Jumpingpound Mountain

Elevation: 2225 m
Elevation Gain: 417 m
Jumpingpound Mountain was named for nearby Jumpingpound Creek in 1949. The creek was named for a steep bank which Blackfoot aboriginals used as a buffalo jump. The first recorded ascent of this diminutive foothill took place in 1896 when members of the irrigation survey used its summit as a camera station.
My Ascents:
June 9 2024, June 19 2016
Trailhead: Jumpingpound Summit Trailhead
GPS Track: Jumpingpound Mountain

It is a foregone conclusion that the Hobbs family will be hiking on Father’s Day. Preferably up a summit (or, at least, something that could be loosely classified as a summit 😂). Typically, the family goes along with whatever hike idea I come up with (for better or worse). With incredibly wet and cold weather forecast this year ☔, our Father’s Day hiking resolve was, however, pushed to the limit. Were we really going to take our 8, 6, and 1-year-old daughters hiking in a driving rain in near-freezing temperatures (and what part of that sounded like fun for anyone)?...

Waking to gray skies and a deluge, we were in no hurry to leave. Sipping my tea, I consulted the forecast (for the umpteenth time). It still looked awful, but it looked less awful this afternoon… 🤔 So, I started to pack our bags. Brianne remained skeptical, but dutifully started to make lunches and get the kids dressed in appropriate clothing. After all, it was Father’s Day!

After loading kids and gear into the car, we started west towards Bragg Creek/K-Country. It was still pouring and we couldn’t see any mountains, so there was no point in going far. 😑 Given the current conditions, we didn’t have a lot of options or inspiration, so we decided to repeat Jumpingpound Mountain: the first Father’s Day summit we’d ever completed (way back in 2016 when now 8-year-old Mera was just a baby). After a slippery drive along the greasy dirt road (which has signs warning that it’s impassable in the rain 😏), we arrived at the Jumpingpound “Summit” trailhead just before noon and got everyone dressed in their warmest hiking clothes. This promised to be fun…

LEFT: At the trailhead, the weather took a turn for the better – the driving rain turned into a blizzard! ❄️ Most readers will probably assume that the previous statement is laced with sarcasm, however, Brianne and I were both ecstatic to see snow because it takes much longer for snow to soak through hiking layers than it does for rain to do so. The girls were equally ecstatic because no one had anticipated a full-on blizzard in mid-June!
RIGHT: Having already been up Jumpingpound Mountain once, 8-year-old Mera led her sisters and Mom up, as the snow began to accumulate underfoot.

LEFT: A vigorous creek, a few minutes above the road.
RIGHT: Higher up, the creek was less vigorous (which suited Mera just fine as she posed for photos standing in the middle of it).

LEFT: It can, sometimes, be difficult to keep 6-year-old Penny motivated on hikes. Fortunately, as more snow accumulated, she was eager to pummel her parents with snowballs. If she wanted to get us, she’d have to keep up with us though… 😏
RIGHT: 1-year-old Lillian gets in on the snowball action from the comfort of Mom’s backpack (watch out Brianne)!

LEFT: Brianne, still smiling despite the fact that Penny and Lillian ganged up on her with snowballs… 🥶
RIGHT: As more and more snow accumulated, the girls soon realized that shaking a tree was a much more effective way to thoroughly douse themselves and each other in snow… 🙄😂

LEFT: Jumpingpound isn’t a big mountain (by any stretch), however, its 417 m elevation gain was enough to ensure significant snow accumulation higher up! About ¾ of the way to the summit, knee-deep snow drifts became commonplace!
RIGHT: More open terrain (and a hint of blue sky!) just below the summit. While Mera and Penny were having the time of their lives racing up the mountain at this point, Brianne and Lillian were a less keen, thanks to sore shoulders, an icy wind, and an inconsiderate Matt who raced uphill with the bigger girls (sorry Boss)! 😬

Big sister Mera leads Penny up the final ridge to Jumpingpound Mountain’s snowy summit!

LEFT: Penny and Mera stand proudly atop the summit. These amazing little hikers do their Dad proud! As an aside, note the snow depth (as evidenced by Mera’s sunken hiking pole). This is seriously mid-June in the Front Ranges this year!!! 😐
RIGHT: A perfect Father’s Day enjoying a snowy summit with my 3 amazing daughters! ❤️❤️❤️

A moody Father’s Day panorama to the south from the summit. Click to see larger.

Nearby Moose Mountain sported a coat of fresh snow, thanks to the unseasonably cold weather.

LEFT: As did popular Prairie Mountain.
RIGHT: Mom attempts to serve Lilly a late lunch atop Jumpingpound Mountain. For her part, Lillian was more interested in making a mess and falling into the deep snow…

Despite starting the hike without views in a blizzard, the skies cleared enough to offer glimpses of the larger peaks to the west by the time that we reached the summit. Click to see larger.

Canyon Creek runs along the base of Mount Howard (center left) and its many of false summits.

Mount Bryant makes a cameo appearance through the thick clouds.

The full length of Jumpingpound Mountain stretches north towards the Bow Valley. Click to see larger.

As the clouds continued to lift, we even got to see Tiara Peak and a host of unofficially named subpeaks to the northwest.

The best hiking partners a Dad could ask for! 🥰

After a surprisingly pleasant break atop Jumpingpound Mountain’s snowy summit, we decided not to push our luck (further) and started down before the next wave of bad weather arrived!

My colorful crew make their way down through an, otherwise, black-and-white landscape.

LEFT: Mera, leading her Mom and Sisters safely down the snowy trail up high.
RIGHT: While Mera typically leads the way on hikes, Penny has her own unique hiking style: dawdling! 🦥

After an hour of Penny dawdling down, we eventually found ourselves back at the car, where everyone was happy to change into dry clothes! Father’s Day 2024 may have tested our resolve to hike, but I’m happy that we braved the elements to do so. After all, it wouldn’t be Father’s Day without me dragging my girls out to the Rockies for some high-quality family time suffering! 😁