Racehorse Creek Hill

BOU AVENUE
Racehorse Creek Hill

On 9 November 2024, Zosia Zgolak and I traversed unofficially-named Racehorse Creek Hill located in Alberta's Livingstone Public Land Use Zone. The name was coined by Matthew Clay, but we got our inspiration for this hike from Bob Spirko's 2020 trip report. We would also pretty much follow in Spirko's footsteps by climbing up the hill's south ridge and then descending via the east ridge to complete a loop.

Starting from a pullout (49.80468, -114.45375) on the south side of Highway 940, Zosia and I crossed the road and began climbing up a scrubby slope to quickly gain the crest of the south ridge. We actually picked up a good trail here and followed it briefly until it began to descend and veer away from the ridge crest. We then made a quick course correction to regain the ridge crest and were soon out of the trees and ascending open grassy slopes. Near the top, we re-entered light forest and ultimately hiked over the disappointingly viewless western (true) high point. Fortunately, the subsidiary high point to the east with a large cairn is a much more scenic perch, and we hunkered down there for a pleasant break out of the wind.

When we resumed hiking, Zosia and I dropped down an obvious break in the cliffs guarding the east side of the subsidiary high point. We then hiked over a couple of minor bumps along the east ridge before crossing a forested dip to gain a southward-trending rib. Descending this rib was mostly straightforward until we neared the end where it seemingly plunges straight down to Vicary Creek. Abandoning the rib to skier's right, we dropped down a steep embankment into a drainage and followed it out for a short distance before muddling through some cattle-churned marshy slopes to reach Highway 940 just west of a bridge over Vicary Creek. An easy 650-metre walk along the road brought us back to our car and concluded our hike.

	From this starting point, Zosia will climb up to the crest of the ridge in the background.
	Zosia gains the crest of Racehorse Creek Hill's south ridge. She will later descend the partially forested rib in the background for the return trip.
	The trees begin to thin out as Zosia climbs higher up the ridge.
	McGillivray Ridge and Ma Butte can be seen on the horizon behind Zosia.
	There are two separate high points at the top of Racehorse Creek Hill.
	Zosia easily circumvents a rock outcrop on the ridge.

Still not sure which is the true high point!

As viewed from the western high point of Racehorse Creek Hill, Zosia stands beside a large cairn on the eastern high point.

	Sonny joins Zosia on the lower eastern high point (1926 metres) of Racehorse Creek Hill.
	Peaks of the High Rock Range can be seen beyond the western (true) high point (1937 metres) of Racehorse Creek Hill at right.

Lots more unnamed hills to hike in this area!

Here is the view to the north from the eastern high point.

	Zosia drops down a break in the cliffs guarding the eastern high point.
	Here is a look back up at Sonny descending the break in the cliffs. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia turns southward after descending the east ridge of Racehorse Creek Hill.

Your nipple is showing!

Here is a more comprehensive view of Racehorse Creek Hill's south and east ridges.

	Zosia looks down at Vicary Creek from near the end of the descent rib.
	Sonny drops down a steep embankment into a drainage emanating from the southeast side of Racehorse Creek Hill. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Total Distance: 6.1 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 4 hours 8 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 390 metres GPX Data