Exshaw Mountain

Elevation: 1783 m
Elevation Gain: 460 m
Exshaw Mountain and the Hamlet at its foot were both named by Sir Sanford Fleming (then the Director of the Canadian Pacific Railway) for his son-in-law William Edgar Exshaw. Along with Fleming, Exshaw established the Western Canada Cement and Coal Company. Today, Exshaw is still home to a large cement plant (now operated by Lafarge) which provides the cement, concrete, stone and asphalt that make up 80% of surrounding buildings and roads.
My Ascents:
May 22 2021
Trailhead: Exshaw Legion
GPS Track: Exshaw Mountain

After a chilly May Long morning hiking up Jura Creek with my girls, I found myself with plenty of energy to spare. Sensing my restlessness, Brianne suggested that I leave her and the kids in peace and amuse myself by bagging nearby Exshaw Mountain. (She was probably worried that she'd be suckered into another hike otherwise...) Never one to turn down a summit (even if it’s Exshaw Mountain), I readied my gear and made haste down Highway 1A.

There’s really no great reason to climb Exshaw Mountain. It’s rather unimpressive, sits atop a monstrous industrial complex and its treed summit offers no view. So why did I climb Exshaw Mountain? Like Mallory famously said, I climb the mountain “Because it’s there” (and because my wife let me 🙃).

Exshaw Mountain’s south ridge rises up behind the Hamlet’s Royal Canadian Legion. While other trip reports describe challenges finding parking, there are now signs informing recreationalists that they should park at the Legion and walk a short 3 – 4 blocks to reach the mountain’s base.

Having made quick work of the urban “approach”, I reached Exshaw Mountain’s slopes and was greeted by a local who was pleased that I hadn’t parked directly in front of his residence.

LEFT: Many trip reports also inferred that a bushwhack is required. Fortunately, this is not the case as a reasonable trail departed from the northern end of Fortress Mountain Way.
RIGHT: Having also been booted off our campsite, I was joined by Crux for this ascent (although his presence had little to do with restlessness).

After the trail meandered back and forth across the “mountain’s” lower slopes, it eventually intersected a prominent rock rib which it then followed up towards the summit.

Crux stops for one of many breaks on ascent. Our poor 9-year-old mountain dog isn’t much of a climber these days and I had to stop frequently to let him rest. In fact, there were a number of moments where I wasn’t sure that he (and therefore I) would make it, bringing back unpleasant memories of last year’s canine rescue incident on Prairie Bluff. Fortunately, I was able to coax him along with Ritz crackers and a never-ending chorus of “Good Boy”s.

The reward for Crux’s hard work: a summit panorama that was almost entirely obscured by trees! Don’t bother clicking to see larger. 🤣

LEFT: A register and cairn provide the only tangible evidence that this is, in fact, a summit.
RIGHT: The old dog atop his 91st unique summit (and 105th total). GOOD BOY!

Crux takes a well-earned break with Exshaw Mountain’s summit register.

Summit “scritches” with my faithful climbing canine companion. ❤️

LEFT: To the north, the treed ridge continued. In fact, the register wasn’t placed on the actual high point of Exshaw Mountain as the topo map clearly featured 1 contour line above its current site. Normally, I’d be the first to needlessly walk a couple of minutes through mostly flat woods for a “true summit” but, on this day, I decided that I’d asked enough of Crux already. If the register was on this slightly lower treed bump, then it was the summit. Besides, now I’ll have an excuse to repeat Exshaw Mountain one day… 🙃
RIGHT: What begrudgingly goes up must eventually go down. Fortunately, Crux proved less lethargic with gravity on his side and our descent was uneventful.

A short distance below the “summit”, a brief opening provided better Bow Valley views. Click to see larger (and get ready to sarcastically “OOOH” and “AAAH”).

The TransCanada Highway and Bow River wind their way along the foot of Razor’s Edge Peak (foreground) and Yates Mountain (background).

Mount Baldy looks grander than it is from this vantage.

A rather dramatic syncline is responsible for nearby Heart Mountain’s characteristic shape.

The view over the Bow River and Lac des Arcs is half decent provided that you ignore the monstrous plant on their shores below.

Looking south towards Skogan Peak (left) and Mount McGillivray (right).

Pigeon Mountain was a bigger day for Crux back when he was a young'n.

Looking west beyond Lac des Arcs towards Canmore.

Rimwall Summit (left) and The Orphan (right).

Canmore’s iconic Three Sisters: Faith Peak, Hope Peak and Charity Peak.

LEFT: Cruising canine (on descent at least)! 🏃
RIGHT: An unusual finish to a peak – meandering down the middle of an urban street towards the Legion. After helping Crux into the back of the car, we sped back to camp to see what sort of trouble the girls (and Brianne) had gotten into.

A very tired mountain dog sleeps off his latest triumph back at the campsite. 😴

While Exshaw Mountain didn’t exhaust me to the same degree, it did at least “scratch” my summit “itch” for the day and, apart from that, there’s no real reason to climb Exshaw Mountain (even if it is there)!