Probably one of the shortest and easiest outings found on this here website, hike along with us as we take in Long Prairie Ridge in the Sheep River area of Kananaskis. Just one of the many trails within the Sandy McNabb network, it takes one up a long low, east/west trending hill, getting just high enough to break out of the forest and offer up some nice views. Little work, fair reward.
This is a multi-use trail, so depending on the season expect to pass hikers, bikers, equestrian riders, folks on snowshoes or skis, so in other words, near anyone using near any form of non-motorized conveyance. We saw not a single person on the trail the day of our visit. Had the place completely to ourselves. Your mileage may vary.
Long Prairie Ridge: a hike that’s short, sweet and scenic. A Chris and Connie Adventure!
Start at the Ranger Station parking lot, Highway #546 west of Turner Valley not far inside Kananaskis. The trail starts at the far northeast end of the pavement. Begin. In mere metres, turn left at fence and head north-ish. Come to a junction, one of many in the network, all of which are marked with colour coded arrows, denoting xc-ski difficulty levels, with all major ones having detailed maps. Hard to get lost here…yet I’ve heard it’s happened.
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Trending left-ish take the trail heading up at a gentle grade. The going is easy, the trail wide and way always obvious. In the trees initially, it bends left and right a little, rises and falls a little, an easy hands-in-pockets stroll in the woods. Pass a cutline. There’s a lot of them in Kananaskis and they’re connected to oil and gas exploration from many decades ago when the place was not the outdoor playground it is today. Interestingly, they’re almost always dead straight no matter the lay of the land.
Now heading west, a few more small ups and down, and break out of the trees. The north side of Long Prairie Ridge is forest, but is otherwise wide open on southern facing aspects. While not all that high, there’s still lots of scenery to take in. South is an endless sea of green, with a few hills off in the distance. The highway runs a bit below.
For us, this looked to be a nice place for an early lunch. Today’s wine selection, Rotas from Portugal, their slogan, “A Route to Explore”. Seems fitting. We gave it five thumbs up.
Continuing on the grassy top, come to a point with nice west facing views. This is the very best angle on the ridge. The big peaks are still quite a distance off, much too far to identify. They’re out of reach due to seasonal road closures, so this is about the closest one can get to them until nice weather returns. In the foreground are a couple hills and ridges familiar to us, Foran Grade and Windy Point Ridge being among them.
Reaching a high point, drop a little before joining up with the Death Valley Trail. This is where we turned around. A loop could be made using trails lower down and to the south, there’s a number of them in the woods. But they’re deep in the trees and the ground down there a bit marshy, so we expect it’d be icy. In summer, these low lying areas can be mucky quagmires. This is foothills hiking in Alberta!
You could of course head deeper in the woods to the right (north), making a loop with one of the many trails heading that way, then double back on another. Being higher up they’re generally dryer with far less chance of ice (which won’t matter in July). Doing this will make for a much longer loop. We didn’t have the time. In the past we did it though, but late in the summer. Here: Sandy McNabb XC ski trails to Pine Ridge. Visit these trails in the fall and be rewarded with wonderful colours.
Take in the views for time. We like to just stand there, quiet and still, and soak it up. Then head back at a leisurely pace. No point rushing it. Just before dipping back into the trees, take one final look around. Make quick time back your car. Now wasn’t that a hoot? For us Long Prairie Ridge was a warm up, a get in shape again trek, helping us preparing for the bigger stuff come summer.
If you wish more information about this trail, by all means contact us!
Date of adventure: April, 2017. Location: Sheep River area Kananaskis AB. Distance: 5km there and back (I told you it was short). Height gain maximum: 100m-ish Height gain cumulative: 130m-ish NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate. Technical bits and notes: None. Reference: Kananaskis Trail Guide by Gillean Daffern.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
It looks cold but fun and easy! Thank you.
A bit cold the day of our visit. But we handle it well. Hopefully it’ll be better when you hike it.
Nice pics Chris and Connie!
Thank you, it was a fun little outing.