Black Rock Mountain - Sun, May 1 2016

Pour toutes informations en français, s'il vous plaît contactez French Liaison, Yannick à francais@calgaryoutdoorclub.com.

Black Rock Mountain (5/1/2016)

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED:Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to read this page in its entirety before signing up. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you abide by our rules and procedures as a time/cost saving process (with an end result of keeping membership free and lower cost events).

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

Ghost River Wilderness Area (NW of Cochrane)

Date(s) & Time:

Sun, May 1 2016 10:00 AM (Carpool Departure: 8:00 AM *log in for location*)

Registration Cut Off:

Sat, Apr 30 2016 7:00:00 PM

Event Duration:

5 to 6 hours

Difficulty Rating:

D5: Difficult

Event Coordinator(s):

Grant P
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.

Member Cost:

Voluntary Donation Only (See Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 18 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Maximum No. Guests:

Minimum Group Size:

Maximum No. Guests Per Member:

Number Registered So Far:

4 (Log in to see who's signed up.)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Distance: 11 km
Elevation Gain: 923m
Summit Elevation: 2,462m
Difficulty: Hike/Light Scramble

IMPORTANT - Read:
This is one of those hikes/light scrambles where getting there is half the fun, but the event can only go ahead if we have high-clearance SUV-type vehicles or trucks for the carpool (your coordinator has a "ghost-mobile"). Travel is on approximately +20km of rough gravel road each way, as well as through a dry riverbed. I will increase the group size and take people from the wait list if we have a second high clearance 4WD carpool vehicle. Preference is given to those who can commit to driving (i.e., indicate 'Definitely Driving' when signing up); others will be placed on the waiting list until enough appropriate vehicles are available. If you can drive, e-mail me with the vehicle you have and how many people (including yourself) you can take.

Black Rock Lookout sits atop this standalone mountain, offering views to Devil's Head, Mt. Aylmer, the valleys of the Ghost River and Waiparous Creek, and even the Calgary skyline. Starting across a riverbed and through forest, towards the top one is rewarded with rocky slopes, cliffs, a large plateau, and the packtrail reaching the summit (which has a very short section of slight exposure). The difficulty in reaching this trailhead makes it feel like one is heading into the wilderness (and yes, it does take 2 hours to get there).

Trail Directions:
   · Cross the creekbed. NOTE: this could be dry or may involve crossing a creek.Bring suitable footwear/sandals in case.
   · Aim about 50m left of the sign indicating 'Black Rock Trail'.
   · Head up the old road.
   · Pass an old linesman’s cabin and trail notice board.
   · At the next junction, keep left.
   · Not much trailfinding required until you reach the cliffs.
   · At the cliff base, head left until a break appears. Going through this chimney is the only way up.
   · Continues across a large plateau. The lookout will be visible.
   · Before reaching the top, pass the crux – a short 2m-wide ridge.

Please note that although your coordinator has been elsewhere on Black Rock Mountain, he has never done the hiking trail. Anyone familiar with the trail should make the fact known to him.

References:
Official Guides, Maps & Weather:
   · Kananaskis Country Trail Guide, Second Edition, Gillean Daffern, pg. 28
   · Map: NTS 1:50,000 Lake Minnewanka 82- O/6
   · Canadian Rockies Backroad Mapbook, pg. 8 & 77
   · Google Earth coordinates: N51°20.066' W115°10.081'
   · Ghost Forest Map - Black Rock Mountain trail starts at trail marker 37.
   · NRC's Atlas of Canada - Zoomable topo map showing Black Rock Mountain.
   · Cochrane Weather
Trip Reports:
   · Road not Taken - Bob Spirko
   · Photos from previous COC trip (June 2007)
   · Photos from previous COC trip (November 2008)
   · Access Road pictured at trail marker 39, which is further in than we will be going.

Other Important Stuff:
   · This is not a hike for beginners.
     You must have a reasonable history of hiking.
     Contact your coordinator if you have any questions or do not have a history of hiking with the COC.
   · Pace & sticking together:
     Pace will be slower for the uphill and more moderate for the rest.
     If you like to race ahead or race to the top, do not sign up for this event.
   · Do not be in a rush to get back to Calgary.
     We will be out to enjoy the day and event duration may vary.

Required Items to Bring:
ALL items are mandatory or you stay in Calgary.
· Proper hiking boots or approach shoes
· Clothes for varying weather conditions (high winds and cold at top, possible snow patches;
no jeans, cotton, runners, etc.)
· Rain Jacket.
· Food/water/snacks.
· Headlamp or flashlight
· First aid kit
· Plastic bag for your dirty hiking boots for the way back
· Garbage bag as your pack may end up on the back of a truck
· A smile & sense of adventure :-)

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
· Microspikes or icers
· Hiking poles
· Gaiters
· Camera
· GPS
· Hot shots

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Note: Distances may vary slightly.
0km: Take Highway 1A from Calgary through Cochrane. Stoney Trail & 1A = 0km
38km: Turn right (north) on Highway 40/940/Forestry Trunk Road (paved), just past the Wildcat Hills Gas Plant (this is approximately 3km before Ghost Lake). Continue through the villages of Benchlands and Waiparous.
62km: Junction with Richards Road (signed). Keep right on the main road, then 150m later (before the house) make a left onto TransAlta Road/Ghost River Road through a cattle gate. This looks like you're driving onto someone's property and the road is now gravel. Ghost River will soon be down to your left.
Keep on the this main road to approx 79km disregarding all side roads and cut lines (i.e, do not turn at yellow logging trail markers 1 thru 15). At approx 79km you will be the top of a steep hill descending to the Ghost River; this is where the road roughens and serves as an alternate parking spot for non-SUVs/trucks. At the bottom of the hill (orange SRD trail marker 23) keep right and look for the 'gentle' spot across the dry Ghost River riverbed. You are aiming along the river bed for the other side gaining the trail along the berm. Head up- valley along the riverbed, passing orange trail markers or flagging. At the orange trail marker 37, turn right for about 100m and park by the creekbed. The trailhead is almost directly across from this point. Aim to head into the woods about 50m to the left of the trailhead sign for the easy way up.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

190Km

Carpool Departure Time:

8:00 AM

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Approximate vehicle expense for this event is $57.00 (calculated at total Km * $0.30, effective Saturday, April 20, 2024). This is based on $0.16/Km for maintenance, plus current gas price divide by 9. Alternately your carpool driver may choose to split the maintenance cost plus the actual gas cost among all in the vehicle. Your carpool driver will confirm exactly how much money they require to cover costs. Please split the actual cost among all people in the vehicle.

Notes:

- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.
- Notice any errors or problems in the information on this page? Please notify our Content Editor(s), Wendy W and Lynda H., at content@calgaryoutdoorclub.com.

Cost & Payment:

Voluntary Donations:

Although there is no cost for this event, please note that the club survives on voluntary donations. Please consider making a donation based on the value you feel you receive from the club. See our How You Can Help page for more information.

Voluntary Donation: ( What is this?)
Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: