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HomeMount Kidd North Peak
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Mount Kidd North Peak |
| Elevation 2905m Height Gain Time to Reach Summit Degree of Difficulty Scenery Date of Most-recent Ascent |
Bring your ski poles for this one - and don't say I didn't warn you. The upper slopes are steep and the rubble is hideous. A long grueling workout for your quads if you're up to the challenge. From Highway 1 take the Kananaskis Trail exit south. As you near Kananaskis village Mt. Kidd North is the hulking mountain above. Drive past the golf course and Mt. Kidd RV Park. About 2.5km south of Wedge Pond park in the Galatea day-use area on the right (GPS reference 50d51m16s N, 115d10m24s W). Follow Galatea Creek Trail downhill (groan) and cross Kananaskis River via the suspension bridge. The trail wends left once you step off the bridge. In another 5 minutes you reach a footbridge that crosses Galatea Creek. At the T-junction with the information sign turn right. You're now on Terrace Trail. This wide path is shared with mountain bikers so keep your eyes open. After 20 minutes of brisk hiking since leaving the parking lot you come to a dry creekbed (GPS reference 50d52m17s N, 115d10m29s W). Cross over to the other side and immediately turn left up a clear path. This trail leads you up to the crest of a knoll above the stony creek. After some 30 minutes the trail reaches open slopes. It's time to leave the trail and traverse down towards the creekbed. There are faint paths that become better defined once you reach the edge of stunted trees. To get by the lower waterfalls you'll have to maneuver around on narrow ledges. Exercise care here as the rock is extremely slippery when wet. Mud on the soles of your boots won't help, either. Once through the falls it's a no-nonsense plod up the right side of the gully on the well-worn track. Although steep in places this section is still relatively trouble-free. As you gain elevation the trail trends right (north). Eventually you'll be staring up a huge bowl below Mt. Kidd's southeast face. Keep an eye on the last patch of vegetation on the left. When the trail is about level with the top of this patch it vanishes. This is where you have to cut left over to the opposite bank of the creekbed (narrow at this point). Clamber up to the top of the other side and pick up the trail again further on. From here on the angle is sustained and brutally steep. You will also be frustrated by the loose scree that seems to counter all forward progress. The occasional slabby sections offer only temporary relief. Slowly you grind your way up the widening gully towards the summit ridge. Only when you're within 100 or so vertical meters does the angle finally taper off and the footing improve. Turn right at the crest of the ridge and stroll to the summit radio repeater (GPS reference 50d53m37s N, 115d11m18s W). The cairn here holds the prize that you're looking for - the summit register. By the way, if you haven't already noticed - the upper slopes are full of fossilized coral. Looks like people have dropped off some interesting pieces at the cairn. The summit panorama is quite splendid. The most obvious peaks close to you are Mts Bogart and Sparrowhawk to the northwest. In the north are Mts Allen and Lougheed. The view to the west features a great shot of Mt. Assiniboine. In the distant southwest is Mt. Sir Douglas. Closer at hand is Mt. Fortress. To the south is the glaciated Joffre Group. South across the valley is an edge-on view of the Opal Range. The Wedge is to the southeast across the road. To the east Mt. McDougall marks the north end of the Fisher Range. Below you are all 36 holes of the Kananaskis Golf Course.
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