Powderface Ridge

BOU AVENUE
Powderface Ridge

On 24 October 2026, Aga Sokolowska organized a hike to Powderface Ridge in Alberta's Kananaskis Country Public Land Use Zone to celebrate Barbara Golya's upcoming 50th birthday (25 October 2026). Participants included me, Shaun Luong, Zosia Zgolak, Dale (Barbara's boyfriend), and "Murray" (Dale's dog). Similar to our Halloween hike from 2023, there was a lot of fresh snow in the area on this day, but the trail on the south ridge was still generally easy to follow and ascend. At the turnoff to Rainy Summit, we stuck to the main trail which undulates a fair bit for the next couple of kilometres along the east side of Powderface Ridge before finally gaining the crest just south of the high point. At the high point, we were surprised to run into our friend, Shelley Milutinovic, with another group of hikers who had ascended the ridge from the northwest. Before departing, they helped us celebrate Barbara's birthday on the high point.

For our return, we simply retraced our steps along the same trail we came up. The hike out was uneventful except for Murray's doggie-doo bag going missing. Earlier in the hike, Dale had left the bag along the trail with intentions of picking it up on the way out, but another group of hikers with dogs likely grabbed it instead. In any case, we were not overly mournful of the loss and subsequently went to The PowderHorn Saloon in Bragg Creek to continue Barbara's birthday celebrations.

A big thank you goes out to Aga for organizing this event and to Shaun for driving some of us to the trailhead.

Murray is rarin' to go! Shaun, Zosia, Aga, Barbara, Dale and "Murray" rendezvous at the trailhead.

And it's a very pleasant trail to ascend which makes it so popular. Despite some fresh snowfall, the trail is still easy to follow.

On a nicer day, I would take the ridge crest instead. The group follows a snow-covered trail which undulates a fair amount along the eastern flank of Powderface Ridge.

Not a great day for far-reaching views! The group pops out of the forest onto the crest of Powderface Ridge. Note the other hikers sitting near the high point in the distance.

Probably a hen with a grown chick. This is one of two dusky grouses spotted wandering along the ridge crest.

What a surprise to run into Shelley Milutinovic (far left in photo)!

The other hikers at the high point of Powderface Ridge (2206 metres) join in celebrating Barbara's 50th birthday.

	Barbara stops to sign the summit register which is located about 100 metres south of the presumed high point (on this day, Sonny's GPS reading for the register location was 2207 metres).
	After the hike, the group continues to celebrate Barbara's birthday at The PowderHorn Saloon in Bragg Creek.
	Total Distance: 10.4 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 5 hours 12 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 649 metres GPX Data

	Shaun, Zosia, Aga, Barbara, Dale and "Murray" rendezvous at the trailhead.
	Despite some fresh snowfall, the trail is still easy to follow.
	The group follows a snow-covered trail which undulates a fair amount along the eastern flank of Powderface Ridge.
	The group pops out of the forest onto the crest of Powderface Ridge. Note the other hikers sitting near the high point in the distance.
	This is one of two dusky grouses spotted wandering along the ridge crest.