Red's Ridge

Hike Name: Red Ridge

Activity: Hiking/Snowshoeing

Distance: ~9 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,610 m

Elevation Gain: ~700 m

Area: Kananaskis (Spray Valley)

Crew: Bennett

Time to Summit: did not summit

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Sparrowhawk Parking

Getting There:
Head west from Calgary on the Trans Canada (Hwy 1). Go south at Canmore (toward the Nordic Center) and take highway 742 until you reach the Sparrowhawk parking area.

Additional Info:
Bennett and I got out for a winter snowshoe, unfortunately we didn't hit the summit, as we had to get back to the city to make it home in time for plans.

 Bennett on our way up

 Looking up the Spray Reservoir

 Where we turned around

A handsome hiker

Bryant Creek Cabin (Overnight)

Name: Bryant Creek Cabin (Banff National Park)
Activity: X-Country Skiing/Overnight
Crew: Bennett, Jaimie, Mark, Oliver, Jon, Trevor
Dates: January 20-22, 2017

Summary:
Day 1 - Ski in from Mt Shark Trailhead to Bryant Creek Shelter (14 km)
Day 2 - Ski to Marvel Lake (6 km RT)
Day 3 - Ski back out to Mt Shark Trailhead (14 km)

Update: We stayed at this shelter again as a backpacking trip again in the fall of 2017, and in the winter again in 2019.. Unfortunately we did not have the whole planned group attend- there was a weird flu/cold going around and it seems like everyone caught it! Regardless, we had an amazing weekend with unreal weather and snow conditions. We arrived on Friday, the cabin was chilly as no one had been there for probably about a week, but we got the fire going right away, and by the second night the cabin had warmed up significantly enough that some people (cough Oliver) were wearing shorts.
Bennett and I made a few dehydrated meals using his dehydrator which were more successful than we were expecting! With eggs for breakfast as the clear winner for both of us.

 Approaching the cabin (Day 1)

Getting water from the creek - Oliver had to break through the ice with the axe to get to the flowing water

Woke up to this beautiful sunrise (Day 2)

 The shelter

 Bennett testing the ice on Marvel Lake (Day 2)

 Mark on Marvel (Day 2)

 Bennett

Oliver 

 Jaimie, Bennett, and Oliver crossing the creek to the Warden Cabin field

 The view from our water hole

Bennett and I in the field in front of the Warden Cabin

Prairie Mountain ii

Trip #2:Crew: Bennett, Jon
Date: January 17, 2017
Click here for the Prairie Mountain Post

Good winter conditions! Snow-covered in the forest, would have been icy if it was colder, and snow blown on the top with lots of visible grass.