onto Hwy 7 towards Black Diamond. From Black Diamond, drive south on
Hwy 22 to Longview and then turn right/west onto Hwy 541 for 43.1km to Highwood
Junction, turn left onto Hwy 940 for 600m or so, park on either side of the
road. Driving time would be around 1:30 hours.
Hike
Even though the name
sounds delicious, I still put this trip on the bottom of my list for its low
elevation. However this week, with no other object suitable for the uncertain
weather and high avalanche risk forecast, we quickly locked up Strawberry Hills
as our target.
Wearing our snowshoes, we had a pleasant hike on the well packed Fitzsimmons
Creek Trail that led us westward through the trees, ponds and meadows. The view
opened up by the time we reached the ponds so we stopped frequently for photos,
thus slowed us down a bit. After 6 kilometres on the trail, we arrived at the
base of the ridge we planned to ascend. Here, we turned right and started bushwhacking
up northward along the ridge. Following the ridge, we reached our summit – the south
peak of Strawberry Hills - about one hour later at a leisurely pace.
The summit view was limited to the west, but unexpectedly great
especially under a blue sky. After cozily sitting on the windless summit in the
sun for 40 minutes, we started our descent. Since the view to the east is blocked
by trees, we decided to go down via the eastern ridge for some more views and making
a loop for the trip.
We walked down to the col between the south and east peaks through the
trees and then hiked up onto the east peak. There was a small cairn on the top,
and the view was more open than the south peak. Unfortunately, the clouds had
already rolled in and covered almost the whole sky. 10 minutes later, we
continued hiking down the ridge eastward to a col and then skirted a knob ahead
on its right/west heading southeast back to the Fitzsimmons Creek Trail.
My track
From the roadside parking, looking towards Highwood Junction with Junction Hill in the background
Walking on the well packed Fitzsimmons Creek Trail
The hike on Fitzsimmons Creek Trail was quite pleasant
The Fitzsimmons Creek Trail led us pass through the ponds
walking through the meadow with our object ahead
Turn left here. The snowshoe track ahead goes back down to hwy40
Trying to regain the trail after turning left
On the trail again
Mounts Armstrong(L of C) and Maclaren(C) appearing to the west
It's so nice to walk under a bluebird sky
No idea what this is
After 6 kilometres on the trail, we arrived at the base of the ridge we planned to ascend. Here, we turned right and started bushwhacking up northward along the ridge.
Breaking out of trees
Looking back to Coyote Hills through the branches
A much clear look of Coyote Hills
Nice ridge walk in the sun
The horizontal ridge in the skyline would be our descent route
Mounts Armstrong(L of C) and Maclaren(R of C) to the SW
Behind Etherington-Baril Ridge(C) is Plateau Mtn
Leaning trees reveal the direction of the wind
Looking west beyond the highest peak of Strawberry Hills towards Mounts (l-r) Maclaren, Strachan, Muir, and McPhail from the summit of Strawberry Hills
View west-northwest towards mounts (l-r) Strachan, Muir, McPhail(CL) and Bishop(CR)
A closer look of Mounts Strachan, Muir, and McPhail
McPhail on the left and Bishop at right of centre
Mist Mtn beyond the North Peak of Strawberry Hills
The Hill of the Flowers in the foreground
Zooming in on Mist Mtn
The view to the east is blocked by trees
Interesting clouds and the summit
Baril Peak(CL) and Mt Armstrong(C) to the southwest
Mounts Armstrong(L) and Maclaren(R)
Leaving
One has to bushwhack a bit to the col between the south and east peaks
hiking up to the east peak
A Pano on the way to the east peak
Unfortunately, the clouds had already rolled in and covered almost the whole sky by the time we reached the east peak
View east from east peak
Looking SE to Coyote Hills(C) with Mt Burke and Plateau Mtn in the background
View south with Raspberry Ridge on left and Baril Peak at right
Looking southwest over our ascent ridge towards Mounts Armstrong(L) and Maclaren(R)
View northwest with the north peak of Strawberry Hills in the foreground right
There was a small cairn on the top, and the view was more open than the south peak
View north along Hwy 40
Mt Head(L) and Holy Cross Mtn(R) in the background to the northeast
Continuing down along the east ridge
Easy descent in boot-deep snow
Looking back at our footprints
The clearing sky to the northeast
To the west, (l-r) Baril Peak, Mt Armstrong, and Mt Maclaren were still under cloudy sky
Running down this snow slope, and then going into the trees ahead
Another look at Coyote Hills
Aspen under a beautiful sky
Easy bushwhacking
Back to the trail
The meadow seems in the shade all the time
Cat Creek Hills
Leaving the last opening
The end.
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