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| English: Black bear in the Canadian Rockies (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| Prairie Mountain (Photo credit: Traveling Diva) |
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| Prairie Mountain (Photo credit: Traveling Diva) |
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| Prairie Mountain paraglider (Photo credit: Traveling Diva) |
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From Hiking with Barry for more information on this grueling but oh so rewarding hike:
Prairie Mountain - Kananaskis Country - Hiking Alberta:
"Prairie Mountain is accessed heading west from south-west Calgary on Hwy. 22X then, past Bragg Creek, on Hwy. 66 which dead ends in Kananaskis. It is important to note the final portion of Hwy. 66 is gated off between December 1 and May 15 to facilitate wildlife management and to ease the burden of winter highway maintenance and for avalanche risk avoidance. The trailhead for Prairie Mountain is a short hike past parking at the gate and just prior to Beaver Flats on the opposite side of the road."
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"The hike is a sustained climb of about 4 KM (2.5 miles) one way, with the same net and gross elevation of 715 m (1,960 ft.), to a maximum elevation of 2,210 m (7,253 ft.). There is a brief, but welcome, section of less intense elevation gain in the middle which reduces the risk of heart failure Early in the hiking season it is wise to have a pair of instep crampons in the backpack for additional stick on steep, sheltered sections where ice may remain from previous hikers packing down the snow. After the beginning and ending series of switchbacks on steep terrain, the final approach to the summit is on gentle rock to the barren summit and a fantastic view north across Canyon Creek Valley to the fire lookout on the summit of 2,437 m Moose Mountain (7,995 ft.). From the north ridge of Prairie Mountain, the large entrance to the Ice Cave on Moose Ridge is visible."
