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Grizzly Peak |
| Elevation 2500m Height Gain Time to Reach Summit Degree of Difficulty Scenery Date of Most-recent Ascent |
From Highway 1 drive south on Kananaskis Trail past first Fortress Junction, and then Grizzly Creek. Park at the side of the road at unsigned Ripple Rock Creek (GPS reference 50d45m03s N, 115d07m55s W). This is the large drainage (culvert under road) 1km south of Grizzly Creek. If you reach Hood Creek (sign in opposite direction) then you've gone too far south. On the north bank of the creek a good trail climbs hastily up open slopes. If you hate slogging through tree cover then this hike is just what the doctor ordered. The angle is sustained but not too steep. In 30-45 minutes you'll reach a rock band some 15m high. A line of cairns mark one possible route but numerous alternatives exist - just pick whatever you're comfortable with. Once over the rock band the trail vanishes. Head diagonally right into trees. After going down and then back up a small dip scout around for the trail as you exit the short belt of trees. Even if you can't find the trail immediately don't fret - the objective is to circle the mountain counter-clockwise some 50 vertical meters below the rocky base. Avoid racing up grassy slopes towards the cliffs or you'll end up having to scramble through numerous gullies to regain the correct ascend line. If after 15-20 minutes you don't see the trail beneath you then try heading up. Due to the steep hillside the long traverse is really no fun at all unless you find some level ground to walk on. As you continue traversing the southern slopes of the mountain Ripple Rock Creek (dry) will rise to join you from below. With the creek still some 20-30 vertical meters downslope of you the gully splits. Cross the left fork and grind your way up the steep grassy incline separating the two branches. At this point you should be heading in a northerly direction towards a broad saddle between Grizzly Peak summit on the left and Mt. Evan Thomas on the right. From lower down this is deceptive, as the high point in front of you looks more like a minor summit than a saddle. Just trust me. When you finally gain the saddle you are rewarded with sore-feet-soothing mats of vegetation. Turn left and waltz up gentle slopes to the summit (GPS reference 50d45m43s N, 115d07m06s W). The summit view is comparable to Opal Ridge - no wonder as it's directly north of where you are! To the south is skinny Lower Kananaskis Lake, with Mt. Joffre highlighting the distant peaks. Almost directly across the road is Mt. Lawson. Further north along the Kananaskis Range you can see the road twisting up to the Fortress ski area. The most conspicuous peaks along the Opal Range form the eastern and southeastern vista: Denny; Potts; Evan Thomas; Packenham; Hood; Brock; Blane; Burney; Jerram; and Elpoca.
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