September 2016

It’s a frosty morning in September and we’re back at the Gorge Creek Trailhead, full of cow crap and mud wallows.  But it wouldn’t be the Sheep without it.  Heading out to Volcano Ridge today, the south end.  We hike though the foothill meadows until we begin to climb though a green woodland blending  with the dry pines as we ascend through rocks and lichen.

Snow from the day before rests in the forests.  Wolf tracks on top.  We eat lunch with a view of Junction and Bluerock.  Mt. Ware and the Little Ware outlier wait below.  The sun sizzles in September.  A great walk down following the ridge crest along the south end of Volcano Ridge before heading back to the parking lot.

A classic autumn day in the Sheep.

Angry Bull at Gorge Creek Trailhead

Gorge Creek trail – access to Volcano Ridge Trail

A nice side ridge of gorge creek trail (looking north)

On the Volcano Ridge Trail

South Volcano Ridge in the Distance (East)

South Volcano Ridge

At the top of the hill heading east to a great viewpoint beneath the south end of volcano ridge

A view east. Calgary sits between Mesa Butte and Deaths Head

Volcano Ridge Kananaskis – Views SW

The traverse below S Volcano Ridge, heading SW

Bluerock Mountain from Volcano Ridge

Volcano Ridge (South End)

The view of volcano ridge from just below the ridge crest

The traverse below the ridge crest, heading SW

Looking up at Volcano ridge from the traverse

Traverse below volcano ridge

Traverse Below Volcano Ridge

Views SW on Volcano Ridge

Open pine forest along the ridge

Bluerock Mountain from Volcano Ridge

Looking back at the highpoint of Volcano ridge South

Dot Mountain (Missing Link) from Gorge Creek Trail

Volcano Ridge South (Route)