Little Lougheed Route Map (see link in desciption - or click here - for interactive version).

Looking up to Little Lougheed from the highway. Having this comprehensive view of the route allows you to determine if the final slope is windblown enough to deem the ascent safe.

The sun breaks through the trees as we make our way along Spencer Creek.

Moss 'n snow makes for a neat combo! :)

We soon reached a the junction in the trail (where going straight eventually leads to the ascent route up Mount Lougheed itself), and turned left, across a short bridge, and up the slopes to the north.

We soon came to a second junction, this one with a trail (High-Rockies Trail) branching off to the left, but lucky for us, we weren't the first ones up Little Lougheed this winter, and simply continued straight, up a well packed trail gaining elevation above Spencer Creek.

The trail quickly led us to the boulder field, which we circumvented on the right.

Interesting place to ski...

Once above the boulder field, the trees thin for a short section, revealing spectacular views relatively early into the trip!

Mount Nestor rises impressively, directly across Spray Lake to the west!

Mount Shark's long ridge stands out at the south end of the reservoir.

Talk about a view! Mount Nestor and Old Goat Mountain dominate the view each time you turn around!

Traversing along some ridge-like terrain above the boulder field as the summit of Little Lougheed comes into view.

Looking down the hidden valley that sports Mount Lougheed's scenic approach.

Looking back as we depart from the narrower section of the ridge. Photo credit: Dad

Great (safe!) place to watch avalanches come tumbling down Mount Sparrowhawk's sheer north face!

Wolf lichen 5.0...Here's a different one for ya :) (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0)

Sparrowhawk's summit block comes into view as we continue up to the east. Not gonna get a better view of Sparrowhawk's north face than this!

Easily continuing up the edge of Little Lougheed's southwest ridge.

Looking up to the summit block, and final scree/snow slopes leading up to it, from the treeline.

If snow-loaded, this final steep slope could pose serious avalanche concern! Lucky for us, the wind had helped us out, and it was just an easy, scree slog to the summit ridge. Remember to check the conditions from the highway, as being forced to turn around here would hurt big time!

Traversing the final short summit ridge! Mind the cornices!

Looking along the corniced connecting ridge to the mighty Mount Lougheed, looming over 600m above!

What.A.View.

Summit selfie!

Where does the scramble route even go!? Although I've already bagged the summit of Lougheed, I'd love to bag Peak 1 someday! It's mighty impressive, and stands out the most from the Lougheed massif on the Canmore side!

Close up of Lougheed's daunting cliffs! The summit sits at the end of the ridge, center.

My first attempt at photo stitching! Lougheed 1, and the summit of Mount Lougheed stand right in your face to the east and can't be captured together in one picture!

Zooming in, to Sparrowhawk's eye-catching summit block. You wouldn't think there's an easy scramble route up the backside!

Goatview Peak rises high above Goat Pond, just beyond the north end of Spray Lakes Reservoir.

Big Sister steals the show to the northwest, with Rimwall to the right, and Middle Sister barely peeking out behind that.

Looking through a gap towards Canmore, reveals Mounts Inglismaldie and Girouard (distant left), Mount Peechee, and Mount Charles Stewart beyond Bald Eagle Peak and Charles Stewart South (right)!

Rimwall...

...and Wind Tower, rise on opposite sides of said gap, and might make for a good two peak day! Wind Tower's Trans-Canada side definitely wouldn't suggest such a tame-looking scramble route!

Old Goat Mountain is quite impressive, rising to 3120m, right across Spray Lake!

Spray Lake stretches out a long ways, from north...

...to south!

Stitching attempt number two! :)

Comprehensive view of Sparrowhawk's massive, unique form, who's north cliffs have been a constant companion throughout the trip!

Me, on the summit of Little Lougheed, far below the much bigger Mount Lougheed! Photo credit: Dad

My dad, with Big Sister rising in the background!

I sometimes wonder if people in helicopters see me...

It was hard to pull myself away from the incredible summit panorama, but eventually we began making our way back down to the tree line.

Last look back to the mighty Lougheed before heading back into the trees.

We leisurely followed the trail back down, frequently stopping to soak in the views we'd been missing the past few weeks!

Beautiful lighting on the narrower section above the boulder field.

Admiring the views one last time, before descending to the densely forested slopes below.

My dad's trying to argue with me that this isn't a boulder...Thoughts?

Dramatic shadows. About only 4 hours after setting out, we found ourselves back at the gravel road...I didn't expect Little Lougheed to be that "little", but that just makes it even more worth the effort, and I'd definitely recommend it when time is short and the skies are blue! It was a breath of fresh air to get out (literally ;)) and enjoy some incredible mountain scenery again, and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip up Little Lougheed! With that being said, the sun still hadn't set, and although there wouldn't be enough time for another summit, why not put those new skis to use?!