Exshaw Mountain Bushwhack

Exshaw Mountain

It was Lou's idea. I was quite happy to just follow Prospector, the mountain bike trail, around the hill, until it joined another trail to the summit. But suddenly she got this look in her eyes...one that I know only too well because I'm just as bad. Why don't we just go up this ridge instead?

And so the fun begins!

And so followed a memorable trip up the western side of Exshaw Mountain, which is described by Gillean Daffern as being a "pudding basin". That's pretty accurate, especially when you reach the top, to find that the true summit is indistinct, shrouded in trees, and sports what has to be the weediest summit cairn I've ever seen. There are bigger cairns on the footpath to the Crowfoot Safeway. I didn't take a photo, so you'll just have to imagine four small rocks placed in a loose pile, at a spot that might or might not be the topographic top-spot of the pudding basin.  That's OK though - I don't really like cairns.
Enjoying the pre-summit view
Fortunately, after a kind-of enjoyable thrash uphill through tight trees and over iced-up slabs, we'd enjoyed a pleasant view west towards Banff. So the summit wasn't too big a disappointment, and there was a viewpoint at the southern end of the hill, with two small stone benches (OK, bum-sized flat rocks) placed facing out to the valley. On reflection, we agreed, it was a better hike than Hell's Ridge, which is our benchmark for that kind of thing. In fact, I think we both quite enjoyed it. Well - look at the weather!

Jumping spider

Lou and Mt. Fable

Baldy looks good from here!
On the descent I found a Johnson Jumping Spider, and a golf ball. The romantic explanation would be that a raven carried the ball here from the nearby golf course. I suspect though, that someone had thought it a good idea to drive a shot from the viewpoint down onto the hidden trail below - which would put them up there with Ha Ling rock-droppers, and Icefields Parkway drivers, on my list of favourite people!


Trip details: Exshaw Mountain hike

Not very big. 2-3 hours, depending on how far you thrash through the trees.
Best for info: Gillean Daffern's guide.

Tip: do not follow the Prospector trail, mistaking it for the main route to the ridge. The guidebook isn't very clear on this unless you cross-reference the two different trips, but the ridge trail departs about 30 m further from the footbridge, behind an open stone-walled firewood holder, whereas Prospector is the first opportunity to climb, after the private residences end.
To get the view up the Bow Valley, you have to pass the true (?) summit, and head along the ridge until you see a clear patch where rock ribs poke through.