Emma's Peak 137560 Off-Trail hike on 29-Jul-2023

When we all arrived shortly before 9.00am, I was disappointed to see cloud only a couple of hundred metres above us. This was not promising for a trip whose major attraction was views from or near the summit. However, being Ramblers and because John had his umbrella (and therefore it would not rain) we set out along the canal path soon after 9.00am. We followed Bill's GPX track from 2015.

After about 1 km we swung right up an old road heading NE for the summit.This "road" soon gave way to steep but moderate bush as we hiked upwards. With breaks we emerged above treeline to a sunny sky about 11.00am. Then it was a matter of putting one foot in front of the other to reach the summit by 11.45am for lunch. With sunshine, few clouds and little wind, the views were good and the company better. We could see a couple on Ship's Prow and Mt Lawrence Grassi was in the other direction. At treeline we also disturbed a flock of sheep including some lambs only a month or two old.

Ship's Prow from Emma's Peak, Kananaskis, Smith_Dorrien road

Ramblers finish lunch on the summit of Emma's Peak in Kananaskis off the Smith Dorrien road

We started back down at 12.20pm reaching the cars at 2.30pm. The car ride back to Calgary was uneventful, but we noticed Goat Creek parking lot was near capacity and Grassy Lakes parking overflowing. Thanks to participants: Sim,Terry,Carl,Sonja,Jane,Pam,John from C,S & P David. Stats 8.4km, 1000m vertical in 5:30 hrs.