The mountain heights looked quite snowy as we approached the trailhead but our group was not daunted by this approach of winter. The lower trails were bare, although a little frozen in spots. As we gained altitude we started to run into the first snow but we were rewarded with beautiful views of the peaks to the west:


Looking over Forgetmenot Pond and the Little Elbow River

Further up the snow was deeper, in some places up to 20 cm:


A snowy traverse on Forgetmenot Ridge

It was cold in the wind but quite warm in the sun when one could find shelter. This was the case at the ridge summit where we lazed about for a leisurely lunch in the lee of a line of trees. The air was very clear with the office towers in Calgary plainly visible. We assembled for a group photo:


Forgetmenot Ridge summit

Then it was back through the snow along the ridge where we decided to also bag the north outlier while we were in the vicinity. Someone had just raised the national and provincial flags at the substantial cairn on the outlier:


North outlier, Forgetmenot Ridge. Standing: Mario, Christine, Peter, Kathy, Nancy, Carole & Patrick. kneeling: Laszlo & Barbara

Then it was back down to the trail. We had feared that the steep ascent trail might be quite slippery with the snow melting and the frost coming out of the ground, but it turned out not bad with only a few greasy spots to take a little slide.

A number of the group stopped in Bragg Creek for coffee (and some snacks) to finish a fine fall day in the mountains. Participants: Mario, Christine, Peter, Kathy, Nancy, Carole, Patrick, Laszlo, Barbara & Ron C/S/P.