Adventures for Wilderness, Powderface Ridge – Jun. 20, 2021

June 20, 2021

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Led by Chris Saunders

At 9 am on June 20, 2021, 10 participants met at the Rainy Pass parking area on Highway 66. The weather was clear, sunny and not too windy. Our objective was to hike to the top of Rainy Summit which overlooks the pass and then to Powderface Ridge beyond. This route was a substitute for the originally planned hike up Forget-me-not Ridge which is to the south. The change was necessary because of exceptionally high water levels in the Big Elbow river turning a normally dry river bed into a dangerously fast flowing river.

The group started on the path up to Rainy Summit on old logging roads through an area that was logged in the early 1980’s, soon reaching older growth spruce forest. The contrast between the 2 areas was stark. The unlogged spruce forest being, of course, richer in every way. As we climbed the spruce gave way to lodgepole pine and we climbed up a ridge to the first viewpoint which offers views to the south, east and west. After a short flat stretch and a descent into a valley, we started climbing again through a beautiful flower meadow. We were a week or 2 early to see the flowers at their best. From there the path became steeper and the trees thinned as we reached Rainy Summit which provided even more extensive views to the south, east and west. We could see the impressive sight of Forget-me-not Ridge to the south west. We could also see the damage done to the forests and streams on the south of Highway 66 in the area known as the Mustang Hills where wild horses used to live but are now rarely seen.

From Rainy Summit we descended into the valley which holds the main trail up Powderface Ridge. We crossed the main trail and climbed on a small trail through mixed woodland to the top of the Ridge. The views from the Ridge were stunning, the mountains to the north and west particularly impressive.

We then walked along the Ridge for about an hour, picking our way through trees and rocks. We stopped for lunch near the point where the main trail arrives at the Ridge, with superb views in all directions. After lunch we descended using the main trail and arrived at the end of Highway 66 at about 3.30 pm and undertook a short car shuttle back to Rainy Pass.