One of the reasons I feel so lucky to live where we do is when little segments of free time open up and allow us to get out into the mountains on short notice. Where we used to live these opportunities would require an extra couple of hours for travel time to and from the trailhead, and as a result did not occur as frequently as they do now. With everybody busy working and nothing going on at the house the other day I was able to head out to Mustang Hills for a quick hike.
The Mustang Hills (also known as the Rainy Creek Hills) are a group of three hills between Highway 66 and the Elbow River, just east of Rainy Summit. I had not done them before but have observed them many times from Powderface Ridge, Forgetmenot Ridge, and Nihahi Ridge. I did them in counter-clockwise fashion, although after coming home and checking Gillian Daffern's book, realized that she recommends doing them clockwise.
I had mixed feelings about the hike, and was reminded of a couple important things along the way. I think it is safe to say that based on the dozens of cob web strands I had to wipe off of my face that this trail is not heavily used. The first couple of kilometers is spent paralleling the river. I spotted a couple of fly-fishers from the riverbank looking excited about the hole they were currently working, but didn't stick around long enough to see them reel anything in.
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| Fishermen Testing Their Luck |
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| Elbow River With Forgetmenot Ridge In The Background |
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| Saggy Butt Burl Picture I Took For Our Hiking Pal Lexi |
Shortly after that I started climbing to the first hill top. During this first section of the hike I was convinced it was not likely one I would be doing again in the near future. At that point it had been mostly cob webs and no notable views. My mind was changed once I got up out of the trees to the first summit. The views were outstanding, and the meadows made the next part of the hike very enjoyable. I am very glad I did not let the first bit deter me from sticking it out. In a better mood, I let Mother Nature do her work lifting my spirits, clearing my mind, and refreshing my soul.
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| Wildflower |
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| First Hilltop Cairn |
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| Obligatory Selfie Shot |
The second thing I was reminded of while doing this hike was that I was grateful for the Canada app I use for route-finding. It saved me some considerable frustration by helping get me back on track when the route was lost several times. This hike would be a little tricky without proper maps or a route-finding app. For anybody who is interested search "Canada topo" in the App Store. The icon looks like this:
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| Canada App Icon |
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| Screen Shot Of Mustang Hills Trails |
I have found the app to be excellent for several reasons: it is free, no service is required to use it(make sure you have the correct maps downloaded before heading out), and it is very accurate. It has a handy distance tool on it, and current location arrow so you can always see where you are in relation to the actual trail. Of course research, maps, compass, and preparation are always the best option, but this tool makes things very easy to stay on track!
On the final descent of the day I was remarking how quiet a hike it had been. I decided to use the opportunity to practice getting my bear spray out as quickly and efficiently as possible. You can never be too prepared!
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| Descent View - Mount Glasgow, Mount Cornwall, Banded Peak, Outlaw |
This was not the most spectacular or interesting hike I have ever done, but it definitely did the trick. It is a pleasant, easy, quiet hike, suitable for a time-limited outing.
