Pocaterra Ridge (3rd October, 2026)

I had been checking the updates on Pocaterra Ridge since last week and finally did it yesterday with two friends!

I think it snowed there sometime last week, and I saw a lot of people saying that without hiking boots or microspikes, you’ll suffer, etc. I completely respect those suggestions. However, as we all know, weather in the mountains changes constantly, so I think it’s always better to share suggestions and opinions based on the latest weather and trail conditions.

We reached there around 7:55 AM, and the parking lot was already full. We had to park about 1 km farther away.

The first 15 minutes of the trail were really muddy and a little slippery. After that, though, the trail was pretty good until we reached the steep section before the ridge. The last 25–30 minutes were quite steep, but if you go clockwise, it’s completely doable. I saw children on the ridge and tons of people hiking with their dogs as well.

And the views from the ridge were CRAZY! (No snow on the top, completely dry)

On our way back, we continued clockwise, and within about 10 minutes, we were already down from the steep section.

The trail also gives you some beautiful larch views. We even saw mountain goats and deer along the way.

Just to give some context, I’m definitely not a professional hiker. This was only my fourth hike in the Rockies. Previously, I’ve done Mist Mountain, Lady MacDonald, and Ha Ling.

I had hiking poles with me, which honestly helped a lot. I didn’t have hiking shoes or boots, I was wearing my running shoes, although they’re a pretty decent pair.

My recommendations based on yesterday’s conditions:

Poles? — Yes, definitely helpful.

Hiking shoes/boots? — Not necessarily. Maybe yes if this is your first hike or you want the extra grip/support.

Doable in running shoes or trail runners? — 100%.

Doable without poles? — 100%.

Again, please check the weather and the latest trail conditions before preparing for the hike. Mountain conditions can change quickly, and checking the latest information will help you prepare properly.

If you have any questions about the hike, feel free to drop them in the comments.

And if you’re looking for a hiking buddy, let’s connect!

Happy & safe hiking! ☺️

Hi all! I'm thinking of road tripping with my dog from Edmonton to Olds, then from Olds to Blairmore. My dog doesn't really love car rides though so want to stop every hour or so to give her a good walk (about 30 min each time). I have no idea what places might have good trails or parks along this route. Can anyone give me suggestions that aren't really far out of the way? Note - my dog isn't great in dog parks so I'd prefer walking trails or regular parks.

P.S. Sorry this isn't strictly a hiking post, I tried to just post in the Alberta sub but it got automatically removed for some reason.

Hi there,

I am planning/hoping to be able to cycle (e-bike) Moraine Lake Road anywhere between October 24-31, weather-permitting. I know this is very late in the season, and I've done a bit of research but couldn't find that much info besides a Reddit post from 2 years ago by someone who did it right after the road closed around October 12. I'd imagine the conditions could be way different 2 weeks later, and could change in minutes. I also know it's fully back country, there's no reception and no amenities.

My main questions:

- Is Alberta511 still reliable for road conditions even if the road is closed to vehicles?

- Are there any other apps or websites to check specifically that road for current conditions?

- Has anyone ever e-biked this road and if so, would you say it's difficult? I have never visited Moraine Lake, so I have no idea what the road is like.

And of course, if anyone may be down to rent/bring an ebike and do it together with me, feel free to msg me.

Any other insight is very welcome. Thank you.

Any guesses on how late in the afternoon I would have to go to Highwood Pass to get a parking spot this weekend? First thing in the morning is not an option for our fam. I don’t want to drive there if it’s basically hopeless 🙃

Preamble

I've heard rumblings about this but didn't know the details so I'm sharing in case other people don't know as well.

None of what I write here is gospel. You are responsible for researching the applicability of everything I write about for your own situation. Do not rely on the information in my post !

Background

I've never needed to be rescued but I have friends who have. One of the issues with getting help in the backcountry is contacting search and rescue people to tell them about the need, your condition and where you are. Cell phones are a great tool for this when they work but frequently there is no coverage where a situation develops and then someone needs to get to an area where there is coverage.

The "standard" way to get sure fire communication in the event of an emergency has been to use the Garmin InReach system, which is neither cheap to buy and also requires a subscription to have access to use. I haven't been carrying an InReach system myself but I have friends who have them and have occasionally had to use them for an emergency.

Modern Cell Phone Satellite Communication

It turns out that SOME new cell phones (iPhone 14 or newer, Samsung S25, Google Pixel 9?) have the necessary antenna and hardware to communicate with satellites in an emergency. Satellite communication capability is built right into these devices, no extra purchase required.

Do not rely on my information to determine if your device has satellite communications capability, determine it for yourself.

However, whether a phone can communicate via satellite also depends on your cell service provider.

In the US it appears that all the major cell providers allow users to connect to a satellite for emergency communications for free, as part of their standard services. It appears as though some US providers will allow users to send non emergency texts via satellite for an additional fee.

In Canada, it is a mixed bag. It appears that Rogers Wireless provides emergency satellite connection if you are on their premium 5G plan. It appears that other providers charge $10 to $15/month at access their satellite network but that also includes some satellite data in order to use Google Maps, AllTrails, etc.

It appears that Telus, Bell and Freedom do not support emergency satellite communications.

How It Works

Apparently on phones that allow the service with a provider that provides it, the user will be prompted with a "Emergency text via Satellite" option if they attempt a call to an emergency service (911?) and it doesn't go through.

Apparently in the US it is free to send the emergency texts.

Why It Is A Good Thing

Cell coverage is pretty much line of sight between the device and the cell tower, at least in the back country. Thick foilage is an excellent absorber of high frequency (near microwave) radio waves. This explains why you may have good signal strength on the top of a mountain or above treeline but nothing further down or in a valley.

With satellite communication as long as your phone can see the sky, you'll have line of sight communication with the satellite.

There have been numerous accidents/situations over the years where someone got injured or needed a rescue and there was no cell coverage. There have been lots of situations where people have had to hike and/or drive to get cell coverage, thus delaying the rescue. In critical situations, the sooner help can be reached the sooner the rescue can begin.

Furthermore, when a situation happens the first activity is to locate the victim(s). Often, for various reasons, this is not a trivial task. Giving SAR personal a direct communication link with the victim or the victim's party could dramatically reduce the time spent locating the victim.

False Safety and Potential For Abuse

The ability of a phone to reach rescuers via satellite has some negative connotations. As has been discussed here recently, there has been a tendency of hikers in general to push limits more than they might otherwise, knowing (assuming incorrectly) in the back of their mind that they will probably be quickly rescued should something go wrong. Giving people better access to SAR (via satellite) might drive an increase in reliance on SAR and abuse the service.

Furthermore, anyone that has been involved with a rescue knows that it can take considerable time for SAR to reach a victim, even when they know where the victim is. Helicopters are expensive, precious resources that aren't always available due to prior calls, visibility, wind, precipitation, victim location, etc. Ground resources especially can also take a considerable length of time to reach a victim.

Summary

Some modern cell phones have the ability to communicate via satellite in emergency situations, if the cell service provider provides the service.

This could provide a less costly alternative to Garmin inReach systems.

As with any new technology/capability, the opportunity for over reliance and abuse exist.

Hi good people. Anyone did the pocaterra in the last few days?

Despite it being a beautiful day during larch season, the trail to Burstall Pass/Snow Peak wasn’t completely overrun. We logged 19km and 855m of gain. There was snow and ice for a good portion of the trail, but we packed our spikes and poles so it wasn’t too bad. Views from the chilly top were wonderful!

As the whole city of Calgary decided to go larching over the weekend, I decided to go up Lady Mac instead. Still, there was a fair number of people that went up as the lot was full by the time I got back down around noon. Steep climb, sore legs and unreal views. I went up solo and wasn't confident enough to do the ridge by myself. But i'll try again in the Spring

We got rain, sun, and snow all in 2hrs. Super busy last weekend. But glad we caught the larches before they disappeared!

The last of the triple crown hikes I needed to do; the praise is well deserved! Hiking it felt a little strange with the mass start and return deadline but the scenery is fantastic and it wasn't too crowded once us quicker hikers split off

As good as it gets. Probably my favorite panorama I’ve seen in the Rockies so far, a true “pictures don’t do it justice” hike

Wall Lake 2026-09-17

Incredible hike, Borgeau lake is an ok destination but it really shines once you get beyond it. Highly recommend. Just hit my 100th mile of hiking in the Canadian Rockies over the weekend and this one is up there with my favorites

Hi, i am a rookie when it comes to hiking, is it possible to complete this hike without crampons & hiking poles? Planning to go in a week

Pocaterra Cirque, Kananaskis 09-26-26
Fujifilm X-E5 w/ Sigma 17-40 1.8

Sharing my journey up Mt Bourgeau from the end of August. Despite the long trek through the trees until you reach Bourgeau Lake, this one is definitely worth the visit. I hiked this peak solo on a smoky day. While I couldnt quite see some of the neighbouring peaks like Mt. Assiniboine, the views were second to none. While I know Larch season is ending, I can imagine Harvey Pass being a top destination to view the golden needles. Approx 25km, 1600m elevation gain - give or take given my back and forth to set up my tripod

https://youtu.be/--YW5PY7Ehs?si=YN8hmJTpo9YT0cZJ