Elbow Lookout

BOU AVENUE
Elbow Lookout

Taking advantage of a recent fresh dump of snow, Zosia Zgolak and I did a ski traverse of unofficially-named Elbow Lookout in Alberta's McLean Creek Off-Highway Vehicle Public Land Use Zone on 24 November 2024. We got our inspiration for this trip from Bob Spirko's 2023 trip report, and he, in turn, got the idea from Kananaskis Country Trail Guide scribe, Gillean Daffern. An unmarked trail runs over the top of this diminutive forested hill and is probably frequented mostly by dirt bikers. We started this trip later in the day than usual mainly to coordinate our schedule with an evening social engagement but also to allow frigid overnight temperatures in the area to warm up a bit.

Starting from McLean Creek ATV Staging Area (50.88018, -114.68743), Zosia and I headed southwest along the main access road with light ski touring gear. The snow-covered road had already been packed down by snowmobiles which meant that we did not have to expend energy breaking trail. Given how much snow had fallen in Calgary the previous day, the snow accumulation in this area was surprisingly light. About 3.1 kilometres from our starting point, we turned right and left the main access road to climb up a steep cut line; this was Spirko's descent route off Elbow Lookout. Zosia had neglected to bring her climbing skins but still managed to out-pace me going up the cut line. Upon reaching the crest of Elbow Lookout's northeast ridge where the cut line begins to descend, we turned left and followed a snow-covered trail heading up the ridge. At some point, we passed over Elbow Lookout's viewless and indistinct high point (1580 metres), and shortly after, we reached the top of a short bluff which grants some limited views but nothing earth-shattering.

With little reason to linger, Zosia and I continued southward on a slow and sometimes rocky descent of the trail that Spirko had ascended. For a variety of reasons, we deviated from Spirko's track and ended up skiing much further south along the east bank of Silvester Creek before turning left and climbing up an exploration road to re-connect with the main access road. The return ski along the main access road felt a bit monotonous, and for some variety, we decided to try a short cut just before the last straight section to the ATV staging area. This short cut has a few unexpected and annoying dips and does not really save much in the way of time and effort at least when skiing. In any case, we ultimately finished our ski tour none the worse for wear and made it to our evening social engagement perfectly on time.

	Zosia skis the main access road en route to Elbow Lookout.
	Zosia leaves the main access road to climb up a cut line.
	The cut line leads to the crest of Elbow Lookout's northeast ridge.
	Zosia stands atop a short bluff about 85 metres southwest of the viewless high point of Elbow Lookout (1580 metres).
	A break in the trees at the bluff grants this limited view of Swany's Ridge.
	Part of the Elbow River Valley is also visible through the same break in the trees. At centre, Prairie Mountain is mostly obscured by clouds.
	Beyond the bluff, the snowy forest nearly swallows up Zosia who is skiing just ahead.
	Zosia emerges from the forest onto an open embankment high above Silvester Creek.
	Zosia climbs steeply up an exploration road to get back to the main access road.
	Zosia tries to stay below the speed limit as she skis back along the main access road.
	Zosia takes an ill-advised short cut on the last leg of the return trip. The short cut undulates and twists much more than expected and hardly saves any time.
	Total Distance: 10.7 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 3 hours 50 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 150 metres GPX Data