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
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 side of the horseshoe
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 up to the summit from the Col
The way forward along Tent Ridge
The ridge trail from the summit goes to the left to bypass a rock climb.
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.
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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