Sun, Oct 23 2016 - Grotto Mountain (View Event Details) Event Coordinator(s): (To see who coordinated the hike, log in to the Member Area) Participants: (To see who hiked, log in to the Member Area)

Write Up:
This was an interesting, scenic hike in beautiful late-fall weather. We started from the clubhouse of the Alpine Club of Canada in Canmore. Initially we walked through a maze of trails in a pleasant forest. Soon our trail became very steep as it climbed relentlessly up the south-facing slope. We walked up at steady but comfortable pace without straining our lungs or legs and worked out a sweat with the warm sun above our heads. Near the tree line we encountered first snow on the ground. The snow cover increased as we moved from treeline toward the ridge. The trail became a little slippery so two of us put on microspikes while the other two members of the group managed okay without them. The ridge toward the summit undulated over small bumps and was covered with a blanket of soft snow, with the tops of the rocks sticking out bare. It was fun walking over and around small rock steps either on the crest or detouring to the one or the other side. The north side fell down precipitously from the ridge while the south slopes, though steep, looked safe enough not to evoke fear. At one spot we had to traverse across a steep slab and then down-climbed a rock band. At another point the ridge narrowed and arched over a hole in the cliffs. The wind intensified here and we had to tread carefully so as not be thrown off balance by a sudden gust of wind. All members of the group reached the summit. We enjoyed outstanding views, particularly to the south toward Spray Lakes and beyond to Mount Assiniboine. Peter Minarik