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Rockies :: Canmore and Bow Valley ::

Anklebiter Ridge

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Panoramic View south from Anklebiter Summit.  Ascent ridge far right;  Horseshoe Descent via Bluemat Hill center left;  Exshaw ridge further behind.  Frozen Lac De Arcs with backdrop of Heart Mountain and Mt. McGillivray behind

March 29, 2019

Anklebiter is great early season scramble. Sunny SE facing slopes lose snow early and offer good workout on dry rock.  The name is unofficial;  it is just a highpoint of long ridge extending further north and connecting to Gap Mountain above Grotto Canyon.  Grade is steep right from the start with fairly sustained - but easy - scrambling.  Upon topping on lower high-point (~700m elev. gain) flat and shady saddle can still be snowbound, but this part is short.  Loop Horseshoe return via Bluemat Hill is possible, but wait till snow has completely melted as steep slopes must be negotiated directly below Anklebiter summit;  in winter conditions, this part is mountaineering.   Climbers sometimes ascend Gap Mountain via Anklebiter but this ridge is technical and requires roping.

Parking is at Grotto Pond day-use, on Hwy 1A few km west of Exshaw.  Anklebiter Ridge is directly above, but you can see only the lower part. It appears steep - and it is steep! Follow official Grotto Canyon Trail for few minutes, then diverge right upon reaching first drainage.  If you miss this turnoff you can head up anywhere really through thinning forest -- or continue to Grotto Canyon, then ascend from there.  Good trail rises through the forest and soon exits to treeline.  First rock step is nearby;  low class 3 and great fun tackled head on.  Grade then eases, but soon resumes.  Keep right scrambling on clean rock; talus slopes to the left are better used for descent.  Several rises and flat portions alternate till you reach lower high-point;  about 1hr 45min from parking.  Ridge dips here, and if often snowbound in early season even if remainder is bone dry;  gaiters can be helpful.  Summit is visible across and despite appearance it is just a walk-up.  Easily scrabble to wide summit plateau complete with wooden post and register.  Great viewpoint offers opportunity to study several other trips on North Side of Bow Valley, including Exshaw Ridge, Gap Mountain and Mt. Fable. 

Return the same way, keeping in mind descent will not be much faster.  Alternatively, if snow has melted, drop east then angle left (north) to bypass steep cliffs.  Return back to the ridge and follow bits of trail to Bluemat Hill;  nice log cabin once stood here, but it was taken down in 2015.  From Bluemat pick-up bits of trail dropping talus slopes below treeline to powerline and ultimately Hwy 1-A, about 1km east from Grotto Parking.

Gallery

View back after ascending first steep part. Frozen Grotto pond (parking) directly below

Summit cairn and register;  was completely soaked inside on my March 2019 trip

Summit pano showing L-R:  Gap Peak, Mt. Fable and  north part of Exshaw Ridge

Closer look at Mt. Fable and upper snowy slopes via normal (Kane) route.  Sizeable cornice on "Gable" ridge to the left

Length of Exshaw Ridge (foreground);  one can appreciate how long this beast really is

Sunset colors over Hamlet of Exshaw on descent.  Grotto Pond below, Lac De Arcs across Bow River