Date: November 22, 2021
Location/Route Map: Banff
Elevation: 2273 m
Elevation Gain: 875 m
Distance: 5.7 km
Rating: Class 2
Avalanche Terrain Rating: Simple
Notes: An low-hazard winter ascent with TONS of deadfall!
GPS Track: Download
After throwing a ton of money at getting set up for ski touring, we wanted to get back to the mountains, but didn't want to wreck our skis in marginal conditions! We thought about how we could keep hiking in the shoulder season, and snowshoes were quickly added to our long list of gear we wanted to obtain! After too much time researching, trying to figure out what snowshoes would be ideal for our intentions (so many options with traction, bindings, material, heal raisers, weight, size...the list goes on and on, and the better features you want, the more they cost!), we finally picked some up at MEC, and not a moment too soon! The next week they were completely sold out of snowshoes in store! (Thanks for pushing for us to get them ASAP dad!) Eager to try out our new toys, we were off to Banff to tackle Muleshoe Ridge, and find out what these snowshoe things can do!
Muleshoe Ridge Route Map (see link in desciption - or click here - for interactive version).
The Finger sharply stands out from the Bow Valley Parkway, where we started our ascent. Muleshoe Ridge is the treed ridge far-right.
Starting up on fresh snow, through the thin forest.
The approximate route we would take up Muleshoe Ridge. The snow wasn't very deep to start, and the trail was obvious, but that would change higher on the ridge...
The views started to open up as we gained elevation! Little Bourgeau, Black Brett and an unnamed peak (left to right)!
The slope steepens as we work our way up to the ridge! Good thing we got snowshoes with televators! Photo credit: Dad
Almost up to the ridge!
Beautiful view of Pilot Mountain, with Massive Mountain (not very massive!), below in front!
Starting up along the ridge.
Mount Bourgeau comes into view, rising behind Little Bourgeau!
The sun was beating down on the ridge, and we soon had to trade out our snowshoes for microspikes in some slightly "marginal" conditions!
Higher up, the amount of snow increased significantly! My dad opted to switch back to snowshoes, while I was a dummy, and thought I could manage with microspikes...
There was only about a kilometer to go, but it was definitely not your average 1 km...
Lots of this...
And this...
Through deep snow like this!
I thought I would benefit in terms of manoeuvrability through all the deadfall by not wearing snowshoes...but it turns out that floatation plays a much greater role in being a happy hiker...
Even if he fell a few times!
We wanted to stick to the ridge crest, but were always redirected to climbers right, as deadfall in the middle might as well have been a brick wall!
The sufferfest continues as the wet, heavy snow sticks to my microspikes, weighing my feet down, and negating any traction the spikes are meant to provide! Why didn't I switch you ask? Because I'm a dummy! I tried convincing myself that the suffering was worth it, because I was testing out my gaiters...but it definitely wasn't! Fun fact: My feet didn't get wet! So I guess that's cool... Photo credit: Dad
Yay! A new view to offer some motivation! Castle Mountain stands tall through a gap in the trees!
We were met with a couple of interesting, steeper sections (like this)...The snow often made the slopes look fairly mellow, but when you tried to climb it, all the snow would slide away and it was really just rock slabs!
Looking back at my tracks as I switch-back up the slope.
Mount Assiniboine rises distant, with Nasswald Peak to the left!
Mount Howard Douglas (center), with Eagle Mountain to the right (the mountain Goat's Eye chair goes up at Sunshine)!
Little tree and icicles :)
We skirted around this rock outcropping on climber’s left.
The final few steps to the summit!
Summit Selfie on top of Muleshoe Ridge! The summit was fairly densely treed, so we continued down the ridge slightly to the north, to try and find an opening.
Beautiful view of Castle Mountain, Stuart Knob, Protection Mountain (referred to as TV Peak in Kane's Scrambles), Helena Ridge, with Helena Ridge East Peak below, and finally Pulsatilla Mountain!
A much closer view of The Finger which we saw from the highway this morning!
Mount Temple rises center, with the Lake Louise group to the right, and Panorama Ridge below to the left!
Copper Mountain rises in the foreground, (center-left), with the summit of Storm Mountain seen over the ridge to the left! Chimney Peak is just off center, and Mount Bell rises to the right, with some of the Ten Peaks towering in the distance!
Looking up towards Mount Cory!
Starting down...I learned my lesson, and this time I was not a dummy! I put on my snowshoes!
Black Brett (left) and Mount Brett (right), with an unnamed peak below!
Sunset! Days are pretty short at this time of year!
Mount Cory giving off some eerie vibes!
Following the trail we made back down...We would often question why in the world we went where we did on the way up, but when we looked around, there really weren't any better options!
Over, under, over, under...
Mount Cory in the final minutes of sunset glow!
Extreme snowshoeing! We wanted to try and make it all the way down in snowshoes, but were eventually forced to put them away on the prolonged section of rocky terrain.
Headlamp time!
Woah it's pretty dark for 5:30pm!! Not used to this winter hiking thing!
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