2. Prairie Mountain (a), (b), (c),(d),(e) (f) (g) (h) (i)(j)(k)

Distance: 3.8k to summit

Elevation gain: 716 m                          

(a)

On July 24, Sunday after church, Herm and I climbed Prairie Mountain. It was a beautiful, warm day as I slowly trudged up the steep slope. I’m so glad I forget about the hard work as soon as I reach the top and just enjoy the views.

Prairie mountain gives a faint view of Calgary as well as Moose Mountain, the Elbow River and the sloping prairie top of the mountain itself.

The flowers were beautiful on the lower part but the memorable picture was this Milbert’s tortoise shell butterfly.

The checkerspot was also a welcome  sight

  

   but not as cute and communicative as this squirrel who turned around to pose for his picture.

(b)

Sunday, July 20, 2014, Herm and I climbed Prairie Mtn again to explore how to get down an alternate route, purportedly less steep.

From the cairn at the top, we went west until we came to a cairn. Then we turned left or downhill to another cairn. Behind this were some spruce trees with faded orange ribbons. We went through them and followed a clearly marked trail down the mountain. Most of it was on grassy slopes beside a mostly dry creek. The descent was gentler. When we reached Prairie Creek trail on the far side of a grassy field without trail, we turned left and followed it to the road. This way was definitely longer but easier.

 

(c)

July 22, Wednesday, 2015 Naylis and I climbed Prairie. This was to celebrate his tenth birthday the following month.

 Naylis was the photographer and we started with a selfie in front of the trail map.

All the way up the mountain he kept taking pictures of beautiful wildflowers and repeating their names as he tried to remember them. There were also various butterflies which he shot including the same tortoiseshell Herm had pictured a few years before.

It was beautiful weather all the way up although we watched the dark clouds approaching in the west. When we reached the top, the sun was shining but the wind was strong and cold. As we looked east, we were excited to see this funnel cloud south of Calgary.

 It changed shapes as we watched and eventually disappeared. Calgary got a short heavy rain but we were dry. 

  (d) We had a very early spring in 2016, so the trail was dried up by April 3. There was a tiny bit of snow left  right near the top. The road at the bottom was full of cars so we expected a very busy trail and it was but everyone was coming down as we got a late start (1:00) after church. There were only 2 other groups at the top. We enjoyed a beautiful, warm hike on Prairie again. It is prettier with flowers, though. This picture was taken on my practice cell phone, much lighter than the big camera.

 

(e)

 On November 3, 2018, Saturday, Herm and I climbed Prairie again. The snow had melted but we took our icers just in case there were slippery spots. The weather on the trail was beautiful, on top was cold and windy. This was one of the very busiest hikes we have been on with small groups constantly going up and down. It was not a bother, just interesting. I imagined a new goal of climbing Prairie in every month. (perhaps with a different partner each time, since Herm doesn't want to go again.)

 

(f)

On June 9th, 2019, Sunday afternoon after church, we climbed Prairie with a few friends from our multicultural group. Kate, Shixin and Stanley and one of Kate's friends, Joti, Herm and myself. It was beautiful weather despite a more risky forecast. We went as slowly as needed and enjoyed the hike up and down and snacks later near Elbow Falls.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(g)

Feb 28, 2020, was a beautiful day, Herm was too sick to go skiing so I invited Wendy  to climb Prairie with me. She was game and we had a great hike up, very glad we were wearing good ice grippers. The trail was well trampled, snow filled in all the rocks and tree roots. I just wore a T-shirt hiking but we definitely needed our coats on top. We enjoyed the mountain for 4 1/2 hours, didn't rush but still felt our muscles the next few days. This was a Feb. hike and one closer to my goal of every month.

 

 

(h)

On December 6, Saturday, Kate and Stanley climbed the mountain with Herm and me. We enjoyed 4 hours on the mountain while Shixin walked around Elbow Falls and took a nap down at the base. Again it was warm hiking but there was a cool wind at the top.

This time there may have been a kilometre of cars parked on both sides of the road at the base and there were many people at the top. It was good to see so many people getting out of the house before winter really set in. A good Covid break and one hike closer to my goal.

 

i)

 On August 11, 2021 Esther, Evalyn and Heidi visited from B.C. Esther wanted the girls to climb a mountain so Herm and I escorted them up Prairie. Good timing since this was my first climb in August. It was a beautiful day but we had jackets in case we needed them at the top and we did. A new Alberta flag has been posted up at the cairn on top. Great girls to hike with.

j)

 

October 25, 20021, time for another mountain climb and Herm didn't want to join me so I invited Margaret and Hydro, Khosrow and Rhogi joined us also. It was a beautiful, sunny day, but windy and up on top the wind was unbearable so we took a picture under the flag and hurried on.

We went down the back side, the trail is clearly indicated by now, and enjoyed a long walk down through the trees. At the bottom, by a small cow pasture, we sat in the sun for the rest of our lunch and snack and a rest. Then another hour walk along the Prairie Creek trail back to the car. Excellent hike.

K)

 

January 25, 2024  I really like meeting my goals and so was eager to hike up Prairie in January. . It was beautiful weather, sunny, just below zero. Herm wasn't keen but Skyler was able to join us between grade 11 exams. Margaret and Hydro came along and showed us the new trail with large switchbacks and much better footing. Grippers were not as necessary as we feared.

Margaret had helped build an igloo on top, big enough perhaps for two people to sleep. It was comfortable inside, out of the bitter wind on top but I did not offer to sleep there with her.  

 

Margaret has been building these igloos with a friend for a few years and has slept in one. This is the biggest so far. Alas the warm weather came back and a week later, it had melted so much that she went inside and stuck her head up out the middle. Full of holes.

Skyler is inside, out of the cold fierce wind, in no rush to leave.

 

We hastened to the top to get the proof picture. Although I exercise faithfully at the gym, my glutes were very tight after this climb. It was a good day.