McGillivray Creek, lying in the canyon between Mount McGillivray and Pigeon Mountain, in the Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, is a wild, remote and rough place, accessible only by the obscure path we followed over a low pass at the south end of Pigeon Mountain, or a technical climb up the lower canyon from the Bow valley.

Seeking to explore a new valley none of us had ever been in before, we descended the dry wash, full of huge limestone boulders on a significant gradient. It was similar to a lot of Eastern Slopes limestone valleys, but wilder and more remote than most. Lunch was in a sunny spot with limited views.

McGillivray Chockstone (NOT!)

But our goal was to reach the famous “Indiana Jones chockstone” described and photographed by guidebook author Gillean Daffern. This huge rock is wedged in the canyon, hanging above like the Sword of Democles, ready to fall on the unwary.

Here be Giants!

And of course, like the old maps used by Columbus, which warned: “Here be dragons,” we found this wilderness inhabited by mighty giants. Here one peers under the chockstone.

OK, we will level with you, we ran out of time looking for the big chockstone, and could only find this little one and another puny one the size of a marble, and the “giant” is Laszlo. Thanks to the digital wizardry of Carl we can experience what we were looking for! We walked 9 km from the parking lot, but after our endless boulder bashing, even the dry creek disappeared and we finally turned around in a flat area of dark forest with deep, soft moss.

Inspecting the remains

However, even this dreary place provided us some “Indiana Jones” excitement, as we discovered an expensive jacket full of business cards and contacts. We eagerly looked for “X marks the spot” evidence of the huge chockstone. Here Wally, Carl and June inspect the remains of the jacket, which was a bit chewed up. Perhaps the giants or goblins had attacked the wearer?

View from near Skogan Pass

Our final basking in the sun break was near Skogan Pass, with a great view of the peaks of Mount Lougheed and Mount Colembola. It was a warm, sunny day (12 degrees in the high country), with snow cover only in the wooded pass. We were all back to the cars by 5:15. Maybe we will go after the chockstone next year, leaving earlier and planning a long day with dinner in Canmore!

Participants: Laszlo, Mark, Michael, Tom, Carl, June, Sheila, Wally, Douglas, Anita, Jim, Sandy and Carl, coordinator and scribe.

PS. I located the owner of the jacket, he had apparently climbed Mount McGillivray in August with his son and had descended the creek. He didn't know where he had lost the jacket. I asked about the chockstone, but he didn't know anything about it. He did say that he was extremely tired and it was midnight by the time they got back to the car, so he wasn't sure what they had done at the end of their trip. In any case he is happy to have the jacket, business cards and addresses back. Carl

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