Sunday, 5/13/2018,
Willoughby Ridge (Ironstone Lookout) – Hwy 3, Coleman, Crowsnest Pass, AB
· Round Trip 9.9km;
Elevation: 2080m; Elevation Gain/Loss: 536m; Time: RT – 5:20 hrs (10:30-15:50),
ascent – 2:30hrs, descent – 1:35hrs; A easy hike on logging road with occasionally
unsupportive knee-deep snow
· Books:
References:
Drive
From Calgary, drive
south on Hwy 2 / Deerfoot Trail past High River. Turn right onto Hwy 540 or Hwy
533, and then turn left (south) onto Hwy22 towards Crowsnest. At the T
junction, turn right (west) onto Hwy3 for about 25.6 km, turn left at the first
access to Coleman East. Drive west on 16 Avenue for 1.2 km, turn left onto 81
St. and cross the railway tracks. Turn left driving east for 170 metres
and take a left at 83 St. driving south. After crossing Crowsnest River, turn
right on 13 Avenue, then follow the approach (dirt) road southward for about
7km (650 metres or so from the turnoff for Mt Coulthard or 1.4 km from the turnoff
for Ironstone Lookout. After passing a small bridge, the road became a bit
muddy with melting snow. We carefully drove as far as we could), park on the
side of the road. Driving time would
be around 2:55 hours.
Hike
Due to the fear of tick, this no-bushwhacking Fire Lookout
trail won my heart quickly even though it requires an early getting up and a
long drive.
From where we parked, we followed
the snow and mud mixed North York Creek Trail southwestward. We soon encountered a deadfall
blocking the road, which meant even though the road was dry, we couldn’t drive
any further. 15 minutes after passing
the turnoff for Mt Coulthard, we took the gated Ironstone Lookout Route on our
left. The wide road was indeed bushwhacking free, but it unfortunately wasn’t
snow free. However, it wasn’t as bad as the trip we did two weeks ago for
Hell’s Ridge either. Most of the time, the snow was supportive and didn’t gave
us a lot of postholing, only it slowed us down a little.
Two and a half hours later, we reached
the summit of Willoughby Ridge where the Ironstone Lookout is located. The
weather and views were quite nice and the two curious locals were very
entertaining.
After a long summit stay, we
retraced our steps to the car and then gingerly drove down the muddy approach
road back to the civic highway followed by a long drive home.
From where we parked, we followed the snow and mud mixed North York Creek Trail southwestward
Passing the turnoff (right) for Mt Coulthard
Taking the gated Ironstone Lookout Route on the left
The broken gate
Very peaceful
The wide road was bushwhacking free, but not snow free
l-r: Mt Coulthard, Andy Good Peak(CL), Mt Parrish(CR), and Mt McLaren
The object ahead
Arriving at the ridge
Most of the time, the snow was supportive
Losing the road in the snow
Picking a more direct route up the ridge
Standing on the top of Willoughby Ridge where the Ironstone Lookout is located
Begging for foods
Hillcrest Mtn(CL) and Hearts Peak(C) to the southeast
View south
SW
Part of the Flathead Range to the southwest
l-r: Mt Coulthard, Andy Good Peak(CL), Mt Parrish(CR), Chinook Peak and Mt McLaren to the west
View northwest with Mt McLaren at left, Mt Tecumseh in the centre, and Crowsnest Mtn at right
View north
View northeast with Bluff Mtn in the centre and Livingstone Range beyond
Turtle (L) and Hillcrest(R) Mtn to the east
Hillcrest Mtn(CL) and Hearts Peak(CR) to the southeast
Windsor Mtn and Castle Peak at centre to the southeast
Mt Coulthard(L) and Andy Good Peak(R) to the west-southwest
Mt Parrish(L), Chinook Peak(C,B) and Mt McLaren(CR) to the west-northwest
Mt Tecumseh in the distance to the northwest
Ma Butte(L) and McGillivray Ridge(R) to the north
Turtle Mtn to the northeast
Panos from the top of Willoughby Ridge
Crowsnest Mtn bathing in the sun with Gould Dome in the distant right
Prairie Buff in the distance
Zooming in on Pincher Ridge(L) and Victoria Peak(R)
After a long summit stay, we retraced our steps down
Looking back at the lookout
Balancing in the snow
Taking a short cut
Back to the broken gate, then follow the North York Creek trail all the way to the car
The end.
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