Grassy Ridge

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Grassy Ridge

Kicking off a short road trip over the July long weekend, Zosia Zgolak and I hiked up Grassy Ridge located along Dutch Creek in Alberta's Livingstone Public Land Use Zone on 30 June 2022. While many higher ridges nearby are unnamed, it is a bit mystifying that lowly Grassy Ridge is an officially-named landmark. In any case, a straightforward ascent route up the south ridge is described by Cornelius Rott, but as he mentions, this objective by itself is hardly worth the long and arduous drive.

From the Forestry Trunk Road (SR 940), turn west onto Dutch Creek Road 33 kilometres south of the junction with Highway 532 or 5.4 kilometres north of the junction with Highway 517. Ignore all side roads and drive 13.6 kilometres to a junction with a reclaimed road heading uphill to the right (north). Park here. Potholes abound on Dutch Creek Road, and although a 2WD vehicle could conceivably be driven here when conditions are dry, high-clearance is strongly recommended.

My phone's mapping application led me astray a couple of times on the drive in due to the many ATV trails crisscrossing Dutch Creek Road. Fortunately, I did not have to backtrack too far each time I made a wrong turn, and Zosia and I eventually made it to the junction with the reclaimed road none the worse for wear. From where we parked, we hiked up the reclaimed road which sort of peters out in a large clear cut. We then headed to climber's left to gain the south ridge of our objective. After climbing through a stretch of light forest, we emerged onto an open grassy slope where the ridge becomes more well-defined. The rest of the hike up Grassy Ridge was easy and pleasant. The actual high point is enclosed by trees, but an open knoll only a short distance to the east grants some nice far-reaching views.

Zosia and I stopped on the open knoll for a break before retracing our steps down the south ridge. Other than making sure we re-entered the forest lower down at the right place, we had no difficulties descending back to our car. The ensuing drive out Dutch Creek Road was just as bumpy as the drive in, but I did not take any wrong turns this time and made it back to the Forestry Trunk Road a little more efficiently.

	Zosia begins hiking up a reclaimed road.
	A small Columbian ground squirrel pokes its head out of its burrow. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia heads up this slope after the reclaimed road peters out.
	The lower part of the south ridge is lightly forested.
	Higher up, the forest gives way to open grassy slopes full of wildflowers such as these fleabane.
	Zosia ascends a rocky section of the ridge.
	The high point of Grassy Ridge is visible in the distance at centre. Further away to the right is Sugarloaf Lookout.
	Zosia approaches the final section before the top of Grassy Ridge.
	The final section is steep but still technically easy.
	Sonny and Zosia stand on the high point of Grassy Ridge (2140 metres).
	Zosia takes a break on an open knoll just east of the high point.
	Here is a closer look at Sugarloaf Lookout to the northeast.
	Zosia commences her descent back down the south ridge. Visible on the horizon left of centre is Crowsnest Mountain.

And most look like tough ascents at least from this side of the Continental Divide.

With a few exceptions, most of the peaks along this stretch of the High Rock Range are unnamed.

I might give Gould Dome a try later this summer...maybe!

Gould Dome dominates the view to the west. Also visible at far right is Tornado Mountain.

	Sonny compares his teeth with those of presumably a deer skull. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Total Distance: 6.2 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 3 hours 29 minutes Net Elevation Gain: 428 metres GPX Data