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Tibitts Ridge

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Panoramic View West from first Highpoint of "Tibitts Ridge".  Princess Margaret center, Cascade Mtn / Banff distant left

May 24, 2020

Where is "Tibitts Ridge"?  If you are not Canmore local, this name likely won't not ring a bell.  As one drives by Harvey Heights just before BNP gate it is visible as jagged ridge just west of The Tit.  The name is unofficial - I coined it "Tibitts" as it rises from well known "Tibitts Quarry", part of Montane network of hiking/mountain biking trails on north side of Bow Valley.   In Kananaskis Country guidebook (vol 3, orange) Daffern briefly mentions Alcove climber access trail branching off Tibitts Quarry, but Alcove is further up the canyon and guidebook contains no info whether ridge is feasible for hikers/scramblers.

There are different ways to reach Tibitts Quarry and start of Alcove Trail.  Fastest and most direct is to drive up Silvertip road and park by the golf course, then hike up to Montane Traverse and continue west (all junctions marked, with map) -- about an hour of moderate pace.  Alternate start is from Harvey Heights and approach via Tibitts Quarry trail, but this is not recommended as parking is difficult to find and this approach is quite boring.  Most scenic and vehicle free -- if you live in Canmore -- is to cross highway from town centre then continue west via Douglas Fir Bench, transition into Johnny's Trail and finally turn left into Montane.  This variation will take ~2 hours but is very scenic and preferred option.  Stats in Abstract are given for this approach.  Beware of mountain bikers at each case.

Alcove trail starts as Montane turns into Tibitts Quarry after crossing drainage coming of canyon west of The Tit.  In spring water will be flowing but it is an easy rock-hop.  Turn right and follow faint trail rising north above the canyon. There is ~700m vertical to gain to first highpoint of "Tibitts Ridge".  Alcove is initially easy to follow but becomes more and more indistinct and finally peters out completely -- I don't know if climbing area exists or not.  At this point access for "Tibitts Ridge" is obvious though -- simply charge straight up. Forest is open and there is no bushwhacking, but grade is steep.  Mix of talus and forest undergrowth it even calls for occasional use of hands.  It is probably easiest to stay as far climber right as possible.  After about 1.5 hours grade somewhat relents and summit block comes into view.  This part must be dry; with snow or ice it can be dangerous.  Cliff scramble is not particularly difficult, but requires good micro-terrain route finding skills.  Rock is firm with decent holds.  Brief description of easiest line:  From the base don't charge straight up;  walk briefly left to west side, then turn right and scramble small cleft to narrow ledge that can be followed to the east side.  Transition into middle part and scramble couple of class 3 steps roughly in center.  Final bit is best scrambled on climber right side.  After topping up walk for a minute on grass to sizeable cairn, testimony that "Tibitts Ridge" sees some traffic after all.

Views are fantastic.   Princess Margaret directly west looks stunning,  The Tit on east is equally scenic and one can readily study normal Kane scramble route.  Panoramic view of Bow valley spreading from Canmore all the way to Banff is south, while on the north ridgeline extending from The Tit over Buffalo Point to Charles Stewart is the main prize.  Could one access Charles Stewart via "Tibitts Ridge"?  It was hard to tell;  ridge extends for at least a kilometer over several bumps then transitions into shale - this part might be a scramble only but I did not have time to investigate.  However there is fairly well defined line of cliffs below Charles Stewart and this is probably a show stopper for non-technical oriented folks. 

Return the same way.  If you decide to continue along the ridge to obvious highpoint, do not try to descend directly to the canyon as it narrows lower down and becomes impassable.

Gallery

Crossing drainage as Montane Trail turns into Tibbits Quarry;  "Tibitts Ridge" upper Center.  Alcove Trail starts on the left side of canyon