Yamnuska Scree Indulgence

In the Calgary Outdoor Club, we do this thing that we call a "Yamnuska Scree Indulgence". We hike up the side of Mount Yamnuska, hike around the front of the cliff, and run down the scree, indulging in the fun without bothering to do the much more challenging scramble to the summit via the back side of the mountain with the scary cable section.

If you’ve never run scree, I highly recommend it. It is truly the most fun you can have with your gaiters on. All you need is a sturdy set of hiking boots, gaiters (to stop little rocks from creeping into your boots), a set of poles and an appropriate scree slope. An appropriate scree slope must be accessible (you can hike up to get on it), safe (not a rock slide, or other hazard), and consist of a deep layer of consistently-sized (bigger than a marble, smaller than a golf ball) rocks. You might say that I like my scree slopes like I like my men. I’m not sure, exactly, what that’s supposed to mean, but it sounded funny in my head. Our favorite is the slope on Mount Yamnuska, which you can see from Highway 1 west of the turn-off for the Kananaskis Highway 40. For our Yamnuska Scree Indulgences, we also take rock climbing helmets which we wear as we hike across the bottom of the cliff because of rock fall hazards.

In August 2004, I experienced my first-ever Yamnuska Scree Indulgence. There were twelve of us COC members on the trip, including a regular named Stuart, whom we’d nicknamed "Pooh" because he carries a little plastic Winnie-The-Pooh in his pack with him. On this trip, Pooh brought out two friends with him, both of whom were named "Leor". Now, without getting too sidetracked, I would just like to ask, WHO THE HECK KNOWS TWO GUYS NAMED LEOR!!?? Well, I guess, now I do. Anyway, Pooh brought two Leors with him, but no Tiggers, Roos or Piglets. The fog was so thick that day that we never did know for sure if we were on Mount Yamnuska, or in Wal Mart. The greeter in the blue vest did nothing to calm our fears about the latter. So, perhaps it was the fog, but I would have to say that the views from Yamnuska are slightly overrated. One hiker said it looked way better if you closed your eyes and remembered what it looked like last time you were up, but that didn't really help me at all.

We hiked up the somewhat boring (even more so when the views are obscured) east side of the mountain and then began the hike across in front of the cliff. This section of the hike is not suitable for acrophobes (oops, that’s me). There is a steep and slippery clay section that lies quietly waiting to smell fear on a hiker and then, when they’re partway across it tries to fling them into the abyss. Perhaps I’m exaggerating slightly, but it’s my story and I’ll tell it how I want. One hiker, more comfortable on that type of terrain, trooped across it as though it was his living room carpet, while a more patient soul waited with me, talked me through the terror, and used his own hiking boots to provide footstep "anchors" for me to make it across safely.

Arriving at the top of the scree slope, we peered out into the fog at the few feet of slope we could see, wondering what we would find once we began our run down. To run scree, you point yourself downward, and begin "running", leaning back slightly, digging in your heels, and letting your weight and the rocks under your feet work together as a team to form shelves or soft temporary stairs under you. It is a most thrilling and unusual feeling, and you can gain momentum to where you feel like you’d be completely out of control if it were not for the magical rocks of the slope cushioning and supporting each step. All too soon it is over, and you consider hiking back up to do it again until reality sets in and you consider the amount of work that would be involved in doing so. I have returned twice since for more Yamnuska Scree Indulgence, and am proud to say that I have learned to navigate the scary bit of slope all on my own, without crying or depending on others help me across. I just have to make sure I look straight ahead and keep moving.