Warspite Lake & Black Prince Cirque Snowshoe
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country
February 18, 2012
This snowshoe trail is an easy outing to Warspite Lake, gaining about 100m over 2km. Past the lake, the trail makes its way up potential avalanche terrain to Black Prince Cirque. The day we went it was cloudy and snowed lightly all day. We turned around about halfway between Warspite Lake and the Cirque becuase the unconsolidated snow and limited visibilty was less than ideal conditions. We'll definately go back when the conditions are better.
The trail starts at the Mount Black Prince Day Use Area near the southern end of the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Lakes Road.
Trip Length: 7.2 km (it's about 10km return if you go all the way to the Cirque)
Cumulative Ascent/Descent: ~400m
Thanks for your comments. You are correct that we were in avalanche terrain. For your interest, we have avalance training, have appropriate equipment including beacons, shovels, and probes, and have the skills to self-rescue. We were aware of the avalanche conditions that day (which were low for all levels), and practiced safe travels across avalanche-prone features.
I would recommend that anyone accessing the backcountry in the winter to at minimum have avalanche training awareness.
You guys went into some serious avalanche terrain. Notice the little trees and bushes that are pointing in the downhill direction? That are missing their branches on the uphill side? That tells you avalanches go through there on a regular basis.
© Shawn Benbow
