The actual trailhead is beside the Nordegg Ranger Station, but we saved ourselves about a kilometre of mundane walking by parking near where the Ridgeline Trail begins climbing away from Highway 11.  We initially made good progress through the trees, and despite some snow cover and occasional deadfall, the trail was generally easy to follow.  Two short cliff bands guard the east end of Coliseum Mountain.  We easily ascended the first cliff band with the aid of a wooden ladder and a fixed rope.  Below the second cliff band, we encountered more snow which made route-finding a bit more challenging.  A weakness breaches the second cliff band further to climber's left, but deep, unconsolidated snow made the steep terrain here tricky to ascend.  Fortunately, this section is short-lived, and once above the second cliff band, we were able to relax a bit as we hiked west along the broad windswept ridge.  Passing over the east summit, we dropped down to the junction with the Coliseum Trail and continued along the connecting ridge to the west summit.  There were still some icy sections and deep pockets of snow here and there on the connecting ridge, but we had no serious difficulties completing the traverse.

After tagging the west (highest) summit, we retraced our steps all the way back along the Ridgeline Trail.  Descending the weakness in the second cliff band was somewhat intimidating because of the steepness and the snow, but we all managed to get down unscathed.  With the sun quickly disappearing late in the afternoon, we descended much of the lower half of the trail in the dark.  Many icy sections which seemed innocuous enough during our ascent proved to be a bit more challenging on descent, and we had to be extra careful to avoid any nasty spills.  We eventually stumbled more or less back to my car, and after packing up our gear, we drove to nearby Shunda Creek Hostel to check in for the night.

	On the side of the highway near the start of the Ridgeline Trail, Zosia smiles while Marta adjusts Kevin's gaiters.
	A sign marks the start of the Ridgeline Trail.
	The group climbs above the highway and a dammed up section of Shunda Creek. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Marta watches as Kevin scrambles up a steep section along the trail.
	Two significant cliff bands guard the eastern approach to Coliseum Mountain.
	The group approaches the first cliff band.
	A wooden ladder and rope make it easy to surmount the first cliff band.
	The group approaches the second cliff band.
	Kevin looks like a seasoned mountaineer as he walks up this steep snow slope.
	Marta and Zosia carefully climb up a slippery slope above the weakness in the second cliff band.
	Zosia heads west along the broad windswept ridge.
	This bighorn sheep snuck up behind the group more than once along the ridge.
	Marta and Zosia prepare to descend the rubble at lower right in order to begin the traverse to the west summit (centre).

 Kevin, Zosia and Marta traverse the connecting ridge to the west summit.  At right is Shunda Mountain.

 

	Kevin, Zosia and Marta approach the final summit block.
	Zosia and Marta try to avoid hard-packed snow below the summit block.
	Sonny approaches the cairn on the west summit. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

Sonny, Marta, Kevin and Zosia prepare to dance a polonaise on the west (highest) summit of Coliseum Mountain (2046 metres).

 

	Shunda Mountain is about three kilometres further to the west.
	This is looking back at the east summit of Coliseum Mountain.
	To the southwest, Abraham Lake is barely visible at distant centre.  The remains of a concrete pedestal at bottom centre are all that is left of a fire lookout tower that once stood here.
	After traversing back along the connecting ridge, Marta, Zosia and Kevin approach a cliff band guarding the east summit.
	The group continues back along the broad windswept ridge.
	Kevin and Marta carefully descend the weakness in the second cliff band.
	Kevin watches Marta descending the wooden ladder at the first cliff band.

 The sun sets to the southwest.

 

Total Distance:  16.1 kilometres Round-Trip Time:  8 hours 21 minutes Net Elevation Gain:  740 metres GPX Data