This trail starts up a tree cut line for about 4km. Then a short switch back up thru the trees. Once out of the trees its all up hill for what seems like for ever. It's not technical but just a steep incline grassy slope. Once up at the top there is a nice view down the valley overlooking Ekshaw. It was pretty cloudy the day we did it, but you can probally see quite a ways east (Pigeon is right near the begining of the mountain range).
I would advise against trying to run down hill on the way back. One of the people in our group could barley stop once they got going (although it was pretty funny).
Directions:
Heading to canmore on the trans Canada and the Dead Mans Flats intersection head south 1 to 1.5km to the trail head.
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ByPosted By: EversinCalgary
- Tue Aug 09 01:03:36 UTC 2016
UpsideThe view is amazing. The path leading up to the trail was easy to follow, it's uphill starting from the parking lot. You will have a good night sleep when you get home. DownsideThe start of the trail to the summit is not well marked. CommentWe had a great hike and had lunch at the top. Saw lots of butterflies and a very peaceful hike, as we only saw three other people.
ByPosted By: Dlaw84
- Fri Jun 10 21:05:37 UTC 2016
CommentI should have looked a little closer at the route plotted on the map. When I got the trail head there is a sign that says closed (june 10/16). so i thought i must must be in the wrong spot. heading back to the truck i saw two square boulders to the north and a trail so i thought that must be it. Not marked very well for the first bit till it connects to a more prominent trail. after that the trail is straight forward and easy to follow. nice trail through the woods instead of walking a cut line. Im sure the views are good but it was clouded in and raining / snowing when i went.
ByPosted By: ChrisMarry
- Sat Nov 02 22:51:47 UTC 2013
UpsideReally enjoyed it, in snow conditions, amazing views! Long and nice ridge walk if you want do it all! Not crowded. DownsideExtremely windy, dress warmly. Long and boring on the way up by Skogan Pass. CommentMy GPS watch: Elevation gain, net = 950 m. Max 2381 m. 14.89 km.
Snow maybe 2/3 of the hike, alone, no human traces, just those of mountain goats... I've seen half a dozen by the ridge! Very useful those goatsâ?? traces, but I did get some exposure as I scrambled straight up the rock band south of the first summit. Then I continued to the weather station for South Summit. After, you can go straight down by scrambling the high rock wall or take it on the left side of it by the official trail. I saw no trail from the summit, so I went straight down, it was easy and fun! You see from there the North Summit, highest point of the ridge. I was there in 30 minutes and kept going 10 minutes to the last point before it goes down with lots of exposure, where I ended my "complete" ridge walk, I loved it! On my way down, I followed the ridge by the treeline to avoid strong winds and decided to go straight down into the forest at a certain point. Sky was clear and I could see Windtower and Mt Lougheed on my left (good landmarks), so it was an easy and enjoyable bushwhacking, I wouldn't have done that without a clear view as my Iphone was dead at this moment and 2 people got lost 2 weeks ago and were rescued the next morning.
ByPosted By: ClimbinCorey
- Mon Jul 12 16:12:58 UTC 2010
Upside-Variety! - Power line ROW, a few switchbacks, wonderful flowers and plants to see in the upper meadows -Not crowded (we were completely alone after leaving Skogan Pass trail) -Great workout -Awesome views of the Bow Valley DownsidePowerline ROW can get a little repetetive, but ever changing views are mostly redeeming Quite steep once in the meadows.. Much steeper than I expected, given the Moderate rating. I can see the meadows being very slippery in rain or snow CommentHad a lot of fun on this one, a great workout, tons of sights. Saw snow July 6 up on the ridge below the peak.
ByPosted By: mark3107
- Mon Jun 28 03:26:07 UTC 2010
Upsidesteady climb to start with and easy to follow Downsidesteep and straight up with no switch backs when you leave the skogan pass trail CommentWell worth the effort with fantasic views of the Bow Valley east and west
ByPosted By: slickster
- Sun Jun 20 03:19:33 UTC 2010
Upsidenon-technical, no scrambling. good for a longer workout. saw many other mountains i've climbed. lots of flowers. it was rather quiet on the trail. Downsidesteeper grassy slopes can get slippery with rain or snow. Commentdid this hike june 19. took me 6 hrs to make the round trip. there was 4-6 inches of slushy snow for the last 2 km or so, which made the grass really slick. I enjoyed the hike. got a great workout.
ByPosted By: DanOCan
- Thu Sep 03 19:10:31 UTC 2009
CommentI don't really know why I didn't enjoy this hike more, but Pigeon remains my least favorite mountain peak so far. I found that for the effort involved the views weren't as nice as I was hoping.
Posted By: EversinCalgary
Posted By: Dlaw84
Posted By: ChrisMarry
Posted By: DanOCan