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Hillcrest Mountain
Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
March 31, 2007
Distance: 7.1 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 700 m

The forecast didn't look promising so hoping to find better weather south, we drove to Crowsnest Pass and set off for Hillcrest Mountain.

We had no prior knowledge of the mountain, but after studying a map of the area I saw an auspicious route: we could hike up a 4x4 road a short way before leaving it to head up the south end of the mountain. Although we weren't, in fact, able to escape the bad weather, we were able to find our way to the summit.

Hiking up the slope, we found there was no bushwhacking: a forest fire had swept the area and left bare trees standing. Just below the ridge, we scrambled easily up a short cliff band. Otherwise the trip was just a hike.

Once on the ridge, we plodded to the summit. Unfortunately low clouds and falling snow obscured our views the entire trip. We saw little of nearby Turtle Mountain to the north or the Flathead Range to the West, and it was pointless to take a summit panorama. Still, it was nice to venture in a different area when there are few climbs so early in the season.

MOVIE
KML and GPX Tracks


Hillcrest Mountain on a clear, late summer day


Coming up the slope full of dead trees


Unnamed peak to the south


The top of the cliff band appears


We skirted right and below the rock band


Following alongside the short cliff band


Scrambling up the cliff band


Another view shows the valley below


Typical travel along the ridge to the summit...


...with a couple of snowy sections like this


Grouse in a dead tree


The summit lies ahead


Flathead Range


Almost at the summit


Dinah checks the elevation on the summit with her GPS receiver


Turtle Mountain was hidden in cloud


On the descent, we made good time by using the snow-covered slopes


82 G/9 Blairmore

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