This long weekend trip did not have an auspicious beginning on Friday evening. First we learned one wayward soul was waiting in Black Diamond whom we reunited with quickly but much worse our original intended camping spot was full plus backup locations 1 & 2.(We had originally intended to stay at Beaver Mines Lake - not possible to reserve a site, followed by Castle River Bridge - not possible to reserve a site and then Beauvais Lake walkin sites). Fortunately, Gingerwho happened to be on the trip and has a residence in Blairmore offered her place for the evening until such time as we decided where we wanted to go. So, at about 11:15pm we left Beauvais Lake for Blairmore and bedded down for the night about 12:30am. Some of us were awakened during the night by hard rain and the following morning it was still raining with very low cloud. So the Rambler thing to do(at least non-hard core types), was to go for breakfast and see what transpires. When breakfast ended around 11:00am it was still raining heavily so a museum tour seemed like the most logical activity. The Frank Slide Interpretive Centre was chosen and we were not disappointed with two excellent movies as well as numerous informative exhibits. During the course of the museum tour, it started to clear, so it was hoped that there might be a hiking activity for the afternoon. We rushed back to Ginger's for lunch and reconnoitered our situation. Since Ginger had offered and everyone was getting into this house camping scenario (in the house not in the yard)we decided to accept her offer and make her place our operations centre. It was getting late and the original hikes planned for this day were out of the question, so the "Miner's Path"


Piggy Bank Trail

which goes up a creek valley from Coleman and ascends onto a ridge and goes for about 3-4km up this valley seemed to be the best choice for a trip.


Waterfalls-Miners'Trail

Alas, a bridge which we needed to cross the creek was washed out so the hike changed to partway up "Sasky" as the locals call it or Saskatoon Mountain as you would find it on the topo map. There are numerous trails on this mini-mountain and we were able to find our way up to the outcrop without too much difficulty. Since everyone was keen to stay out in the improving weather and wonderful views, we continued on for another 2-3km and summitted this 5900' behemoth.


Top of Saskatoon

Our return was quick as a shortcut trail was found and we returned to the cars around 7:30pm. We then proceeded to party central.

Camping in Blairmore

Sunday donned clear and sunny. Everyone was up and raring to go. Table Mountain would be the destination for the first part of the day. There is a great trail that begins at Beaver Mines Lake Campground and takes you up into a cirque below the summit ridge. The trail is less well defined from the cirque to the ridge but is much better than trying to directly crawl up loose scree to the ridge. The ridge was topped out with expansive views toward the prairies and looking down into Beaver Mines Lake. The face along Table Mtn. facing towards the prairies is near vertical for a fair distance down and quite spectacular. We wandered along the ridge to a sheltered grove of low trees and had lunch.


Lunch on Tabletop

After lunch it was a short hop to the summit where views were admired and the obligatory summit photos taken. On the way down a more direct route was used running some very fine scree down into the cirque. We descended the trail back to the parking lot encountering numerous people coming up the trail(it was about 3:00pm). Back at the parking lot was Lisa having returned from her trail run around Moose Mtn. the previous day patiently waiting to join us for our second hike that day.

Due to the late hour in the afternoon it was decided to do a shorter hike and the Beauvais Lake trails best fit this format. Besides, the weather seemed to be deteriorating over the continental divide and possibly moving towards us. After a stop at the Beaver Mines General Store for ice cream and gas, we arrived at Beauvais Lake about 4:30 pm. The Piney Point Trail was selected for most while a couple would bird watch by the lake. The lookout was reached quickly and fine views of Beauvais Lake and hazy views of the prairies to the north were observed. From here it was off to look at the Lower Smith Homestead, an historical site, and then back to the cars. The "birders" were not yet there so a number of us wandered down the west side of the lake to look for them before returning while others watched a Canada Goose family. Still no "birders" so two of us headed the other way and quickly found them returning to meet the group. Our last stroll of the day for the final cooldown was the Scott Point hike, all 1.2km of it to a historic summer cabin built in 1924 and the grave site of its caretaker. It was back to party central again for a late happy hour.

Everyone seemed to get up late Monday morning and when we finally arose the reason became obvious. It was raining again and the clouds were even lower on the mountains than Saturday. After the weather forecast for the day was reviewed(periods of rain all day) the planned hike to Prairie Bluff was out of the question. So a leisurely breakfast was had by all plus a cleanup of Ginger's place. About 10:00am we assembled to do the hike originally planned to do Saturday afternoon, except that we would use a bridge lower in the valley to access the ridge. This worked very well and we passed old mine workings near the start. Further up the valley the trail again moves down close to the creek and here we encountered numerous inookshooks in the creek, on the land and of all sizes and shapes. There were also a number of other forms built from tree limbs in the creek and across the creek. Truly different! Ginger advised us that a group from Lethbridge had spent a summer doing all this. We returned by an old mine road and connected with the trail lower down. Lunch was convened at the picnic shelter at the trail head followed by coffee and dessert at the Cinnamon Bear Bakery. As it was still raining most of headed back to Calgary somewhere around 1:30pm.

A highly social trip with hiking when the weather allowed into an area that the Ramblers almost never frequent was enjoyed by Ginger"our hostess with the mostest" and local area guide, Susan,Nancy, Christine, Carmie, Lisa, Janet, David, Arnold, and BobC/S. A special word of thanks to Ginger who opened her house and was such a gracious hostess for the weekend. Knowing the area around Blairmore and Coleman so much better than the rest of us, she provided helpful suggestions for potential shorter hikes on the rainy days. It made my coordinator role so much easier. Thanks again Ginger! Now that all of you participants know the Castle Management Area better, don't forget to promote trips into this area in the future, just not on long weekends!

Those of you with photos please add!

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