After leaving the Indian Oils parking lot, you get to this fancy new bridge in short time. The original bridge in this area was destroyed in the 2013 floods. If you walk down stream a bit, you can find the twisted metal remains of the old bridge. After crossing the bridge, hang a left onto an old logging road.After a few minutes on the logging road, you will come across the turn off for Mount Hoffmann. On the way up it is a right-hand turn. This is looking down.After a hike through the forest, you reach the first col and a fork in the trail. Mount Hoffmann is the left, a viewpoint on the right. We made a quick stop to explore the viewpoint on the way up. We stopped here again for lunch on the way down as it is less windy than the summit.The rocky outcrop you can scramble over for fun and the first real viewpoint of the trip. Once you are done enjoying the vistas and blocky climbing, head back to the main trail.When I first tried this trail in 2015 it was a faint narrow trail though the woods. Even the guidebook suggests brining a GPS for navigation. Now, it is a wide well-worn path. Clearly, this is a popular outing.The trail passes through an area with a significant number of blown down trees. Fortunately, somebody has cleared a path. This is the last part of the trail that is in the forest.Out of the woods and the summit is in sight. I’ll be taking summit selfies in no time!Approaching the summit cairn. This peak was named after Christian Hoffman. Christian was a chemist and mineralogist with the geological survey of Canada. The first recorded summit of this peak occurred in 1895.Traditional Summit Selfie as predicted!We take a few minutes to enjoy the views, but the wind was very strong and cold. My dad attempted to gain lift and flight but wasn’t successful, this time.One last look around and then it is time to head back down. The route back is the same as the ascent. But just before leaving, way off in the distance I can make out a fire lookout on a peak. Note to self: go visit this lookout someday. https://www.tripbagger.com/2021/11/05/shawn-bags-junction-mountain-lookout-kananaskis/
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Shawn Bags Junction Mountain Lookout – Kananaskis – Trip Bagger · February 27, 2022 at 8:32 pm
[…] return with a bike and have at it. If you prefer a shorter hike, check out Mount Hoffman here: https://www.tripbagger.com/2021/10/26/shawn-bags-mount-hoffmann-kananaskis/ When you reach one of the first clearings, the objective comes into view. It is difficult to make […]