Vic Panei: Powderface Ridge in Kananaskis Country (October 18, 2006)
Vic’s View – October 18, 2006:
Powderface Ridge has an elevation of 7,250 feet (2,210 meters). It is located in the
Elbow River Valley in Kananaskis Country, Alberta. This eight kilometer long, grass and
tree covered ridge stretches from Prairie Creek in the north to the Elbow River to the
west. You’ll find it east of Ford Creek and opposite Forgetmenot Ridge.
Powderface Ridge can be clearly seen from Highway # 66. It was named after a Stoney
Indian, Tom Powderface, who lived in the Bragg Creek area.
For a 3-D view of this mountain, or any of the 1,558 mountain peaks identified on Dave
Birrell’s web site, surf up www.PeakFinder.com and click on the Google Earth link.
On Wednesday Oct. 18, Dee, Sheila, Ursula and I went up Powderface Ridge (once
again for me). The snow that had fallen in the previous days prevented us from doing
anything more challenging. But, as usual, it didn’t matter where you go.
It was again a great day to be out stomping on the trails. It was cloudy and cool when
we started. A cold, strong wind greeted us at the top of the ridge. We found shelter
behind trees for lunch and then got out of the top in a hurry. By then, though, the skies
started to open up here and there. And as it has been happing often this season, by the
time we got back to the car, the sun was shining on us with bright blues skies
everywhere but to the West. Here are some of the images that we took that day:
Nihahi Ridge from Powderface Ridge
“Nihahi” is the Stoney Indian word for “rocky.”
Nihahi Ridge, Mount Remus and Mount Romulus
Romulus and Remus were the legendary founders of Rome. Twin sons of Mars and Rhea
Silvia, they were abandoned and cast adrift on the Tiber, ultimately washing ashore
where they were suckled by a wolf and fed by a woodpecker. They were then adopted
by a shepherd and later founded the city that was to become Rome. Romulus
surrounded it with a wall, but Remus in contempt jumped over it so Romulus killed him
and reigned alone in the city which was named for him.
Banded Peak: Elevation 2934m (9626ft.)
A horizontal band of dark rock forms a steep cliff just below the summit of the
mountain. As snow does not lie on the cliff, it forms a dark band below the summit with
snow above and below.
Nihahi Ridge, Mount Remus and Mount Romulus
