The valleys, waterfalls and peaks of K Country and beyond
Akamina Ridge (Via Wall Lake and Buchanan’s Pass)
June 29th 2015
Akamina Ridge in Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park in BC is a treasure. Bordering Waterton Lakes National Park to the east, I can’t believe a place this beautiful exists. It will always amaze me the way the Rockies Mountains hold secret vistas and heart humbling approaches hidden away in each nook and corner.
And the way this place feels, what a presence. Take the depths of Slocan’s eeriness, mix it with the sublime sunrise of a Spray Range summit and through in a handful of rainforest fern gullies, bizarre, beautiful plants and alien insects and you’ve arrived at Akamina Ridge. If the Rockies has a heart, I dare to say it is here.
An unplanned solo hike. It was supposed a leisurely stroll to be Wall Lake, but the fervent glee of the days descending ridge-walkers was infectious as they passed me on the shores. It made me second guess myself and I lumbered like a alpine intoxicated zombie towards the bear grass, onion and butterflied meadows of my imagination. Into the larchy rocky heights of Buchanan’s Pass and onward towards the rainbow stoned plateaus of Akamina ridge. I stopped at 2350 m, drank in the vista with binoculars, and retraced my steps back to the parking lot. A truly marvellous day.
Enjoy the journey and prepare your spirit.
If your planning to hike the full ridge, do so clockwise beginning with Forum lake and the ascent route above its eastern shores to the rockband. This rockband will be easier to ascend than descend.
– Kaptian Kananaskis
Captain Kananaskis approves – This place is awesome!A hidden chapel in the forest as my day takes me towards AkaminaThimble Berry lines the start of the trail towards Akamina pass and ridge.Indian hellebore reminds one of the tropics!Ferns and BeargrassA Pine Grossbeak drinks from a puddle on the trailJust before you cross over into BC a sublime oasis of wetlands and Dragonflies appears on your rightFinally, out of Alberta! I’m savedThe Forum Lake JunctionThe Wall Lake Junction after crossing a small stream filled with multicoloured rocksThe stream filled with the multicoloured rocksBear grass grows in the forest, in the meadows, in the high subalpine, and pretty much everywhere else! Except your garden.Queen’s CupsUnknown MothSoooo ThirsteeeThe forest opens, meadows and cliffs appearThe day becomes sublimeDandelionSteamy Subalipine MeadowsAvalanche Paths just moments before the lakeHeliotropeThe Wall Creek outflow from Wall LakeWall LakeTransparent Water. Can you find the cut-throats?Intense wind event a few years ago. BlowdownAkamina Ridge aboveAncient twisting dead Subalpine FirWall Lake PanoramaOnwards to Buchanan’s Pass and the West end of Akamina RidgeThe subalpine Bear Grass Meadows. Hundreds of them all blooming together.The meadows continueBeargrass and mountainsUnknown Flower and BeargrassIt was as tall as I amBeargrass polypsBear Grass BloomAfter the bear grass meadows live the onions. The trail turns to a steam through a wild onion patch. So surreal.Wild OnionsWild Onion PatchWild OnionCrocus dreadsAscending through the larches, the trail steepens and the trudge beginsArriving just above Buchanan’s PassThe rainbow stoned west ridge of AkamainaThe tundra rock garden begins. Love this place!Ascending Akamina Ridge(Unknown)(Unknown)Akamina RidgeLooking down towards Wall LakeThe hulking Kinnerly Peak in Glacier National Park, Montana dominates the skylineThe view west into BCBlue RockAkamina Ridge at 2350m (Panorama)Returning through the meadows and waterfalls above Wall LakeArriving back at the Akamina Pass Trailhead parking
