The coordinator saw two different grizzlies on the drive to and from the trail head. One on Highway 40 and the other on the Smith Dorrien.

Grizzly on the other side of the guardrail

Our group of ten left the parking lot West of Engadine Lodge at 9:30 am and headed down the fire road. The trail along Commonwealth Creek had it's usual muddy spots.


Commonwealth Valley

After traversing the valley floor and completing the steep grunt up to Smuts Pass, we stopped for a rest break. The strong wind saw everyone don an extra layer and warm head covering.


Rest break at Smuts Pass

Smutwood Peak right of centre from Smuts Pass

The route up Smutwood Peak has become very popular as evidenced by the well beaten trail right up to the summit. From the high col the group followed the trail up the ridge, with the only easy scrambly bit being the last 25 metres below the summit.


Philip hiking up the middle section of the ridge leading to Smutwood Peak

Easy scrambly bit near the summit of Smutwood

We had lunch on the summit and enjoyed the usual superb 360 degree views afforded by the peak.


A breezy lunch on the summit of Smutwood Peak

Mount Birdwood and the Birdwood Lakes from the summit

On the way back down the group split in half, with five Ramblers taking the alternative route down the scree on the East side of the ridge. This led them to the North end of the upper Birdwood Lake. The other five retraced their steps back down to the high col.


Beginning the descent back down ridge

Mount Smuts and the Birdwood Lakes

Both groups reunited for a rest break at Smuts Pass. The flowers were in full bloom on the upper slopes below Smuts Pass. The rest of the trip back to the parking lot was uneventful, with the group arriving back at the vehicles at 5 pm.

Thanks to everyone Rosanne,Philip,Dean,Carl,Nardi,John,Simon,Ingrid,Toshiko.for their great company and for joining me Kevin (C/S) on a scenic Monday adventure in Kananaskis Country.

total distance 19 km
total elevation 850 m
total time 7.5 hrs