Region
Highlights
Routes
5 summits • 10.8 km • 732 m gain • 8 hr 35 min
2 summits • 8.7 km • 639 m gain • 5 hr 18 min
1 summit • 12.6 km • 803 m gain • 5 hr 29 min
1 summit • 6.9 km • 669 m gain • 3 hr 0 min
1 summit • 73.7 km • 5,034 m gain • 11 hr 51 min
1 summit • 12.1 km • 724 m gain • 5 hr 39 min
Latest summits
"We were tired after Hawkins Horseshoe so we opted for an easy day out on Prairie Bluff. We ascended south ridge described in More Scrambles and descended a gas road on the southwest side. Colourful rock and lots of bugs. It was very hazy from the smoke so we couldn't see very far. " — yuri • Jul 16, 2021
"Prairie Bluff - Victoria Peak & Ridge - Pincher Ridge traverse
(along with some other sub-peaks with at least 300ft/92m prominence, 10 in total)
36.4km with 2,900m gain in 12hrs return
For the most, it's just an enjoyable ridge walk with first-class colourful views. Moderate scramble sections are en-route to Victoria Peak and off Pincher Ridge North point. The latter is avoidable by taking slopes between the main summit and North part of the ridge.
As it was raining and snowing (in other places) previous night, had my hiking/scrambling boots instead of approach shoes. I definitely forgot how heavy it is in them. By the time I got back to the service road, I was ready to kiss it and yell "hallelujah".
Got lucky with the weather: while it was really wet in the morning but got dry by lunch; was mainly cloudy and a couple storms that appeared on horizon around 5pm, just went another way." — alexp • Aug 17, 2019
"After an attempt on Haffner the day before, it was great to get out of the snow and hit hot, dry rock in the Castle. We did the Spriko counterclockwise loop. So hot - it was amazing. Views were great and the peaks are drying out as we speak. Lots of bighorn rams around and ticks, which suck(s). Jeff busted a pole, got bitten by a dog at the summit and Lisa and I had ticks in our hair. Some bushwhacking back to the parking lot, but most of the day we had open views. Highly recommend this one for a season opener." — leigh-annewebster • May 11, 2019
"50th Birthday summit with a mixed bag of weather including sunshine and winds gusting up to 60 km/hr from the south. Lots of mountain sheep dining below the summit in addition to one particularly large bighorn male who I met standing on the service road below PB Summit #3" — Mountainman • Nov 9, 2013
"Solo trip up Prairie Bluff's South Summit after scoping out Victoria Ridge & Peak trailhead. Highlights included winds in excess of 100 km/hr on the summit (whipping up ice and dirt pellets), watching a male mountain sheep bang his head against a log after which he tried to jump a female and driving home through a series of prairie dusters with winds whipping fields of dust upwards of 200' into the air" — Mountainman • Apr 27, 2013
"Another fantastic day Saturday with some of the best spring like weather all winter; which is to say that the last two months have been like spring all winter. Completed summits of what are known (at least by this scrambler) as Prairie Bluff I & II in the Castle/Waterton area. Highlights included a very enjoyable ascent, beautiful sunny blue skies all day (interrupted only by fantastic scenery), a nice long break at the summit to shoot a ton of surrounding peaks & prairies, a herd of female mountain sheep and their younguns (who were doing some fine dining at the summit and graced us with their presence), a nice gentle walk from the first summit to the second summit on a broad, wide plateau that was so easy it almost didn't feel like we were doing two summits. Finished the afternoon by downsloping across a gully that wound between PB II & III followed by a bit of fine snow whacking back to the vehicle. Ended what was one of the most fantastic days this winter with a break for late supper at Tim Hortons and traditional celebration drink (liquor free of course).....an Iced Cappucino" — Mountainman • Mar 9, 2013
"The approach was almost completely free of snow, as often happens in this area close to the Crowsnest Pass where Chinook winds blow. Our group got up quite easily since this is a small mountain. Great snowy views in May when most peaks are not accessable yet." — stevepatitsas • May 23, 2010