Canmore and West Wind Pass- Exploring the Spray Lakes Reservoir
Driving up from Canmore to the winding, semi-circular, Spray Lakes Reservoir, one will get a beautiful view of the Bow Valley. In this part of the country you will find plenty of peaks, including the East End of the Ruddle Trail, the Iconic Three Sisters Mountain Range and the Old Goat Glacier, all places I look forward to hiking next time.
On my way up to spay lake I encountered a few mountain goats roaming the landscape, As well as partially blocking the road!.
The mountain runoff contained in Spay lake is controlled via a series of reservoirs and channels. These in turn are managed by a series of weirs and intake channels. Make sure to enjoy the mountain scenery on your way through!
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The West Wind Pass, the Rimwall and the Windtower
When you arrive at Spray Lake, you will find a trailhead for the West Wind Pass on the west side of the lake, not far from its northernmost end. You can pull over on the gravel road’s shoulder and begin the steep climb up. This pathway will lead you to two distinctive mountain features at the top, the Rimwall and the Windtower.
The first part of your climb takes you up a dense level of vegetation, towards the summit of the mountain chain. The West Wind Pass is a 4.7 kilometer hike, with a 356 elevation gain, a modest hike by any means but one offering a fantastic view.
As you approach the top you will catch a glimpse of the tip of the Windtower, with its distinctive triangular silhouette.
From the top of the West Wind Pass, you will get a great view of the forest and crescent shaped lake below.
From the top of the west wind pass you will get your first view of the Rimwall.
The West Wind Passage ends atop the mountain ridge in a small depression halfway between the peaks of the Rimwall and the Windtower. The soil here is puckered with small holes in the landscape, with lone trees and moss puncturing the bleak rock landscape.
To your right (south) you will find the Windtower, and the steep path to its peak.
This rock formation looks like its almost collapsing into the Bow Valley on the other side of the mountain chain
On the left side (north) is the Rimwall, a wall-like formation that stretches out over the next few kilometers.
This “wall” is a precipitous cliff face leading down to the Bow Valley. I recommend climbing the Windtower instead.
Canmore
The main base for hikers and skiers in this part of Alberta is the tiny mountain of Canmore. Although Canmore’s history stretches back to 1884, there is little heritage to see in its built urban core. In fact much of Canmore today consists of modern construction. The city got its start when the Canadian Pacific Railway director Donald A. Smith (later 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal named it after King Malcolm III of Scotland. This king was nicknamed Canmore, Gaelic for “Big Head”. In 1886, it was granted a coal mining charter by Queen Victoria with the first mine opening in 1887. This industry sustained the city throughout most of the 20th century until a downturn in the coal market in the 1970’s brought about the closure of the Canmore Mines Ltd. in 1979. The Province of Alberta cleaned up the mines, demolishing most of the outlying buildings. For those who wish to experience a bit of that period of time, you may visit the historic lamp house, where the miners would meet before their shifts, and a few mine entrances
Canmore was down and out during the 1980’s but the advent of the Winter Olympic games in Calgary in 1988 would revive the town. Canmore would play host to the Nordic events, thus creating the proper touristic infrastructure for the town to grow and prosper! The town has swelled in population since this event. Thus in Canmore itself you will find an old main street as well as many touristy joints spread out though the rest of the modern town. On the main street (8th street) check out the Canmore brewery, for a great post hike beer (or many more then that!) as well as the old chapel across the street. On the same street you will also find the historic Canmore Hotel. Lastly check out the Big Head sculpture in Canmore, a giant head buried in the sand.
