Rainy Pass

Sat. 26 February: Elbow Winter Gate to Rainy Pass

Today a noteworthy event - the forecasters got it exactly right! They called for the snow flurries and cloud to clear away by 10 a.m. leading to clear skies, and a windchill around minus 16 degrees C. This is exactly what happened.

J and I were in two minds as we left the city heading west on Highway 8. We had thought that we would have a go at climbing Eagle Hill, abandoned two weeks ago due to wild winds and blowing snow. But as we drove west, the wind was blowing the snow across the highway, and it was almost as if we were driving along a frozen river. So as we reached the end of the road, where one has to turn right or left, we made an instant decision to turn left and head into Bragg Creek and up the Elbow Valley.

The road was snow-covered and icy, but the mountains were clear ahead, and already there was a hint of some blue sky appearing between the clouds. Parking at the winter gate, we were a little surprised to find a half dozen cars parked already, yet it was not quite 9 a.m. Snow was piled up around the gate.

Our plan was to walk up the road, beyond the winter gate, as far as Rainy Pass. From there we could either make a loop down to the Elbow River, or simply return down the road. There was packed snow on the road surface beyond the gate, and we soon strapped on our snow shoes, for better stability. From here it was a steady climb up the wide road, for five kilometres, curving up the forested valley to Rainy Pass. After a kilometre or so, there was a very good view of the Elbow River, as it swung away to the south side of Rainy Hill, below the high cliffs of Quirk Ridge (Iyarhe Ipan).

As we climbed the pass, gusts of freezing wind would blow the snow across the road in swirls. We could see little whirlwinds of snow high up on the forested slopes above. But by now the strong winds were blowing the clouds away, and the sun came out. It was still very cold, especially in the gusts of wind.

After what seemed like a long slog, we came round a corner in the road, and above us we could see the gentle summit, and then, reaching the top, we were treated to the spectacular view of the snow-covered Front Ranges, right ahead of us to the west. The high ridges of Forgetmenot Mountain dominated the view to the west, with the wilder, more remote Mts. Glasgow, Cornwall, and Banded Peak to the right.

Here on the top of the Pass was a perfect place for a picnic lunch – if we could find a sheltered spot. A group of trees above the road gave us good shelter as well as a panoramic view. The original road down into the Elbow Valley lay hidden in the trees behind us. I had travelled that way last year. Today we decided not to chance that route, as there had been so much snow that it might have been impassable even with snow shoes.

As we strapped our snow shoes back on, a couple with a dog strolled up the snow-covered highway, heading west down towards the valley. The dog barked as it heard our voices. The couple looked back a little surprised to see us. Our tracks had been quickly drifted over by the wind.

We strolled back down the road, enjoying the now cloudless skies, but with a biting wind at our backs. This is a perfect outing for anyone wanting a good workout, with the reward of a “surprise” view at the top. But otherwise, it is a fairly ordinary route. Nevertheless, returning to the winter gate, we now counted over two dozen vehicles parked. We had met several people on the lower section of the road – hikers, snow-shoers, skiers, several of them with their dogs, even a woman towing her little baby in a carriage - its red cheeks glowing in the cold sunshine.

Back at the car, we were both feeling that we had certainly done enough for one day. We stopped at Elbow Falls to admire the icy waters. The volume of water was too great for the river to ice up completely, as had Troll Falls, but it was a very beautiful, wintry, and utterly Canadian sight.

Statistics
Rainy Pass
Sat. 26 February

Total Dist. 10 km (snow shoe)
Height Gain 800 ft.
Max. Elev. 5,700 ft.
Time on trail 4 hrs. 3 mins.

Temperature: minus 9 to minus 5 C (windchill minus 16 to minus 12)