Little Lougheed

Elevation: 2480 m
Elevation Gain: 780 m
Mount Lougheed is a prominent Bow Valley landmark that is often seen by motorists on the TransCanada highway near Dead Man’s Flats. Lougheed was named for Sir James Lougheed following his death in 1925. Lougheed was an influential Calgary politician and lawyer whose grandson, Peter, served as Alberta’s tenth Premier from 1971 until 1985. In addition to the Lougheed massif’s four main peaks (Lougheed I, II, III and Wind Mountain), it also features several notable outliers including the “Windtower” and “Little Lougheed.” Although “Little Lougheed” is not visible from the Bow Valley, it is a fine and, justifiably, popular Kananaskis viewpoint.
My Ascents:
December 4 2020
Trailhead: Spencer Creek (Roadside)
GPS Track: Little Lougheed

With record-breaking warm weather and record-breaking daily COVID case numbers, the first week of December seemed like an apt time for an outdoor getaway. Given the constant stream of pandemic-related bad news, an escape might have proven necessary even if the forecast called for Pfizer vaccine-appropriate temperatures! Fortunately, that was not the case on December 4 and, as the snow in Calgary melted, I took a vacation day to get away from the home office for a much-needed dose of fresh mountain air.

Joined by a physically distant Matt Clay, this mountain outing also proved to be a rare, and welcome, opportunity to socialize. While Zoom calls have proven amusing, they are no substitute for in-person interaction (just ask my cat Calvin).

After driving separate vehicles from Calgary, Matt C. and I met at Spencer Creek with the aim of snowshoeing up “Little Lougheed.” Or at least, I intended to snowshoe. Matt C. wisely left his ‘shoes in the car and mine were only useful as training weights on this popular “little” peak. As Matt C. noted, “Little Lougheed” was an uncharacteristically small and pleasant hike for us. The peak’s sweeping panoramic vista of Spray Lake, however, demonstrated compellingly that bigger isn’t always better!

Within minutes of setting out from our roadside parking spot, we passed by a lovely little spring whose earth-warmed waters kept its surroundings green and fresh amidst the, otherwise, wintry and barren landscape.

LEFT: Just beyond the spring, we found a pair of bridges at the intersection of the Spencer Creek and the High Rockies trails. When I last attempted “Little Lougheed” in 2014, the High Rockies trail didn’t exist but I recalled veering to the climber’s left near its present location. Matt C., however, believed that we should continue up Spencer Creek and, armed with a GPS and 2 previous ascents of “Little Lougheed,” I decided to take his word for it.
RIGHT: After chatting merrily, Matt C. eventually became concerned that we’d taken the wrong path (!). Consulting his GPS, he suggested that we bushwhack and side-hill our way back to the proper ascent line. "Relieved" that a Matt H. & Matt C. outing would indeed involve unnecessary suffering, I happily obliged and we plunged into the brush. Those wishing to avoid this exercise in character-building should take the left branch of the High Rockies trail, crossing a bridge and then departing uphill on an established spur trail a short time later.

After a healthy dose of unnecessary side-hilling, we stumbled back upon the proper trail which contoured alongside the climber’s right of this large boulder field.

Spectacular Spray Lake makes its first appearance under a wintry moon beyond the blocky boulder field.

A helicopter tour enjoys fine views of the mid-morning moon over the nearby Goat Range.

LEFT: As the broad boulder-strewn slope sharpened into a ridge, LL's sun-bathed summit appeared above.
RIGHT: Matt C. demonstrates that it is possible to enjoy repeat ascents...

Matt C. follows the packed trail up alongside a series of scenic rock pinnacles.

LL's rocky summit appears suddenly upon reaching tree line.

With the trees now below us, Spray Lake glistened like a jewel in the morning light. Though it didn't look frozen, the lake was solid ice! Fortunately (for us), its surface had been polished smooth as glass by earlier high winds. Views like this are rare as the lake is typically snow-covered when frozen and covered in white-capped waves when it isn’t.

Matt C. tackles the peak’s final rocky slopes. Despite reports that suggest otherwise, this slope is clearly steep enough to slide if snow-covered. Fortunately, avalanche conditions were “bomber” on this day with the snow locked up tight (somewhere else)!

Enjoying a SPECTACULAR stroll along “Little Lougheed’s” summit ridge (photo courtesy Matt Clay).

LEFT: Mount Sparrowhawk towered overhead as we enjoyed the final, scenic steps to LL's “little” summit.
RIGHT: “Big” Lougheed (II) as seen from the summit of its “Little” namesake.

With so much disease and anxiety in the world, it was freeing to stand carefree atop a peak (even a “little” one) surrounded by magnificence that will persist long after SARS-CoV-2 is forgotten (Photo courtesy Matt Clay).

Proof that “little” peaks can sport BIG views. A perfect panorama from “Little Lougheed’s” scenic summit. Click to see larger.

Mounts Buller, Birdwood, Smuts and Turner tower above the Spray Lake’s southern end.

Mount Nestor and Old Goat Mountain separate the crystalline sky above from the glassy lake below.

A closer look at Old Goat Mountain’s sheer north face.

An icy mirror flows along the foot of the Goat Range.

Thanks to clear skies, peaks as distant as Kootenay’s Mount Ball were laid out for us to see.

A summit smile on a clear, calm winter day. This was just the escape that I needed! (Photo courtesy Matt Clay)

While I ran excitedly around the summit snapping photos, Matt C. took a more relaxed approach to enjoying his summit stay. December days like this are rare (note the lack of gloves etc.) and we weren’t in any rush to start back down.

The nearby Lougheed massif filled the panorama of the Kananaskis Range to the north. Click to see larger.

Two of Canmore’s famous Three Sisters (Big and Middle).

Rimwall Summit (left) and the “Windtower” (right) bookend West Wind Pass.

While the Lougheed Massif effectively obscured most of the view towards the Bow Valley, West Wind Pass provided a small window towards it and the peaks of the Fairholme Range on its far side (from left to right: Mount Inglismaldie, Mount Girouard, Mount Peechee and Mount Charles Stewart’s north and south summits).

LEFT: Lougheed I is a mere 27 m lower than the massif’s true summit (Lougheed II).
RIGHT: For a “little” peak, LL's north face drops off quite precipitously! This is definitely a good place to be mindful of cornices during winter ascents!

Lougheed II and Mount Sparrowhawk tower over an uncharacteristically serene Spray Lake, filling much of the panorama to the southeast. Click to see larger.

A disturbingly well-coordinated pair of Dr. Matts atop Little Lougheed. After collecting the requisite summit photos and enjoying our lunch in the surprisingly warm December sun, we begrudgingly packed up and started to make our way back down.

About 1 minute into our descent, I had to ask Matt C. to stop for, yet another, panoramic shot. With views like this, I simply couldn’t help myself. Indeed, the views on “Little Lougheed” are so big that even Matt C. couldn’t spoil them! 😝 Click to see larger.

LEFT: After a few more photos, we eventually began our descent in earnest, making surprisingly good progress down while discussing (what else) pandemic response. So much for a temporary reprieve from this COVID business! At least, the air was fresh, the company was good and the discussion was stimulating.
RIGHT: As we made our way down LL's spine, the pinnacles that we passed provided opportunities for fun, hands-on scrambling (Photo courtesy Matt Clay).

Despite our decreasing elevation, the views of the Spray Valley remained sublime for most of the descent!

LEFT: The mid-afternoon December sun neared the horizon as Matt and I made our way back alongside the evergreen spring. Both the spring and the setting sun served as signs that our magnificent day was approaching its end.
RIGHT: Shortly after passing the spring, we reached the highway and bid each other adieu (until our next unnecessary bushwhacking/side-hill adventure). As Matt C. disappeared down Highway 742 in a cloud of icy dust, I made my way home at a more relaxed pace, stopping near the West Wind Pass trailhead to get a better view of Little Lougheed (center) from Spray Lake’s picturesque shoreline.

The sun sets on another SPECTACULAR day in the Canadian Rockies. 😍 While our day’s objective was uncharacteristically “little”, its BIG views sent me home refreshed and ready to face reality once more (at least until the next time that clear skies and warm weather are forecast over the mountains)!