Moose Mountain (Elbow)

Moose Mountain

2 Oct 2015

An island of mountains in the foothills.  Far removed from the front ranges, Moose Mountain and the spiral of ridges radiating from the peak offer a grand mountain experience amidst a sea of foothills.  The front ranges, in all their glory, spread the western expanse from Burke to Black Rock and beyond.

A hot autumn day with no wind.  The calm before the storm.  70 km winds and snow followed shortly after and the golden seams of aspen in the hills have been thrashed and destroyed.

Brokeback meadows, the 1st top, the ascent ridge and the summit are all sublime.  And there’s a picnic table at the top. Popular and populated by a fire weather station at the summit, this hike is still a must do for any Kananaskis konnoisseur.

Moose Mountain.  The mountain that stands by itself.

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The Moose Mountain Massif. From a clearing along the lower trail.
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An eastern outlier looking north out over the foothills to the prairies
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Brokeback Meadows approaching the first top
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The sun warms the view south over the Elbow and Sheep drainages
Eastward over the T'su T'ina and the golden seams of aspen
Eastward over the T’su T’ina and the golden seams of aspen
The view before the ascent route to the first top via switchbacks
The view before the ascent route to the first top via switchbacks
View SE from the first top
View SE from the first top
The view north from the first top
The view north from the first top
The moon and the fire weather lookout station nearing the summit of the first top
The moon and the fire weather lookout station nearing the summit of the first top
Moose Mountain summit arises
Moose Mountain summit arises
A look at the ascent ridge to the summi
A look at the ascent ridge to the summit
The west view: Nihahi Ridge at centre
The west view: Nihahi Ridge at centre
Endless
Endless
Looking back to the first top
Looking back to the first top
The final push to the top. Traversing the S slope of the summit. Its not really this steep!
The final push to the top. Traversing the S slope of the summit. Its not really this steep!
Vistas open
Vistas open
A glimpse of the fire lookout. The route wraps around and summits behind the lookout.
A glimpse of the fire lookout. The route wraps around and summits behind the lookout.
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Ridges southward towards Prairie Mountain
Calm. Autumn sun. Before the storm
Calm. Autumn sun. Before the storm
Querencia at the summit
Querencia at the summit
The sun beams as I drive back to HWY 66 along the Moose Mountain Road
The sun beams as I drive back to HWY 66 along the Moose Mountain Road


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