Canada's Mountains

Blackrock Mountain from Waiparous Creek Blackrock Mountain in the distance. This is from near Hoodoo Hall

Blackrock Mountain is on the eastern edge of the rocky mountains in the Goast River area. It's also one of the driest places because its situated in the frontal range.

To get there from Calgary just drive west from the north end of town, that's the old 1A for most Calgarians, and continue past Cochrane to the SR940 and turn right. Then go to the Ghost-Waiparous junction and proceed to the left through the gate. Be sure to close it behind you blah blah.

Devils Thumb from the Summit of Blackrock Mtn.

Continue down the road for a number of kilometers, with the Ghost River on your left side and below. Eventually you get to a large hill that must be climbed. Even a small front wheel drive car can get up if the driver knows how to negotiate steep snowy roads with confidence. It's not off camber so if you don't make it, just try it with more momentum.

Then another a steep downhill is necessary. At this point most of us will get out and walk down the hill. It's about 5 Km to Blackrock Mountain from here.

I went down in my VW Rabbit but was lucky to get back out. I had to try twice. My first attempt was a bit desperate, and if you've been through my site you know that's not my style,,, Eh? I'm more cool, like a windy Rocky Mountain you see.

The summit shack, note the "devils breath" coming from the Ghost Lakes area. It appears as dust blowing windily in the lower right side of the photograph.

Once at the mountain we walked up in the relative protection of the trees but out onto the summit plateau it gets very... windy. To gain the plateau you first must negotiate a rock band that is easily passed through a gully. This part is interesting.

A narrow spot on the final approach to the summit is no problem, only a small bit of exposure is on the side. I've said on other pages you'd have to be a real klutz to fall at certain exposed spots, but at this spot you'd have to be a bonafide circus act to fall victim to your own folly.

 

Commas in The New Yorker fall with the precision of knives in a circus act, outlining the victim.

E(lwyn) B(rooks) White
1899-1985, American Author, Editor

When chill November's surly blast make fields and forest bare.

Robert Burns
1759-1796, Scottish Poet