The wild weather made for unique views on this classic Kananaskis ridgewalk as we travelled below, above, beside, and through ever-changing cloud.

The early arrivals at the trailhead were met with a large convoy of Alberta Parks and Conservation trucks preparing to start a search for two missing hikers. Fortunately, the hikers shortly emerged from the trail, unscathed but a bit cold after spending the night. They had started hiking quite late, and ran out of time to find the correct trail out. A good reminder that daylight runs out earlier each day now - it’s time to ensure that your headlamp and extra layers/food are in your pack.

We started in cloudy conditions, and by the time we topped the scrambly start of the ridge we all put on raingear, more for the cool wind than for the few drops that fell. The cloud was starting to put on quite a show, moving through the horseshoe basin and along the ridgelines. First lunch was at the sheltered saddle between the first two summits, and then we climbed to the peak and ambled around for a while looking at the dramatic views.

The main ridgewalk was awesome, and being above so much cloud almost made it seem as though we were on towering Himalayan peaks. We had second lunch just below the end of the ridge on a reasonably sheltered slope and enjoyed the first sun of the day. Then it was time to carefully make our way down the eroded and muddy slope into Gawby Gulch for the walk back to the cars.

Thanks to the participants for a memorable day: Rosanne, Philip, Nancy, Carl, Clifton, Jane, John, from coordinator Ingrid.

Ascending Tent Ridge

Tent Ridge summit

Ramblers silhouetted by cloud

Walking in the clouds

Group admiring the views

Second lunch before leaving the ridge

PeakFinder view looking north from the north end of Tent Ridge

PeakFinder looking west from the north end of Tent Ridge