"Olympic Summit"
(and a little beyond)

  


  
 
October 24, 2021
 
Mountain height: approximately 2500 m
Elevation gain:    approximately 1200 m
Round-trip time:  6:10
 
Solo hike/scramble.
 
Definitely the surprise trip of 2021. With a time restriction for the day, I simply wanted to get out and enjoy some exercise. In the past, Mount Allan had provided just that and excellent scenery to boot. I knew I couldn’t get up and down Allan in 6 hours but even making it to unofficial “Olympic Summit” would still get the old heart pumping - come to think of it, just climbing the stairs in my house from the main level to the upper level gets my heart pumping these days, so that point is moot!


 
The surprise came when I reached the prominent rock band just below Olympic Summit. The trail goes neatly around the right side of the rock and up towards the summit. However, I decided to quickly check out the left side – not to find a route up, but because of some seemingly colourful rock in that direction. I can only say, “Wow!!” – a word I usually reserve to describe the rock in southern Alberta and Glacier National Park, Montana. The rock band on Allan was every bit a northern Alberta equal – a terrific variety of rock colours, rock types, and lots to lichen to boot! 


 
Still wanting to, at minimum, achieve the summit of Olympic Summit, I cut the detour short, hoping that I would have time on return to take a longer look. I was surprised, upon reaching Olympic, to discover that a very fast hiking pace would probably get me to the summit of Allan and down within my time restriction. However, that rock band was under my skin and it was calling louder than Allan’s summit (which I seen on three previous occasions anyway).
 
But first, a little exploration along the ridge between Olympic and Allan. This yielded more wonderful mountains scenes – the view of Wind Mountain is one of the most striking in all of Kananaskis – and in keeping with the exploratory nature of the day, I took an alternate return route on the south side of the ridge.

  
Round 2 of “The Rock Band” was simply stupendous! Granted, I often get more excited about rock than the typical mountain traveler, but this area is really something special. How I missed it the other three times I ascended Allan is a mystery!
 
Eventually I had to tear myself away and enjoyed the typically fast descent of the Centennial Trail – easily one of the best trails in Kananaskis Country.
 
A remarkable day of exploration and new experiences on a familiar objective.    


The morning Sun hits the imposing northeast face of Mount Kidd



Bigger view of the Coal Mine Trail area. The Wedge is in the distant center.



Just a tiny taste of the remarkable colours to come



Easy and rewarding travel up the fantastic Centennial Ridge Trail



Kidd again



One snowy slope and one clear one



Looking northeast to some old favourites: Skogan, Lorette, and Baldy



Ribbon Peak makes an appearance, right of Mount Kidd



Not quite as eye-catching as Prairie Bluff XI, but still cool



A light layer of fresh snow is always welcome for scenic purposes



The first high point at the right and "The Rock Band" at the left



There is some beautiful lichen-covered rock en route to "The Rock Band"











The McGillivray/Skogan/Lorette massif



Mount Collembola at the right



A faint Moon remained in the sky for much of the trip







At the base of The Rock Band


Round 1 of The Rock Band exploration














































































Above The Rock Band and continuing up to Olympic Summit



Ribbon Peak (left) and Mount Bogart



Olympic Summit



The view to the west includes Mount Sparrowhawk (left), Wind Mountain (centre), and Mount Allan (right)



Wind Mountain is so striking from this direction - it gets tons of photo attention!



Lots of cool rock along the ridge between Olympic and Allan























Conglomerate rock



Sparrowhawk looks really cool too



Still heading towards Allan



Big blocks and Collembola



Still fascinated with Wind Mountain



And Sparrowhawk







Wind (left) and the 3rd and 2nd peaks of Mount Lougheed (the 2nd is the true summit)



The Moon is still clearly visible



As close to the summit of Mount Allan as I got



Exploring the south side of the ridge grants you a different view of all the striking pinnacles on the ridge







Returning below the ridge on the south side

















 Round 2 of The Rock Band exploration

























  












































































































Parting look at The Rock Band



View to the east



The snow has melted

The End

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