Tent Ridge Horseshoe Hike

Monica Creek to Tent Ridge

Monica Creek to Tent Ridge

Wednesday August 13th 2014

Tent Ridge Horseshoe Hike is one of the classic ridge walks in Kananaskis Country. The hike starts from a small pull off on the road from Engadine Lodge to Mt Shark Trail Head parking. As the hike is a loop it is best go in a clockwise direction. The trail up the first rib of the ridge on the left side of the horseshoe is steep with a bit of a scramble. It is always easier to up climb than down climb. So now we are going in a clockwise direction head down the road for about 50 m looking for the trail through a cutblock. The return trail is visible up the road. Wander along  through the trees looking for a cairn on the right in about 650m  from the road. Soon you reach Monica Creek.

After the creek  it becomes  Monica Meadows. In the meadow look for the trail to go left to come around to the spine of the ridge.

Start of climb up Tent Ridge

Start of climb up Tent Ridge

The trail now gets more interesting with a small rocky scramble  and an elevation gain of 260 m. to the transmitter station.

Climbing up to the left sid eof the horseshoe

Climbing up to the left side of the horseshoe

 

At the first summit and the transmitter

At the first summit and the transmitter

The first view of Tryst Lake is visible from here. Soak in the views and set off down to the Col with the loss of about 90 m.

Looking back from the Col

Looking back from the Col

 

Looking up to the summit from the Col

Looking up to the summit from the Col

 

The way forward along Tent Ridge

The way forward along Tent Ridge

The ridge trail from the summit goes to the left to bypass a rock climb.

Heading downand the route to the right

Heading down and the route to the right

The ridge undulates to a third summit before dropping down to the end. Turn right at the end of the ridge and follow a trail until you can see a small valley. The trails all seem to go across the mountain so just go for it down the grass hill. Then just follow the trail down, and don’t be tempted to go right,as the trail heads of left. Soon to arrive at an old logging road and back to the gravel Mt Shark road with your car insight.

Tentridge

Tentridge Profile

Distance return 11 km Time return 5 hrs ( inc 30 min lunch ) Elevation Accumulated gain 885 m Elevation to Summit 695 m Summit height 2542 m

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Other side of Tent Ridge horseshoe

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Other side of Tent Ridge horseshoe

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