Prairie Sky IV

Part of the new approach. Hiking down this cutline is very easy and then you have to cross Pincher Creek to get to the gas road. At this time of the year the creek is usually quite low and very easy to cross.

Looking up to the summit of Prairie Sky

The outlier I'm headed for. Doesn't look like much from below but up close it's pretty cool.

Traversing in that direction was quite tempting

Same as above

But I went straight up instead

And this is why I picked this route!

Getting much steeper near the top

Looking back at the approach. The obvious cutline provides the new approach to ascents of Victoria Ridge, Victoria Peak, Pincher Ridge, and Prairie Bluff.

Smitten

Close-up of smitten!

A path to the ridge. Looks like ankle-breaking rubble, but it's actually quite pleasant to ascend.

Part of the reason that Southern Alberta rubble and scree is so foot-friendly compared to more northerly Alberta rubble and scree is the way the rock breaks. Southern rock breaks into thin plates that settle to make a more a more stable surface are easy to walk on top of, while Northern rock breaks into more rounded boulders that give your ankles a real workout and often move when stepped on.

Soon to be thin plates

Also much of the rock in the south has a positive slope, which generally makes scrambling easier and more fun

Getting close to the ridge, but I'm definitely going to explore before gaining it

Here's some of that exploration

Hazy view of Pincher Ridge (left) and the north outlier of Pincher

Prairie Sky is destined to be ascended today

Checking out other stuff first

Finally on the ridge, with the highpoint close by

Rocks, dead trees, and Victoria Peak

Victoria and Prairie Storm

All of the above

Steps away from the highpoint

But no! Another detour.

So many twisted, dead trees and so little time

Cinch Hill and Bridle Peak are the eastern outliers of Pincher Ridge and have become off- and on- season favourites

Insane variety of rock in this area

Minor obsession with this guy

Back on track to hit the highpoint

Steps away - for real this time

Summit view

The view to Prairie Sky is a sweet one and the forest fire smoke has cleared a little in that direction

Therefore I'm heading in that direction

It's going to be photo op galore from here to the top

Drywood Mountain joins the view at the far left

Closing in on the summit block of Sky

Victoria Peak, Prairie Storm, and Prairie Sky

The next section features several cool dead trees, lots of red argillite, and a little lichen

Back to ogling Victoria Peak

This would be such a great view without the haze

A nostalgic look down the route Mark and I ascended in 2008

The final section of the ascent features lichen on dark igneous rock

Again with the haze

The summit of Sky is more of a plateau than a singular highpoint

Summit view towards Prairie Fire (centre) and Prairie Bluff (just left of centre)

Summit of Prairie Bluff and one of gas extraction sites near the right

Summit pano

Starting down the northeast ridge

Like the southeast side, the northeast is replete with amazing rock

Throughout the descent I tried to explore the face of the peak and the ridge

Descending the face

Traversing back towards the ridge because I see some red argillite

Same as above

And arrived

Sweet but creepy tree

The REALLY creepy version of that tree!

The south side of Prairie Fire offers a straightforward but circuitous route to the top around the southwest side

Although there appears to be a road going up Prairie Fire, it's an illusion. There is a single track animal trail there, however.

Argillite and that road that doesn't exist

Lots of creepy trees lower down

And less creepy ones

Aiming for the gas well in the centre

Looking across the face of Sky

All the colours and items I love about this area

The far more exciting route up Prairie Fire goes up and through the weakness just right of centre

Sky (left) and Fire. I descended the right skyline of Sky.

Same as above from the gas road

The End

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