November 4, 2024 - Jumpingpound Mountain, Kananaskis

With limited time before the winter gates start closing, and with not too many chores to do at home, I thought today would be a good day to get out for a hike. Lucky for me our good hiking buddy, Audrey, was willing and able to join me. Surprisingly some of the local tops have not too much snow on them so I suggested Moose or Jumpingpound. Having not done Jumpingpound before, Audrey chose Jumpingpound. She arrived at the house around 8:00 a.m. and we were on our way.

I knew it was going to be a great outing when we spotted a moose in a meadow on the way to the trailhead.  We stopped to watch him for a bit and then continued on.

Moose In The Meadow

As I always hope for, we were the first to arrive and wasted little time getting on the trail!  It was a crisp morning, so mitts and toques were in order.  Though we were sheltered from the wind by the trees, we were anticipating a blustery summit, and we were not wrong.  Despite that, we really enjoyed the clear views - from prairies, to foothills, to rocky mountains.  Amanda and I have discussed it several times, and agree this hike is definitely one of the best bang-for-your-buck hikes in Kananaskis.  The views you get for the effort you have to put out are unrivalled.  It is a favourite of ours to bring out-of-town visitors and rookie hikers.

Audrey Taking A Picture Of JM

JM Taking A Picture Of Audrey 😆

Moose Mountain In The Distance

Summit Selfie

Starting to feel a little wind-blown, we agreed to start the descent.  Back in the trees things calmed down and we enjoyed the rest of our hike back to the car.  On the drive home we stopped at the memorial for the military trainees who crashed nearby in 1941.  The inscription reads as follows:

IN MEMORIAM
WORLD WAR II
AIRCREW

ON AUGUST 14, 1941 AN AVRO ANSON TRAINING
AIRCRAFT FROM No. 3 SERVICE FLYING
TRAINING SCHOOL CALGARY CRASHED ON
MOUNT McDOUGALL, ABOUT 10 KM WESS OF
THIS SITE. THE LIVES OF FLYING OFFICER
I.M. SUTHERLAND-BROWN AND LEADING
AIRCRAFTSMAN F.W. GREENFIELD WERE LOST.
LEADING AIRCRAFTSMAN A.M.R. McGRUTHER
WAS INJURED BUT SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT.

MANY LIVES WERE LOST DURING THE PERIOD
OF THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AIR TRAINING
PLAN 1939 TO 1945 AS AIRCREW WERE BEING
TRAINED IN CANADA FOR OVERSEAS SERVICE.
TO THEIR FOND MEMORY THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED.

THE DEDICATION CEREMONY WAS HELD NOVEMBER 10, 1989
THIS PLAQUE WAS UNVEILED BY
SQUADRON LEADER A.M.R. (SANDY) McGRUTHER

BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AIR TRAINING PLAN PARTICIPANTS
ROYAL AIR FORCE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE
CIVILIAN INSTRUCTORS

KANANASKIS
COUNTRY

It was very nice to see the poppies and wreath that had recently been placed on the monument.

I was very glad to get out for this beautiful hike today.  We noticed a road sign on the way in indicating that the winter gate would be closed on November 11, so we got one last hike in for this area just in the nick of time!