Ben’s Hill

Today it’s a visit to little Ben’s Hill, just east of Prairie Mountain. It’s a straightforward hike and the only complication is a minor cliff band two-thirds of the way up. Should the conditions be slippery as they were this day, there is a steep bypass route, but even it requires a bit of care. Just not as much as the first option.

It’s an in-the-trees kinda adventure so you won’t get many views till the very end, but that makes the reward all the sweeter.

This is a mountain bike trail so keep eyes and ears open for fast descending two-wheelers. We saw none but the season and which day you visit will likely dictate traffic and a sunny summer weekend is perhaps not the best time to go. The trail begins near Elbow Falls off Highway #66 right near the winter gate and we simply parked along the shoulder.

Take anyone of the many paths heading up on the south side of the highway then intercept the Elbow Valley Trail, an east-west connector tying together many hike and bike routes in the area. Turn east and continue on. Staying close to the highway, the trail dips and rises and just past a drainage turn left at a three-way junction. You’re now on Loamzilla (aka Ben’s Hill Trail).

The trail keeps to a gully for the next bit while climbing up at gentle grade then heads up steeply to cliff band. In dry conditions, those rocks would be nothing much, but wet and icy as it was forced us to retreat and we dropped down a bit to tackle a grassy draw to the east. We saw no evidence of a trail here, but this bypass is mentioned in other trip reports we’ve read and there is flagging, so one will surely form over time.

Now atop a ledge, turn around and enjoy the view south (nice). Next, intercept the trail again only a few steps away and continue up. A large happy group passes us here and are soon out of sight, the only people we’d see this day. The trail’s steeper here compared to when it was in the gully and care should be taken in winter. It must ice up something bad later in the season and even this day was a bit of a slip ‘n’ slide.

With all that twisting Connie’s knee decided it had enough and so she waited on a stump while I continued on. The post Cancer hormone therapy has been murder on some of her joints and in a most unpredictable way. One day good and one day not. Her condition is also the reason you don’t see us do more challenging hikes as we did in the past, but we hope to get back to them down the road. It’s said she’ll return to normal once the program ends in a couple more years and that’s good to hear.

There’s a gas well just to the east at his point (that square plot with a road leading to it on our map) that we could hear huffing and chugging away. The mountains here are gas domes and there’s a number of similar installations in the immediate area. Earlier, we passed some curious metal tags connected to these wells.

After the grade eases watch for an offshoot trail heading off to the left. If that group passed earlier planned to pay it visit, they missed this turn off. That’d be easy to do, however, as no one had come before and the fresh crunchy snow hid the marginally-defined path.

A clearing announces your arrival at Ben’s Hill, marked by a curious stone circle. It appears to line up with points on the compass and chatter suggests it’s a memorial of some kind. It’s been here since at least 2002, based on satellite data and who knows, it could go back even further. There was not even a trail up to it at the time.

More than one person reports seeing the name Ben written out in stone at the edge of the circle. I saw nothing, but then again I didn’t know to look for it at the time, but if there it may have been covered by snow. Was Ben a person or a beloved pet? A search turns up nothing but the hill is now theirs by name.

Ben’s Hill is part of Prairie Mountain, that prominent bump just to the west and it too is a very popular hiking destination (via a different trail).

The views up here are rather limited, but it’s well worth the effort. Take in rolling foothills of green and big towering peaks off in the distance and simply enjoy.

There’s a second trail you can use to exit off Ben’s Hill (called Pistolero) to make a loop and we’ll leave that for next time.

A rare selfie at the top and it’s time to head down to check on Connie. Readers always ask what the yellow jacket guy looks like, so now you know and now you regret it (haha). Should have done the duck lips! Both of us are more comfy behind the camera than in front so you mostly know our going away side.

Soon back with Connie, we take our time from this point on account of her knee still barking like a rabid hound. Heading down is always a bummer, knowing the fun is that much closer to ending, but with her condition it’s doubly important we take our time. You should have heard her cursing a truck driver (joking).

Update: this adventure is from 2019 (don’t ask) and with it two years later, her condition is no better and no worse. But she is that much closer to get off the hormones causing the problem (an unfortunate side effect) and I guess that’s a positive. The docs keep insisting things will go back to as they were, so it’s finger’s crossed.

Stay tuned, there’s lots more fun and excitement coming!

They’re saying…

“One of the great places to see great places, online! Wonderful work Chris and Connie…!” Greg Herman.

In the area…
Sulphur Springs-Elbow Valley Loop .
Mustang Hills .
Moose Mountain .

If you wish more information about this route or if you love to chat don’t hesitate to contact us!

Date of adventure: October, 2019 (opps, it slipped through the cracks).
Location: Elbow River area, Kananaskis Alberta.
Distance: 7km out and back.
Height gain maximum: 420m.
Height gain cumulative: 430m-ish.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports (including our own).
Technical stuff and notes: The rock band, and even the bypass, can be slippery as we discovered.
Reference: Kananaskis Trail Guides by Gillean and Tony Daffern.

So it begins…

Along the Elbow Trail to start.

The highway can be seen in back.

The Loamzilla section and no one has come before.

It’s pretty easy going for the most part.

There’s gas wells in the area.

Little prints in the snow.

It’s an early winter’s day.

We’re backtracking here.

Taking the bypass route instead.

Atop a little ledge, it’s this view south-ish.

Passed again!

Connie called it quits about here – knee problems.

Something wild…or maybe not.

The summit is steps away.

The stone circle marks your arrival at the “summit”.

In the shadow of Prairie Mountain.

This is winter in Kananaskis.

A rare selfie.

This is the angle more often seen.

Connie can’t be far away.

Stepping carefully.

A little frozen waterfall.

By this point Connie’s hurting bad.

Back on Elbow Trail.

So it ends…

Ben’s Hill was a blast.