Seija meets me at the Petro Canada Station near the junction of the Trans Canada Highway and Hwy 22 west of Calgary for the drive west through Canmore, Alberta, then the drive south on the Smith-Dorrien Trail (Hwy 742). Our objective for this day is a hike to Read’s Tower on the trail from Sparrowhawk Day Use Area about halfway along the Spray Lakes Reservoir south of Goat Pond.
A view of Read’s Tower from the west end of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
The good quality, moderate grade trail across the road from parking at the Sparrowhawk Day Use Area leads through forest to a junction cairn. We take the left branch which offers a slightly longer and gentler ascent than the brutally steep climb straight ahead. There are many branching game trails along either steep route.
The cairn at the trail junction for two routes to the top of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada. Left is ‘easier’. Both are rugged.
As we gain altitude aggressively on the 2.0 KM (1-1/4 mile) one-way trail, which gains a gut-crunching 646 m (2,120 ft.) to the top of the ridge, spectacular panoramic views unfold of surrounding mountains and their reflection in the smooth surface of Spray Lakes Reservoir. The reservoir is very low in preparation for the impending influx of water from massive snow fields at higher elevations. Colorful rock shoreline frames mirror images across the surface of still water. Beneath the reflections, the lake’s surface is largely clear of ice and low morning sun, radiating over mountains, creates a wide range of color in the water from emerald to deep blue. It is very peaceful. A light, cool breeze counters the body warming effect of climbing to higher and cooler elevations in the warming sun. The panoramic vistas become progressively more sensational.
Seija surveys the Spray lakes Reservoir in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Looking south along mountain-surrounded Spray Lakes Reservoir in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
2,975 m Mount Nestor and 3,109 m Old Goat Mountain across the Spray Lakes Reservoir from Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
The view north to Goat Pond along the Spray Lakes Reservoir in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Trail conditions deteriorate progressively as we aggressively gain elevation. As we work our way up the steep, rugged trail it is necessary to exercise caution. Hiking poles provide invaluable assistance. Rugged trail transcends to more treacherous trail on pebbles over smooth and slippery rock slab. The short hike seems longer than it is. Early season leg muscles are complaining. A deteriorating snow cornice, to our left, provides excellent views of avalanche damage in the valley below which separates Read’s Ridge from 3,121 m (10,240 ft.) Mount Sparrowhawk.
Seija checks out the safe edge of a snow cornice as we gain elevation on Read’s Ridge with a view north to Goat Pond along the Spray Lakes Reservoir in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Cornice degradation reveals avalanche aftermath in the valley between Read’s Ridge and Mount Sparrowhawk in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Cloud builds over Spray Lake Reservoir looking north to Goat Pond in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
A view to Red Ridge just south of Read’s Ridge from the top of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Mercifully, we arrive at the top of the west end of Read’s Ridge where sitting down to rest, and to enjoy the fantastic views, makes sense. It is an incredibly beautiful place.
The view south to mountains surrounding the Spray Lakes Reservoir from the top of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Red Ridge and Mount Buller from the top of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Looking south along Spray Lakes Reservoir from the top of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Mount Nestor and Old Goat Mountain from the top of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
There is more snow than expected but we find a dignified route through more shallow snow, without post holing excessively. On the far side of a small patch of snow bound forest we have a clear path to the summit of Read’s Ridge, at 2,353 m (7,720 ft.) for an up close and personal view of Read’s Tower. We hike for a fairly short distance beside the giant snow cornice, mainly on trail, until we arrive at the summit cairn. The notch separating the base of Read’s Tower from Mount Sparrowhawk is filled with deep snow and there is ample evidence of recent Spring avalanche activity. The dip off the east end of Read’s Tower is clear and we can easily gain access to the trail which will deliver us over the flat top of Read’s Tower to its top. Compromised legs and anticipation of the potentially tricky descent on rugged trail convince us to abandon the attempt to achieve the summit of Read’s Tower on this day. Current snow cover will compromise the phenomenal views available later in summer. The effort to achieve the summit of Read’s Tower consumes an additional 0.8 KM (0.5 mile) and 274 m (899 ft.) of elevation for a total round trip distance of about 6 KM (3- 3/4 miles) with a formidable elevation gain of 92o m (3,018 ft.) within a fairly short distance. Not for the weak of spirit. Best done later in the season.
Looking back on a snow cornice on the continuation to the summit of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Photo looking back from Peak One on the route to the summit of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Higher altitude view from Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
An excellent view of cornices from the west end of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Many photos of the stunning panorama are captured at the summit and I take a brief video to provide a sense of the overall surroundings and how they fit together.
The view of Read’s Tower from the summit cairn on Read’s Ridge with Mount Sparrowhawk past the notch behind in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
A long lens view of Mount Sparrowhawk in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
A view towards the snow-filled notch between Read’s Tower and Mount Sparrowhawk in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Red Ridge and Mount Buller from the summit of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
The descent from the Read’s Ridge summit to the east end of Read’s Ridge is swift and easy. Cloud is forming up.
A view north on the descent of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada.
A view south on the descent of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Spectacular view of Mount Nestor and Old Goat Mountain on the descent from the summit of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Final view south from the top of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Cloud builds on the descent from the top of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
The snow cornice snakes its way along the north edge of Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
The hike down the ridge is cautious and time consuming to avoid injury.
Treacherous trail conditions – pebbles over smooth rock slab makes navigation risky on the steep descent off Read’s Ridge
A final view of spectacular scenery before descent into forest on Read’s Ridge in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
The views on the hike down are no less amazing than they were on the ascent. Descent progress is swift after we reach good trail through forest at the trail junction cairn.
Seija chooses to drive south on the Smith-Dorrien Trail for new views and the scenic drive north on Kananaskis Trail. Prophetically, this is an excellent choice because, unknown to us, the north Smith-Dorrien Trail has been closed by a significant rock slide from the East End of Mount Rundle which has closed Canmore Hill. There is a curious barricade on south Smith Dorrien, for reasons unknown to us, at the junction with Mount Shark Road. We do not find out until after returning to Calgary why there is no northbound traffic on Smith-Dorrien while southbound traffic seems unusually high. We stop for refreshing Arizona Tea at the busy convenience store along Kananaskis Trail.
The drive to Calgary is tedious in heavy traffic returning from the May long weekend ritual migration from city to mountains but nothing can reduce the impact of images from the summit of Read’s Ridge on this spectacular Spring day.
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