Showing posts with label Ford Knoll. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ford Knoll. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Ford Knoll - July 2, 2010 (from the archives)
We rarely ever see anyone else on Ford Knoll, even though it's right next door to a very popular campground. We never see a single soul on cloudy and rainy days. But the world never looks as vibrant as it does on a rainy day....
Friday, August 21, 2009
Ford Knoll -- October 26, 2008
Ford Knoll is an old favorite. I've covered it many times here before, but the scenery changes so much with each season. Fall was no different:
Luckily, we knew this sign had been here since the previous winter... however there's got to be cause for concern when a warning sign appears to have been clawed away. And yes, we kept an eye out for "ears" the rest of the hike:
Luckily, we knew this sign had been here since the previous winter... however there's got to be cause for concern when a warning sign appears to have been clawed away. And yes, we kept an eye out for "ears" the rest of the hike:
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Ford Knoll -- November 11, 2007
Only 3 days after the Diamond T hike mentioned in the previous post, N and I drove out to Ford Knoll for a quick hike. By the time we got to the campground, the roads were pretty sketchy. This was the long weekend and the day of the crazy winds in Elbow Valley.
We literally seemed to have the place to ourselves since the campground was closed and the rock blocked. It was a peaceful, windy, fun hike -- finally getting to hike in the snow, but it was still wasn't too cold.
Ford Knoll has a number of different ways to complete the loop, the longest stretches close to the Nihani Ridge turnoff. We opted not to take that route though when we said the "Bear in Area" sign posted to a tree. It looked old, but one can never been too safe...
Otherwise, a beautiful day for hiking.
We literally seemed to have the place to ourselves since the campground was closed and the rock blocked. It was a peaceful, windy, fun hike -- finally getting to hike in the snow, but it was still wasn't too cold.
Ford Knoll has a number of different ways to complete the loop, the longest stretches close to the Nihani Ridge turnoff. We opted not to take that route though when we said the "Bear in Area" sign posted to a tree. It looked old, but one can never been too safe...
Otherwise, a beautiful day for hiking.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Elbow Valley Winds
D and I were planning on doing Moose Mountain on Monday, but were turned back at the access road by a kind gentleman who let us know there were trees down across the road about 1 km up.. the winds were that bad. We'd planned on setting out earlier.. I guess for once sleeping in was a good thing!
N and her hubby had planned a hike near Canmore, but turned back and hiked Grotto instead. Smart move -- they avoided the winds by hanging out in the canyon.
The winds were bad all weekend, but N and I seemed to luck out on Sunday. We hiked Ford Knoll and while it was windier than usual, we seemed to be sheltered enough to not notice. That hike will be posted soon.
Some photos of the Elbow Valley wind storm are at Hike Alberta.
N and her hubby had planned a hike near Canmore, but turned back and hiked Grotto instead. Smart move -- they avoided the winds by hanging out in the canyon.
The winds were bad all weekend, but N and I seemed to luck out on Sunday. We hiked Ford Knoll and while it was windier than usual, we seemed to be sheltered enough to not notice. That hike will be posted soon.
Some photos of the Elbow Valley wind storm are at Hike Alberta.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Close Encounters - June 3, 2007
This was our second go-round of Ford Knoll in as many weeks. Like our first loop, we ran into no other hikers despite the fact the campground beside the trail was full this particular weekend. It was also a much nicer day for hiking, which meant we wound up taking a different part of the loop, coming out on the south side of the campground and along the river.
Even in just the one week between hikes, the look of the trail changed dramatically as it came out from the snow storm of a few weeks back and finally bloomed into early spring. The soggy damp path from the week before now had so much colour it was hard to believe it hadn't been there before. These orchids were plentiful along the early part of the trail.
The snow had cleared from the majority of the mountains. Even the same views looked like a different hike from the one we'd taken a week ago.
Something I'm terrible for forgetting to do when hiking loops -- TURN AROUND. Often what's behind you is as amazing as what you're walking towards. This range -- covered in snow the first time we hiked this and maybe for some reason not as impressive -- seemed to come out of nowhere during this hike.
As we descended, N and I encountered something I thought would be impossible on a trail so close to such a busy campground... out of nowhere a deer bounded across the trail, no more than 50 ft in front of us. Knowing deer often travel in pairs, we continued along the path cautiously, and sure enough....
Our new friend was clearly very skittish and not used to humans, so after a couple of nice photos thanks to a zoom lens, we continued on our way, and let the deer find its partner.
Not to be outdone, a little further along the trail, this guy appeared, chattering up a storm.
He was certainly a lot less skittish of humans...
Also less skittish -- the mosquitos. They were out in full force for the first time this spring. It would get worse. A lot worse.
We took the longer loop, walking along the river and eventually winding up at Forget-Me-Not pond, close to where we parked. This is the aqua-coloured pond that is clearly visiable from any viewpoint in the area due to the brilliant blue -- and entirely natural -- colour of the pond. It's a perfect place to finish off any hike.
Even in just the one week between hikes, the look of the trail changed dramatically as it came out from the snow storm of a few weeks back and finally bloomed into early spring. The soggy damp path from the week before now had so much colour it was hard to believe it hadn't been there before. These orchids were plentiful along the early part of the trail.The snow had cleared from the majority of the mountains. Even the same views looked like a different hike from the one we'd taken a week ago.
Something I'm terrible for forgetting to do when hiking loops -- TURN AROUND. Often what's behind you is as amazing as what you're walking towards. This range -- covered in snow the first time we hiked this and maybe for some reason not as impressive -- seemed to come out of nowhere during this hike.
As we descended, N and I encountered something I thought would be impossible on a trail so close to such a busy campground... out of nowhere a deer bounded across the trail, no more than 50 ft in front of us. Knowing deer often travel in pairs, we continued along the path cautiously, and sure enough....
Our new friend was clearly very skittish and not used to humans, so after a couple of nice photos thanks to a zoom lens, we continued on our way, and let the deer find its partner.
Not to be outdone, a little further along the trail, this guy appeared, chattering up a storm.
He was certainly a lot less skittish of humans...
Also less skittish -- the mosquitos. They were out in full force for the first time this spring. It would get worse. A lot worse.
We took the longer loop, walking along the river and eventually winding up at Forget-Me-Not pond, close to where we parked. This is the aqua-coloured pond that is clearly visiable from any viewpoint in the area due to the brilliant blue -- and entirely natural -- colour of the pond. It's a perfect place to finish off any hike.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Redefining "Moderate"
Elbow Valley - Ford Knoll: Trail Particulars - Take Highway 66 to the Little Elbow Recreation Area/Campground. Turn left at the first sign indicating trail head parking. There is no official trailhead marker, but the path leads from the parking lot back to the dirt road and crosses into a field. There are maps along the path there.
I have a great little book for walks in the Western Alberta region. It's mostly little interpretive walks and casuals strolls, but it's very handy for the days I want something a little different. Instead of hiking, maybe a cool tucked away historical site. Maybe something for a rainier day. Maybe something short and pretty for the days after the more strenuous hikes. Since the book features "walks", there have been times where my meaning of strenuous and their meaning of strenuous have differed -- usually what they call strenuous, I call barely breaking a sweat.
I'll have to rethink that theory. Ford Knoll was a good little walk with a "moderate" incline, which in my sad little mind I thought might be enough to get the heart pumping. Not an hour of straight uphill. Ok, it wasn't that bad, but it was no walk in the park.
From the trail head, this is probably the only trail that doesn't go towards Forget Me Not pond and the river. Instead, this one crosses over the dirt road and into a field that is littered in giant cow paddies. It's astounding really. Once you carefully pick your way to the path that runs along the field by the forest, the path leads to a junction. The main path goes directly into the forest, and that uphill you see? Yeah, get used to it... it really doesn't ease up for about 50 minutes.
It was only the day after my grand trek up Nihahi Ridge, and Ford Knoll is in the same area, but almost all of the snow was gone from the trail. It was that nice out in one day.
Most of the first hour of the trail is similiar to this photo. It's a walk through the forest, steadily uphill and other than a few glances in the first 15 minutes, not a lot of views. This is ok though, because there's actually a lot to look at in the forest -- signs of animals, plenty of interesting flowers, and the steepness of the next hill ahead. It's also an incredibly quiet hike -- I don't think N and I have ever run into another person on the actual Ford Knoll loop. Considering it is right next to a popular campground it's surprising we haven't seen *someone*. Ford Knoll gets lost in the shuffle with so many other excellent hikes in the immediate area. Ford Knoll is also set aside from most of the other trails and due to the lack of signage at the trail head, most people probably don't even know it's there.
Most of the early part of the hike is also shaded, which is a nice thing to have in the summer. Sure, it may be a lot of unremarkable terrain, but a quiet hike that keeps you out of the sun in the middle of summer and gives you a bit of a workout is a good secret to have.
Most of the uphill part of the hike leads west, with a slight northwest pull. When you come to a junction, take the left turn, and know you are only a few minutes from reaching the top of the knoll. After one last incline, we stepped into this part of the path we called the "Hallway", where the tress close in on the path and it almost feels like they shut you in the forest. It's a very cool part of the trail, where you can catch your breath and enjoy the change in surroundings. We could see some of the mountains at the opening at the end of the path and had a good idea what we were walking into. There is also the occassional opening along the path that provides a viewpoint directly west.
At the end of the hallway, the trail opens into a plateau, with plenty of excellent viewpoints.
Looking east, with Forget-Me-Not pond in the foreground. That brilliant blue colour is natural.
Looking south, with more evidence of the recent snowfall in the mountains.
From here the trail leads steadily downhill towards the campground. There are many ways to complete the loop and there are helpful maps at every junction to keep you on the loop you want to take. You can choose to loop directly back to the cow-patty meadow, through the campground, or around the campground via the Little Elbow Trail (the same trail used to gain access to the Nihahi Ridge trail). This day, we chose the shortest loop, back to the cow-patty field.
On our way back, we noticed we were being watched by some of the locals. It's a testament to how quiet the trail actually is that we were able to see wildlife this close, and that this group of deer actually outnumbered the people on the trail by 2 to 1! The trail curves around beside this meadow -- by the time we'd gotten there, our friends were long gone.
I have a great little book for walks in the Western Alberta region. It's mostly little interpretive walks and casuals strolls, but it's very handy for the days I want something a little different. Instead of hiking, maybe a cool tucked away historical site. Maybe something for a rainier day. Maybe something short and pretty for the days after the more strenuous hikes. Since the book features "walks", there have been times where my meaning of strenuous and their meaning of strenuous have differed -- usually what they call strenuous, I call barely breaking a sweat.
I'll have to rethink that theory. Ford Knoll was a good little walk with a "moderate" incline, which in my sad little mind I thought might be enough to get the heart pumping. Not an hour of straight uphill. Ok, it wasn't that bad, but it was no walk in the park.
From the trail head, this is probably the only trail that doesn't go towards Forget Me Not pond and the river. Instead, this one crosses over the dirt road and into a field that is littered in giant cow paddies. It's astounding really. Once you carefully pick your way to the path that runs along the field by the forest, the path leads to a junction. The main path goes directly into the forest, and that uphill you see? Yeah, get used to it... it really doesn't ease up for about 50 minutes.
It was only the day after my grand trek up Nihahi Ridge, and Ford Knoll is in the same area, but almost all of the snow was gone from the trail. It was that nice out in one day.
Most of the first hour of the trail is similiar to this photo. It's a walk through the forest, steadily uphill and other than a few glances in the first 15 minutes, not a lot of views. This is ok though, because there's actually a lot to look at in the forest -- signs of animals, plenty of interesting flowers, and the steepness of the next hill ahead. It's also an incredibly quiet hike -- I don't think N and I have ever run into another person on the actual Ford Knoll loop. Considering it is right next to a popular campground it's surprising we haven't seen *someone*. Ford Knoll gets lost in the shuffle with so many other excellent hikes in the immediate area. Ford Knoll is also set aside from most of the other trails and due to the lack of signage at the trail head, most people probably don't even know it's there.Most of the early part of the hike is also shaded, which is a nice thing to have in the summer. Sure, it may be a lot of unremarkable terrain, but a quiet hike that keeps you out of the sun in the middle of summer and gives you a bit of a workout is a good secret to have.
Most of the uphill part of the hike leads west, with a slight northwest pull. When you come to a junction, take the left turn, and know you are only a few minutes from reaching the top of the knoll. After one last incline, we stepped into this part of the path we called the "Hallway", where the tress close in on the path and it almost feels like they shut you in the forest. It's a very cool part of the trail, where you can catch your breath and enjoy the change in surroundings. We could see some of the mountains at the opening at the end of the path and had a good idea what we were walking into. There is also the occassional opening along the path that provides a viewpoint directly west.At the end of the hallway, the trail opens into a plateau, with plenty of excellent viewpoints.
Looking east, with Forget-Me-Not pond in the foreground. That brilliant blue colour is natural.
Looking south, with more evidence of the recent snowfall in the mountains.
From here the trail leads steadily downhill towards the campground. There are many ways to complete the loop and there are helpful maps at every junction to keep you on the loop you want to take. You can choose to loop directly back to the cow-patty meadow, through the campground, or around the campground via the Little Elbow Trail (the same trail used to gain access to the Nihahi Ridge trail). This day, we chose the shortest loop, back to the cow-patty field.
On our way back, we noticed we were being watched by some of the locals. It's a testament to how quiet the trail actually is that we were able to see wildlife this close, and that this group of deer actually outnumbered the people on the trail by 2 to 1! The trail curves around beside this meadow -- by the time we'd gotten there, our friends were long gone.
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