Tent Ridge North Route Map (see link in desciption - or click here - for interactive version).

Starting out along the side of the road, across from the pull-off where we parked. Note the fresh tire tracks!! Photo credit: Dad

First light on Nestor and Old Goat.

Skinning up the wide logging road, branching off from the "car road". We would follow this for about 600m, as it lost elevation towards the northeast. (I could already anticipate the pain this would cause in reverse on our ski down...)

We soon reached a junction, where we would follow a slightly narrower (but still wide) logging road, leading up to the left. Photo credit: Dad

We followed this new road for a short while as it gently gained elevation, but it soon ended, and we found ourselves weaving our way through dense forest. A narrow trail does still exist here, you just gotta find it! As long as you continue in a southwestern direction you should reach the ascent slopes eventually.

A small tree stump, illuminated by the beautiful morning light. After spending some time ascending the narrow, forested trail, the terrain changed once more, as the trail cut to the left and dropped into a small drainage continuing up to the southwest. This drainage is then easily followed to the base of the ascent slopes. (Sorry, but somehow this stump pic is all I've got...lol)

As we emerged from the drainage, Tent Ridge's North Summit stared us right in the face, rising dramatically above! Here, we would ascend on climber's right of the sparsely treed slopes (center), followed by traversing left at the obvious plateau. We would then ascend along the edge of the trees, up to the left-hand summit ridge. Although the right-hand ridge may look gentler, we took Nugara's advice to avoid it, and were thankful we did! A significant cornice overhangs that ridge on this side!

Ascending the lower, lightly treed slope, as we make our way up to the plateau. That sun is already feeling hot...

Reaching the plateau took much less time than I expected, and we were soon looking back to incredible views down Spray Lake, with unique, low clouds scattered across the valley!

Looking down to our approach skin track, now far below.

Angling left, as we ascend to the upper bowl. It's not often that you want the clouds to block out the sun, but in this case we were relieved when some shade fell over the ascent bowl. Sun beating down on a big, open, snow slope is not exactly what you want in spring!

Close up of Old Goat and Nestor, with some incredible cloud!

Clouds!

Clouds!

Mount Galatea rises impressively to the east.

Making our way up the upper bowl. We stuck to the left-hand side of the bowl, near the edge of the trees, to hopefully minimize the risk of being caught in an avalanche from above (there are some big cornices!). This slope was still quite steep however, and many switch-backs were necessary.

Approaching the summit ridge! Note the cornices (size not given justice) highlighted in the sun above. Photo credit: Dad

A greatly foreshortened view towards the summit as we gain the ridge. We initially tried skinning up the ridge, but it became very steep very quick! When the soft snow turned into a hard crust, we knew it wasn't safe to continue on skis, and consequently ditched them at the small grove of trees ahead.

Starting up the (initially) deep snow, after leaving our skis behind. Really makes you appreciate the floatation of skis!

Cone Mountain rises over the far ridge, looking across the upper bowl!

Looking back. The deep, crusty snow became significantly harder as we climbed (not a good thing!) and we had to hammer the toes of our boots into the icy ground! Having crampons would feel much more secure here!

Luckily the concrete snow didn't last for too long, but the fun was just beginning... (note the steepness of the terrain!)

My dad starts up the first of two rock steps guarding the summit. The snow here was quite shallow, and just the thin layer covering the rocks made them quite slick...especially awkward in ski boots!

If this isn't motivation to keep climbing, I don't know what is! An incredible view opens up to the south, including Commonwealth Peak (left), with The Fist and Mount Birdwood rising above Tent Ridge's official summit (right)!

My dad nears the top of the second (and more tricky) rock step. Here we had to traverse right, around some near-vertical outcroppings. What you don't see, is that a slip on this traverse could cause one to slide down to the steep bowl below! Causing an avalanche there would not end well...

Once above the rock steps you can breathe a sigh of relief because the summit is just a few steps away!!

Upon topping out on the summit, we were met with this incredible view of Mount Shark's entire snowy, east face! You won't get a better view of Shark than this!

Summit selfie!

Close up of Shark's summit cliffs.

An unnamed outlier, halfway down Shark's connecting ridge to Mount Smuts.

Unique view of the hidden valley below Mount Smuts' vertical north face!

So many big, famous mountains to the south!

Looking over Tent Ridge's Southeast Summit, down the highway to the south. The small bump, distant center, is Gypsum Ridge, with Mount Kent's more impressive, lengthy ridge filling the left side of the frame.

Spray Lake stretches out to the north, with Old Goat and Nestor rising on the left, and Lougheed's first two peaks rising distant right!

Mount Engadine, The Tower, and Mount Galatea rise impressively to the left of the Spray Lake group.

Jaw dropping view of Mount Birdwood towering waaay above Tent Ridge's official summit!

Commonwealth Peak (left) and The Fist (right) sit in the foreground, with a multitude of giants rising beyond, including Smith-Dorrien, Prairie Lookout, French, Robertson, and finally the massive Mount Sir Douglas, rising to 3406m directly behind The Fist!!

Mount Chester disappears into the low cloud, with Mount Chesmill, and Kent Ridge North to the right.

Hands down the most incredible winter scenery I've experienced to date!

Me, on Tent Ridge's North summit, with Birdwood and Smuts towering directly behind! Photo credit: Dad

My Dad, with Old Goat, Nestor, and the lengthy Spray Lake!

Looking west, towards Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, where the Matterhorn of the Rockies itself, Mount Assiniboine, would rise if not obstructed by that one low patch of clouds :(. Mount Turner is partly visible, center.

Cone Mountain (left) and Mount Turbulent (right) rise on opposite sides of their shared approach valley.

One of the most breathtaking views I've seen! Cegnfs, Murray, Smith-Dorrien, Prairie Lookout, French, Robertson, and Sir Douglas (left to right) rise in the background, with Commonwealth Peak, The Fist, and Mount Birdwood rising in front, all over Tent Ridge's southern half!

Can't get enough of this unobstructed view of Smuts!

The view across the highway includes Lougheed Peaks 1 and 2 rising along with Sparrowhawk behind Buller Mountain (left), while Bogart peaks out to the right of Engadine (right).

Old Goat Mountain and Mount Nestor really stand out on the opposite side of Spray Lake!

Zooming in to Mount Robertson's daunting form!

Birdwood and Smuts look almost identical from this side!

As much as we wanted to stay on the summit forever, admiring the absolutely mindblowing winter scenery, our summit stay was actually cut quite short. Although blue skies make for phenomenal views, that sun beating down was mighty hot, and we knew it was in our best interests to descend the steep summit ridge ASAP!

Cone Mountain rises above the cornices overhanging Tent Ridge's north bowl, as we begin our descent.

My dad starts down the slick, rocky crux.

Looking back as I carefully descend. Photo credit: Dad

Once down the crux, we made a speedy descent (down the remainder of the steep ridge), back to our skis.

Looking back up our tracks to/from the summit.

The highest peak of the Kananaskis Range, Mount Galatea, makes our previous day's objective, Little Galatea (far-right) with its height of ~2700m, look insignificant!

The Tower is another mountain I'm itching to scramble...but obviously not from this side!...To be honest, the other side doesn't look that much better! LOL.

Dropping in! Soon after retrieving our skis, we were making our first turns, eager to find out what kind of snow conditions we had waiting for us...

...And it was incredible! We were worried that the warm temps would mean wet, sticky snow, but that wasn't the case at all! The fresh snow from overnight was beautifully fluffy, and even the crust underneath was softening up in the sun! Spring skiing at its finest! Photo credit: Dad

Oh yeah, we're not done yet! There's still a second slope to go! Photo credit: Dad

Looking back to our tracks down the upper bowl, before dropping down from the middle plateau. There's still so much untouched snow up there...

Round two!! After skiing down almost to the base of the valley, we joined up, both of us grinning from ear to ear. We knew we had to go back for another lap!

Luckily, the snowpack felt really stable, and we weren't too concerned about avalanches...What I was concerned about however, was my face! I'd burnt it pretty bad last week, and since my blistered nose was still healing, I couldn't really put sunscreen on...As such, I was forced to wear my touque, goggles, and buff to protect my face from destruction! I was sweating absolute buckets as I grinded my way back up our skin track...The things you do for pow! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Wonder who made these? ;)

Mount Chester finally shakes the lingering clouds, and reveals its summit as we regain the ridge.

Ready for round two!

WOOOOHOOO! Photo credit: Dad

Round three?! The best snow was definitely in the upper bowl, so for our third (and final :( ) lap, we headed back up from the middle plateau, without bothering with the lower slope. Photo credit: Dad

Wow, this skin track is getting pretty good! ;)

Shadows

Shadows

Shadows

Leaving the summit ridge one last time.

"I don't wanna leave" - Me

Oof, I guess we leavin' :(.

Looks a bit different than when we approached it this morning...

Close up of our "artwork".

Looking back up the narrow ascent drainage, at the point where we cut back into the forest (to skier's left), to follow our ascent route down. The drainage does continue downwards however, and we couldn't help wondering if it would easily lead down to the road, avoiding what came next...

Pizza time! The narrow trail through the dense forest isn't exactly ski friendly, and the wet, sticky snow at these lower elevations didn't help much either! Definitely didn't win any style points, but we made it through without hitting any trees, so I consider that a win ;)!

Travel became much easier when we emerged onto the wide logging road.

AHAHAHAHA! That's why you keep your skis on! Although most of this descent is quite ski-able, the final stretch of logging road does gain elevation (or is flat), leading up to the "car road". My dad opted to walk it (or at least try to, LOL) in ski boots, while I was determined to "ski" the entire descent, and skated/poled my way up to the road. Another reason why the drainage descent could be ideal...but I'll leave that up to you to experiment ;)!

Arriving at the road. I've gotta say that this was one of my favourite days in the mountains to date. We haven't had the best luck with clear skies this winter, but that just made the views we were rewarded with on this day that much more special! Now the views alone would make for an amazing day, but combine that with three laps of quality spring skiing, and there's a day I'll never forget!