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Rocky Mountain Ramblers Association

Trip Report
Trip Date:
30-Jun-2021
Activity:
Off-Trail hike
Trip name:
Allsmoke Mtn Loop
Coordinator:
Brian
Report:

A small group of us met at the turnoff to Ware Creek Road and convoyed together on reasonably good gravel road to the trailhead. Anticipating a hot day, we all agreed to an early 7 am start.

We walked west through open meadow into a boggy forested area where happy cows were hanging out in the shade. But instead of following the regular trail where it turns north to head up to the east ridge of Allsmoke Mountain, we stayed low paralleling the creek. We avoided creek crossings by going up above a couple of steep sections on the right-hand bank.




Fungus tree stump

Intermittent sections of trail guided us as the creek gradually turned SW. A highlight of this section was surprising a mother grouse who feigned a broken wing and made plenty of noise to distract us from her baby chicks. We were soon at an obvious drainage coming down from the west, signaling it was time to start our ascent. Fortunately, there was a good trail by the small stream with enough vegetation to partially shade us from the sun. We crossed to the south bank of the side stream to gain an east ridge of Volcano ridge and followed it up on mostly easy-angled terrain. It got steeper near the first top where views started opening up.




Emerging from the trees

Once on Volcano ridge proper, the trail disappeared and some light bushwhacking began as we now headed north. A high point along the way offered really good views.




Picking out familiar peaks




Simon on Volcano Ridge with first glimpse of Allsmoke Mountain

Then it was back into the bush for the final ascent. From the treed summit, we enjoyed 180° views.




Sim and Simon on the summit

After an early lunch, we started down to the east. The trail is hard to follow near the top, but as soon as open meadows appeared on the south side of the ridge, we followed game trails with lovely foothills views.




Descent on game trails

A really good trail picks up again back on the ridge crest and all the way back. Our 17.5 km, 700 m elevation trip took 6 ½ hours. We were back at the cars before 2 pm.




Allsmoke Mountain Loop




Elevation plot - Allsmoke

Thanks to participants willing to endure the heat,Sim and Simon, this was a very enjoyable clockwise loop.

Brian, Coordinator.