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Rockies :: Kananaskis :: Fortress Ridge

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Start of the Ridge just below Baldy peak looking at top of Farside Chair and Fortress Mountain

May 15, 2016

An awesome bike and hike trip that is likely to provide solitude on sunny weekend when other popular destinations along Hwy40 are extremely busy.  This trip is also described in Kananaskis Trail Guide, Vol 1 4th edition (blue).  Views are outstanding.  Fortress Mountain steals the show, but there are other scenic points as well including half a dozen of nearby Kane scrambles.   Traversing entire ridge to its north end above Galatea creek involves several ups and downs. There is not much in terms of technical difficulty, but it is not simple hiking either.  Beyond 2nd bump ridge drops steeply down blocky steps where care and good stability is required, so if you don't feel like going all the way this is an excellent turnaround point.  If going further be ware that in early spring trips snow often lingers on steep slopes below 2nd bump requiring careful navigation and possible step kicking.  Second crux is narrow part on low point between 3rd and 4th bump -- one tricky bit can be bypassed to the right (east), but is also great fun if downclimbed directly.  Beware of bears;  this entire area is hot spot.

First task is to get to Fortress ski area, where the hike starts. One used to be able to drive up, but since the closure road is gated thus posing significant logistic problems.  Day trip entirely on foot is feasible, but if there was ever a case to be made for cycling the approach this is it!  Road is about 8km long and you gain 500 vertical. Grade is low angle, but constant and will tire most casual cyclists.  Real payback is on the way back -- 20 minutes of coasting for what likely took over an hour going up! 

Drive Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40) to Fortress Service station, then turn right and descend to bridge over Kananaskis River. The gate is here.  Park and cycle the access road to ski resort.  Final couple of kilometers are the steepest and if feeling tired you might have to push.  Leave the bike and start up ski run directly to the left (west) heading to grassy Canadian ridge.  From there rest of the journey is visible;  Fortress ridge is long spine extending right from top of Farside chair across the intervening valley.  There is over 100m vertical loss to descend to this valley, but scenic reward is pretty tarn/reservoir at head of Aussie creek.  Continue up ski runs -- bits of trail -- and reach top of Farside chair, about 1 hour since you left the bike.  This is an awesome place and well worth exploring a bit.  Walk downhill towards Fortress mountain for very nice view of Fortress Lake; it will feel even more special if you enjoyed bird-eye view from top of Fortress Mtn (Kane scramble).  Gusty Peak and Mt. Galatea appear formidable as well.  After a break, start up the ridge.  First bump (called "Baldy") is also the highest, so peakbaggers need not go any further. However it would be a shame not to continue at least to 2nd bump -- it is close, and travel is hands-in-your-pockets type with amazing 360 views.

Past the 2nd bump hike becomes more technical and borders scrambling at couple of spots.  This part of the ridge is also dotted with larches, thus making it an awesome fall hike! Finally reach 4th bump -- about 1 1/2 hours from top of Farside chair. Although not the highest, it has summit cairn. Views across to Mt. Kidd are formidable, while to the east long ridge unofficially called "Spoon Needle" appears far less dramatic than when seen from Hwy40.  On return it is not necessary to backtrack all the way to Farside chair;  circle on left (east) side of Baldy and descend adjacent ski run, then hike back to ski resort on roads.  This is less scenic than the way in, but at this point you probably won't care.  Final bit is the exhilarating ride down, but be on alert for bears coming down that speed.

Before setting on a trip, check latest conditions and/or security updates in Fortress Service station.  It also appears possible to gain the ridge slogging up avalanche slopes from the valley between Fortress ridge and Spoon needle, but this would be very poor choice and entirely unnecessary.  Bike option is much preferred and recommended.

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