Saturday,
11/17/2018, Plateau Mtn – Plateau Mtn Rd, Hwy940, Livingstone Range, Kananaskis, AB
· Round Trip: 15.5km;
Elevation: 2513m; Elevation Gain: 260m; Time: RT – 4:45hrs (10:25-15:08), ascent
– 1:50hrs, descent – 1:30hrs; A mixed snowshoe and boot trip with no avalanche
risk and low elevation gain
· Book: “Gillean Daffern’s
Kananaskis Country Trail Guide—Volume 5” by Gillean Daffern
References:
· 50.2042N -114.522W, Located east and
north of Wilkinson Creek; south buttress of Salter Pass, Range: Livingstone,
Province: Alberta, Park: Kananaskis, Headwater: Bow, Visible from Highway: 40S,
940S, 22.
· Naming History - Year Named: 1915;
Named for: The mountain features a more or less flat summit for a distance of
eight kilometres (north-south). (from peakfinder.com)
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, turn right/west onto Hwy 541 for 43.1km to Highwood
Junction, turn left onto Hwy 940 for 25.6 km and then turn left onto Plateau
Mtn Rd, if the gate is open, for about 3.7 km to a big bend well before the
second gate that precludes further travel, park on the side of the road. Unlike
the previous party who parked their minivan in front of the gate, we slowly and
carefully drove the entire Plateau Mtn Rd, passing the owner of the minivan, to
the big bend before the second gate even though we were the first one to drive
on it after the recent snow fall. We did get stuck at the big bend though. When
making the right turn at the big bend, perhaps the circle I made was too small,
the front wheel skidded. With couple times of driving back and forth, we
reversed and parked the car on the side of the road near the big bend without
further incident. Driving time would be around 2:40 hours in winter road
condition.
Hike
When we were strapping our snowshoes on,
the couple we drove past caught us up which proved that we are always slow at
gearing up. As a result, four of us pleasantly shared the trail and summit of
Plateau Mtn that day.
The friendly
couple are like us from Calgary and originally from Russia, and while we were
wearing snowshoes, they were just in their boots which made them move lighter
and easier where snow became very thin about 1.5 km from our parking. Since I suspected
there might be more snow on the top of the flat top, I didn’t bother to remove
my snowshoes even though it snowed me down on the bare section of the road.
The route up
Plateau Mtn was simple, easy and obvious, yet the exact highest point or the location
of the summit wasn’t. Standing on the vast flat top of Plateau Mtn, we tried
our best to identify where we should go. Eventually, we decided to head south
first because the map shows the summit there. Passing two gas well stations, we
reached the south end only to recognize that it is lower than the high point we
eyed before. So, after taking some pictures, we went back north aiming the look-like
summit.
From the summit, all
mountains were on the horizon and looked very far away from us. We were embraced
by an immense flat territory and exposed to the strong sun and wind. Without any
possible shelter, we left the summit in no time, but made our own way towards
the north end instead of taking the road we came.
After wandering
enough, we simply headed west cutting back to the road and hiked back to the
car. The drive back on Plateau Mtn Road wasn’t as nervous as the one in the
morning, and we drove past the other couple again near the first gate that I had
been worrying whether it would be locked. Fortunately, it took a weight off my
mine to find out it was still open.
My track
Setting off with the second gate ahead
Views to our right
Looking back the wide road
The snow became very thin upon this sharp left turn about 1.5 km from our parking
Snowshoeing on shallow ground
View north toward Highwood Range
View northwest towards Continental Divide with Raspberry Ridge in the foreground
Looking northwest to (l-r) Mt Etherington, Baril Peak(C), Mt Armstrong, and Mt Maclaren
The vast flat top of Plateau Mtn occupies more than half of the frame
View west with (l-r) Mounts Pierce(CL), Farquhar(CR), unnamed, Holcroft, and Scrimger(R most) on the horizon
A closer look at Mt Etherington(L) and Baril Peak(CR)
A closer look at Mt Armstrong, Mt Maclaren, and Mt Strachan
Zooming in on Mt Head(C), Holy Cross Mtn(CR), and Gunnery Mtn(R)
View SE towards Windy Peak(L), Mt Livingstone(CL), and Coffin Mtn(CR) from the south end of Plateau Mtn
View southwest with Tornado Mtn(L) and The Elevator(R) on the horizon
Hard to see the edge of the mountain
Going back north aiming the look-like summit
The lonely unnoticeable summit cairn
From the summit, all mountains were on the horizon and looked very far away from us
except the nearby Sentinel Peak
and Hailstone Butte
Making our own way towards the north end instead of taking the road we came
Saw a sheep-made highway
Wandering 1
Wandering 2
Heading west after wandering enough
Cutting back to the road
Hiking back to the car
The end.
Setting off with the second gate ahead
Views to our right
Looking back the wide road
The snow became very thin upon this sharp left turn about 1.5 km from our parking
Snowshoeing on shallow ground
View north toward Highwood Range
View northwest towards Continental Divide with Raspberry Ridge in the foreground
Looking northwest to (l-r) Mt Etherington, Baril Peak(C), Mt Armstrong, and Mt Maclaren
The vast flat top of Plateau Mtn occupies more than half of the frame
View west with (l-r) Mounts Pierce(CL), Farquhar(CR), unnamed, Holcroft, and Scrimger(R most) on the horizon
A closer look at Mt Etherington(L) and Baril Peak(CR)
A closer look at Mt Armstrong, Mt Maclaren, and Mt Strachan
Zooming in on Mt Head(C), Holy Cross Mtn(CR), and Gunnery Mtn(R)
View SE towards Windy Peak(L), Mt Livingstone(CL), and Coffin Mtn(CR) from the south end of Plateau Mtn
View southwest with Tornado Mtn(L) and The Elevator(R) on the horizon
Hard to see the edge of the mountain
Going back north aiming the look-like summit
The lonely unnoticeable summit cairn
From the summit, all mountains were on the horizon and looked very far away from us
except the nearby Sentinel Peak
and Hailstone Butte
Making our own way towards the north end instead of taking the road we came
Saw a sheep-made highway
Wandering 1
Wandering 2
Heading west after wandering enough
Cutting back to the road
Hiking back to the car
The end.
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