July 10, 2020, Ptarmigan Cirque (plus)
Distance: 4.5 km (plus)
Elevation gain: 355 m (plus)
On Friday, July 10, Fred and I headed into Kananaskis for a hike. Originally our destination for the day was Tent Ridge but after driving the Smith Dorien for a bit, we decided it would be best to choose a different hike. A foot injury incurred during our last mountain adventure that required more healing led us to choose a shorter, popular hike called Ptarmigan Cirque up in Highwood Pass. Knowing Kananaskis would be busy, even on a Friday, Fred and I got an early start so we could be off the trail before the real crowds showed up.
The views along highway 40 were stunning. Big billowy white clouds swirled around the mountain peaks. I even caught a rainbow in one of these clouds. We made a quick stop at Wedge Pond for a photo, and of course, I had to grab a picture or two of a very pregnant deer. Because we originally headed toward Tent Ridge, by the time we made it up to Highwood Pass, the parking lot was starting to fill. We quickly loaded up our packs and got on our way.
Of course, the trail is a very established one as it climbs through the trees. Quite quickly, views of beautiful mountain appeared. Alpine flowers were in full bloom, especially the glacier lilies, and water was flowing everywhere. Given my foot was doing okay and in an effort to expand our day, Fred and I climbed up and over an outlier on climber’s left, trekked part way up the col at the back and scrambled up scree on climber’s left, etc., likely adding a few hundred metres and some more distance to our day.
The Cirque is gorgeous place to explore. Waterfall, after waterfall, after waterfall made for peaceful sounds as we hiked. We were in love with the different rock formations and all the alpine flowers. But the crowds were arriving and so Fred and I made quick work getting back down. On the drive home, we were lucky enough to see a grizzly crossing racing across the highway and up the hill on the other side before he stopped, turned, looked each way, and then went into the forest. And of course, we saw the “famous” momma grizzly feeding and her two cubs playing in the long grass. All in all, a great day!
