The Passionate Hiker: Ranger Hill Circuit

Sun. 15 December: Ranger Hill Circuit

Dramatic cloudscapes in the strong Chinook winds

The winds were tugging at the trees today. Overnight, under the onslaught of a full Chinook, several trees on our trail had toppled over. It did cross my mind that more could fall on J and myself, so we kept a close eye on the swaying branches all around us.

I had travelled this same route back in March 2012, but it’s such a well-graded and intriguing route up the ridge and back down again, that it was just as enjoyable second time around.

West Bragg Creek badly needed another snowfall. The trails were icy and covered in debris from the winds. Nevertheless, we saw several people venturing out on cross-country skis. Our route took us up the lower ski slopes onto Boundary Ridge trail, leading to Strange Brew all the way up to the summit of Ranger Ridge, then back down on Ranger Ridge trail. It was snow covered the whole way, but well packed, except in the exposed open sections where the whistling winds were drifting the snow. The trail is almost entirely forested, with just a few viewpoints. They are worth waiting for, as the mountains to the west looked wild and lonely, with Moose Mountain prominent.

I had forgotten about the false summit. Finally arriving at the ridge top, we still had work to do. Ranger Ridge summit lay across a forested col. It was an easy plod up the nicely graded trail to the gap in the trees that marked the top of the hill. Three snow-shoers had arrived from the “easy” Elbow Valley side of the hill just a few moments ahead of us, and were relaxing on the stone seats that mark this hilltop. The sun was shining and the trees gave some shelter from the winds, so it was a pleasant place to linger. We enjoyed the views to the Front Ranges, which were partly hidden beneath a low line of cloud. Above us a low sun shone out of a clear sky with a partially formed Chinook Arch overhead.

A little further along the ridge we found a geocache site, well hidden under a tree stump beneath a layer of snow. We were first to find it since June, according to the log.

We continued along the gently sloping ridge, in the trees, to the point where the trail takes an abrupt right turn and starts to descend back down to the valley floor. Here we were surprised by a group of four bikers on special “fat tire” winter bikes. This is the first time I had come across them on my winter wanderings. The guys seemed to be having a good time, although they were finding it hard work riding or pushing their bikes through the snow. We warned them of the fallen trees on the east side of the ridge.

Halfway down Ranger Ridge, the trail skirts an open knoll giving great views covering the northern half of the compass, from the majestic Moose Mountain peak in the west to the prairies in the east. This would be a good place to bring a person who wanted to understand what “foothills” look like.

As we reached the lower slopes of Ranger Hill, we passed through meadows of aspens and above wooded creeks. This was a cross-country skier’s paradise. Finally we arrived back at the West Bragg Creek trail system, and an overflowing car park. We had met only a handful of people on our journey, but there were hundreds of people out there somewhere.

The weather was alive today, with swaying trees, strong winds, and extravagant clouds changing shape every minute. It was a great day to be out in the Alberta foothills.

Statistics:

Total Distance: 2.0 km (hike) + 8.0 km (‘shoe) = 10.0 km

Height Gain: 1,200 ft.

Max. Elev.: 5,650 ft.

Time on Trail: 4 hrs. 38 mins.

Dep. car: 8.49 am

Strange Brew: 9.34 am

1st Summit: 10.48 am

Ranger Summit: 11.15 am

Lunch: 12.13 pm

Ret. to car: 1.27 pm

Temp: +6 C