July 19-20, 2022 - Forgetmenot Ridge Wild Camp, The Elbow, Kananaskis

When Sam had some plans fall through at the last minute we pulled the trigger on an outing we have been discussing this summer.  We would hike up to Forgetmenot Ridge in the evening, watch the sunset, camp on the ridge overnight, and wake up in time for the sunrise.

We left the house around 6:00 p.m., and were on the trail at Little Elbow by 6:20.  Sam set a furious pace once we crossed the Little Elbow River and started up the steep trail to the ridge.  Luckily he took mercy on me and let me have a few 30-second breaks on the way up! 😬

Sammy Crossing The Little Elbow

When we got to the ridge it was actually quite windy.  We searched around, and found a little oasis of trees to pitch our tent behind and it was so well protected you would not have known there was even a breeze.  With camp set up we headed to a good vantage point to watch the sun set, and cook our dinner: one pack of mushroom parmesan risotto, one pack of chicken blanquette with egg noodles, and one of Mandy's homemade jammy dodgers for dessert.  Yummm!

Enjoying The Sunset - Dinner On The Stove

Last Views Of The Sun

Looking East From Camp Just Before Bed

Once the sun had settled behind Nihahai Ridge we did not need any encouragement to get into our warm sleeping bags for the night.  We stashed our bear vault with food and toiletries, and our pots in a nearby stand of trees for the night, and headed back to camp.  Since our campsite was so protected and the skies were predicted to be clear, we decided to leave the fly off the tent and enjoy the starry skies all night.  With the big dipper in our direct line of sight as well as hundreds of other stars and a very bright half-moon, we were treated to a spectacular show!  We were all nestled in by ~10:30, with our alarm set for 4:30, in anticipation of the 5:50 sunrise.  I wouldn't say it was the best sleep ever (Sam had a nightmare which didn't help him), but it was a great experience nevertheless.

I am glad we set the alarm so early as when I took a peak from our tent as soon as the alarm went off, the sky was already a deep orange on the horizon.  We got out of our very warm and cozy sleeping bags, grabbed the stove and bear vault, and headed up to a high viewing point for tea and coffee.  Fortunately the wind had died down overnight and we were able to enjoy the sunrise in some comfort.  The hot drinks definitely helped out!!

4:30 a.m. Tent Wake-Up

Sunrise Shot

Old Man Admiring The Sunrise

Sunrise Selfie

Early-Morning Campsite

After enjoying the views for 1.5 hours we headed back to break up camp and start our descent back to the car.  It was another beautiful morning and we made quick work of the hike out.  After crossing the Little Elbow we took a slight shortcut and crossed the Elbow River adjacent to the parking lot which cut a kilometer or two off of the hike out.  The Elbow ended up being a little close to the edge of my comfort zone, but we were careful, and the excitement was a good way to cap off the adventure. 😳

Check out Sam's amazing video here for a very cool summary of our trip!!

July 15, 2022 - Cornwall Creek Falls, The Elbow, Kananaskis

It's not very often that the three boys are in the same spot at once, so I was super-pumped that we were able to organize this quick after-dinner bike and hike to Cornwall Creek Falls.  We left the house at about 6:30 on a warm and beautiful, sunny evening.  To get there we biked about 7 km up the Big Elbow Trail, stashed our bikes, and hiked along the creek bed for about 1 km.

Cornwall Creek Falls Selfie

I am not sure what it is with waterfalls but there is something special about being near them and watching the water cascade down over the terrain.  This one is exceptionally special, as it is tucked away in the forest, guarded by a rock wall, with a 50-foot straight drop.  We spent some time enjoying the falls, exploring the area, and taking a few pictures.

The Final Approach To The Falls

Ty And I Under The Falls

Water Refill For The Way Home

Sam was the only one brave enough to jump into the small pool below the falls.  It looked very cold, but he was quite refreshed when he got out.

Looks Cold!!⛄

The trip back was very quick, and we were back at the house by 9:00 for a snack and bed!

Photo Credit - Ben took the beautiful Black-And-Whites!

July 13, 2022 - Midnight Peak, Hwy. 40, Kananaskis

After two weeks of being away at work, the best thing I could have hoped for on my first day off was a nice early-morning hike.  Fortunately Sam had already been planning it, and so at 10:30 p.m. the day I got home we agreed to a 5:30 a.m. wake-up call, to head to Midnight Peak.  This hike uses the Baldy Pass route to get to, followed by an extra 1.5 km grind to the peak from the North-East.  It is mostly treed until the final 300m, which is a combination of very steep scree and boulders.  Sam has done a great job writing up the hike on his blog (and shares some remarkably wise words), so I will leave a link here for you to read, and I will post a couple of pictures we took below.  Please make sure to check out the video Sam put together on his blog - it is super-cool!

Summit Shot With Pink Box Register - Nakiska In Back On Left

Back Down To Baldy Pass

Baldy Pass Looking Back Up At Midnight Peak

We Saw Lots of Beautiful Wild Flowers Including This Wild Rose