Ptarmigan and Black Prince Cirques - Moderate Pace - Tue, Jul 11 2006

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Ptarmigan and Black Prince Cirques - Moderate Pace (7/11/2006)

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:

Kananaskis Country

Date(s) & Time:

Tue, Jul 11 2006 10:00 AM (Carpool Departure: 8:00 AM *log in for location*)

Registration Cut Off:

Mon, Jul 10 2006 11:59 PM

Event Duration:

All day - return early/mid-eve

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Event Coordinator(s):

Rhonda S
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 & Guests, 18 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Maximum No. Guests:

Minimum Group Size:

Maximum No. Guests Per Member:

Number Registered So Far:

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

Are Dogs Permitted:

Yes

Itinerary:

Ptarmigan Cirque: Climbing high above Highwood Pass, the 4.5km self-guiding loop of Ptarmigan Cirque provides a wonderful way to access the alpine. Park at the Highwood Pass parking lot and follow the signs toward the trail. It crosses Highway 40, and quickly begins climbing through a forest of alpine larch, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce. Before you know it, the views begin to open up.

More info on p 188 of the Canmore and Kananaskis Altitude SuperGuide.

Black Prince Cirque: About 150m elevation gain/loss; Distance 4.5km return

From the trailhead parking lot, the trail begins beside a sign reading "Welcome to Black Prince Cirque Trail". The trail quickly crosses a high-quality bridge over Warspite Creek. After passing the post for Interpretive Step 2, the trail begins climbing on a wide former logging road. Drainage channels have been cut across the old road to help reduce erosion. At the 0.8km point, there is a bench offering a break where you can take in the great views across the valley to Mount Kent and the Kananaskis Range.

Beyond the viewpoint, the trail begins a downhill trend that brings you to a fork in the trail at km 1.7. This fork marks the beginning of the loop section of the trail. Take the right fork at this Y-junction, and after approximately 100m, cross Warspite Creek again over a high-quality bridge. The trail resumes climbing after the bridge, passing an open area strewn with limestone boulders, and emerges on the shores of Warspite Lake at km 1.8. This pleasant tarn sits in a perfect bowl carved by ancient glaciers on the slopes of Mount Black Prince. The shoreline is lined with a lush growth of cow parsnip, which adds its pungent aroma to this pleasant panorama. Beyond the lake, Warspite Cascade tumbles down the slopes of Mount Black Prince from the Black Prince Lakes hidden from view on the upper slopes.

From Warspite Lake, the trail continues its counter-clockwise progress, crossing the creek two more times after leaving the shoreline. As you wander this rhododendron-lined trail, the loop finally closes at km 2.3. Turn right at this junction and follow the wide roadway back to the trailhead at km 4.

Ref: GemTrek's Kananaskis Lakes map.

Keep in mind this is early season for these two trails so there will likely still be snow on both of them.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
- Gaiters

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

To Ptarmigan Cirque: Take the Trans Canada Highway west from Calgary for approximately 70 km, then turn south on Highway 40 for approximately 70 km. Look for the Highwood Pass parking lot on the west side of the road.
To Black Prince Cirque: Return on highway 40 up to the winter gate and turn left onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail for about 1km, and then right onto the Smith Dorrien, and go approx 8km up to Black Prince Cirque trailhead.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

340Km

Carpool Departure Time:

8:00 AM

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Approximate vehicle expense for this event is $102.00 (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: