High Noon Hills to Sandy McNabb Hills Off-Trail hike on 4-Apr-2019

It was a beautiful warm day under blue skies in the foothills (14 degrees, compared with Calgary's 13 degree high) but signs of spring are still few and far between.

On starting our hike in the High Noon Hills, we noticed a very slight green tinge to the hillside, and on closer examination confirmed green blades of grass appearing, then a butterfly. We later saw another butterfly and a fly, but we could not find a single crocus anywhere, despite the late date. However, after the hike, one participant found a TICK in her hair, so beware of this unwelcome sign of spring!

After enjoying the view from the western hill, we dropped down to cross the frozen Long Prairie Creek, which was here a massive ice flow. The next stretch was north-facing forest, and there was still a lot of mud and icy patches. We didn't use any spikes but used abundant caution on the icy slope.

Hiking on the Long Prairie

It was all bare ground after we reached the Long Prairie pond. Reaching the summit of the easternmost Sandy McNabb hill, we met a half dozen members of the Sheep River Ramblers hiking club. After the obligatory summit group shot we followed the ridge for a while before dropping down to the base of the hill for the return hike.

Summit group on East Sandy McNabb Hill--Glenda, Doug, Bob, Linda, Ginger

Some "guns and ammo" types were letting off a lot of rounds just into the field by the cars, which we reached by 3. At the Kananaskis Country boundary we met Ramblers David, who had just completed a cycle from Turner Valley to Blue Rock and back, and Brenda, who had been hiking on the Entrance Ridges.

Participants: Linda,Robert,Douglas,Glenda, Ginger and Carl, coordinator and scribe.