Ribbon Falls from Ribbon Creek Trail skiing on 1-Mar-2021

Our's were the only vehicles in the Ribbon Creek parking lot when we set out towards Ribbon Falls on light touring ski gear (free heel) at 9.00am. It was +4c. When we returned 7 1/2 hours later at 4.30pm, our cars were again the only ones parked. Then it was +1c and snowing quite heavily.

We each used half-length skins for most of the trip. We started up the "snowshoe" trail which was later joined by the track set ski trail which led us to the end of the maintained trail. Ignoring "rock head", we continued along a decidedly rougher and narrower snowshoe trail which eventually took us all the way to Ribbon Creek campground and nearby falls. Several good new bridges were crossed as we gained about 400m on an undulating and sometimes narrow trail in woods to the campground for lunch.

Jim and Clifton at the end of the maintained trail up Ribbon Creek

Typical unmaintained trail in the upper reaches of Ribbon Creek

After lunch, we visited the nearby Ribbon Falls which was adjacent to a mass of avalanche debris.

Ribbon Falls (I think) in winter

Although we traversed for about 50m at the base of an earlier possible avalanche slope, this one by the falls was the only one that had slid. In future, I would be comfortable on this winter trip without avalanche gear. The trail just crosses a run out zone (similar to Healy Pass Trail). We started back from the campground about 1.30pm still all on half-length skins (to slow us down on the packed, almost icy, narrow trail). There were also several ups on the generally down ward return trail.

Clifton near the campground at Ribbon Falls in Kananaskis

With breaks, we reached the cars at 4.30pm. It had been snowing since about 4.00pm (very wet snow at this time). Would I ski this trip again? Maybe, but with better snow conditions. Most of the trail is designated multi-use eg snowshoe, ski, hike, fat-bike. The base was very hard packed, which made it very slick and fast on return. It was also bumpy from the many hikers and snowshoers and too narrow to snowplough (for the most part). It looked like we were the only skiers. So pick a day when there is new snow and few hikers etc have been there. Then it would be good on skis, but today it wasn't so great. More info on: https://www.alltrails.com

Still a worthwhile exploratory trip in the good company of Jim,Clifton.

Stats: About 20km, 400m in 7:30 hrs.

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