Starting up the road
Blue Hill Fire Lookout After a recent snow dump in
SW Alberta I was at a loss as to what to try. So when Sonny Bou (his trip report) suggested a fire lookout in the foothills it appeared
to be a sound plan.
Blue Hill Fire Lookout is west of Sundre.
An 8 km road rising 580 m leads to the lookout. Since I downloaded the track
log from Clubtread.com we had no
trouble finding the start. As we began hiking up the road, the few inches of
crusty snow underfoot crunched with every step. For the most part, trees
obscured the views along the way.
As we climbed,
the snow became deeper and softer. Our pace slowed and for the last kilometre
we were pushing through knee-deep snow. Tired from postholing,
we made it to the summit four hours after starting out only to find it studded
with buildings and bristled with antennas. Moreover, what peaks we could see
from the treed top, were too far away to study.
The lookout
observer soon came out and greeted us. A talkative woman, she told us much
about work and life on the lookout (seven of her last thirty years as an
observer have been on Blue Hill).
After a half-hour stay we started back down. Going downhill, the deep snow didn’t seem much easier. What should have been a five-hour trip took us seven. Because of the snow it was an exhausting, boring, unrewarding hike. In dry conditions I’m sure it would be merely boring and unrewarding. |
Starting up the road
Wild horses left fresh tracks in the snow for a short way up the road.
Little to see from the road even when trees didn't block the view.
The bridge is gone so we crossed the creek using fallen trees (mouse over).
Sonny on the other side of a hairpin turn
The last kilometre is the toughest.
Sonny takes a turn at breaking trail.
Antennas mark the summit.
Last steps to the top
For what it's worth, the summit.
One of several whiskey jacks that flitted about.
Sonny signs the register for the lookout observer.
Dormer Mountain (according to the observer)
View to the SW
Woodpecker
