All Locations > International > N America > Canada > Alberta > Kananaskis

Ranger Creek Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Ranger Creek

	Chalice and the Spoon T WI5
	Lone Ranger WI4
	R&D WI4+

Order Wrong? Sort Routes

Explore this area in 3D

Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	4,638 ft	1,414 m
GPS:	50.75174, -115.28234 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	6,330 total · 47/month
Shared By:	Janette on Nov 9, 2013 · Updates
Admins:	Dave Rone, Tom Jones, Richard Rose, Rhys Beaudry Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Description

Youd expect to find early ice in the Canadian Rockies, where winter temperatures often drop below 30°F. For their first strikes, Alberta climbers usually head to Kananaskis area. K Country is the usual season opener around here, says Will Gadd, who lives in nearby Canmore. If you look at the ice conditions archives, its surprising how often October 14, or a few days either way, mark the start of the season.

Located along the Smith-Dorien/Spray Trail, a gravel road linking Canmore with Kananaskis Country, the Ranger Creek area, south of Burstall Pass, has high avalanche danger in midwinter, but is usually safe and easy to approach in late fall.

R&D (WI4+) is the classic, with a long, steep WI4+ column on the first pitch, followed by rambling easy ice to the top, about 45 minutes from the car. Farther up the same drainage, Lone Ranger (WI3+) and The Chalice and the Blade (WI5) offer additional steep challenges.

Getting There

Park at Smith-Dorien/Spray Trail. Follow to the left of the bushes where the area opens up and cross the stream. Follow along the creek until the area narrows then head up on the left through the bushes. From thereon you will eventually reach the snowslopes where the area opens up. You can see R&D on your left and Lone Ranger and Chalice straight ahead for another 20 minutes.