DO NOT TAKE THIS TRAIL, Limestone Mountain Summit Scramble

July 6/2022 Summer Scramble
There is no other video on KZbin showing this trail, and now I know why.
Before I get into my recap of this trail, I just want to mention a few key points.
1. This is a scramble
2. Be prepared to do a lot of route finding
3. Be prepared to do some bushwhacking
4. Ensure you have an App or a map
This trail tested all my abilities that I have learned over the years. I knew it was not a popular trail based on the minimal comments on All Trails, but I knew it would be a challenge. I still managed to get lost a few times going up and coming down, even though I had the App on my phone. Literally in some spots you have to look at your App every 5 minutes to stay on route. I also lost my phone about ¾ of the way up. I found it, but if I didn’t, I would have had a really hard time getting down.
The trail starts out on left side of Rocky Creek. After about 100 meters make a left towards the bank and you will see a cairn marking the start of the trail. Be prepared to start going straight up. The trail is very narrow and clearly not well traveled. At about .8k the trail virtually disappears, and this is where you start to scramble. This is where it is important to keep looking at your App. As you climb higher you start to get some stunning views to your right. You continue up the ridge and soon you will back into the trees. Here is where I made my first mistake. I followed a trail that had some flagging on it, but my App said I was not on the trail. I should have stayed left, instead of following a trail down and into a gully. I proceeded to bushwhack my way back up to the trail. This little mistake cost me about a half hour. As you continue going up the views start to open up on your left. The trail is not that well defined and soon there was no trail again. Once again, I went off the trail and had to work my way back to it. At about 2.2k in the trees thin out a little bit and you just have to start going straight up, more scrambling. Now you will start and get some great views looking back. At 2.6k you begin to start and scramble up the rock. Now you will pretty much be scrambling on rock right to the summit. As you proceed up this ridge, stay climbers left and have the rock outcrops on you right and the trees to you left. There are quite a few tricky sections. As you continue to climb the sections get steeper and steeper. As I was scrambling, I dropped my phone, and I had to backtrack, and I found it, thank God. Things would have been a lot more difficult if I did not find it, especially going down. The few trees on the trail are your best friends as the trail becomes loose dirt and rock, very hard to get a footing. Just before the top the trail levels out, and you will have one last scramble with some exposure to climbers left. Approaching the top, the trail levels out. At 3.1k I reached the summit. There is a registry at the summit. Now it was time to enjoy the 360 views. I found a nice little grassy section to have my lunch with and abundance of little wild flowers. I had my trekking poles with me, and I am so glad I did. The descent would have been a lot harder without them. And be prepared to go down some of the sections on your bum. It was a very slow process going down the rocky sections. Just before getting back into the trees, I went off route again, OMG. I managed to regain the ridge on skiers right, and follow a sort of trail. Then once again I went off route and had to back climb up to the trail. My total distance was 6.1 kilometers out and back with an elevation gain of 606 meters.
Would I do this trail again - No
Would I recommend this trail - No
Was it worth it for the views - Yes
This is my 78th video. Thank you very much for watching. If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs up. If you would like to see my other hiking videos, subscribe to my channel, LIVE ON ALBERTA. I feature over 75 different hiking videos. CHEERS
Thank you,
Cary Mason
#hikingalberta #canadianrockies #travelalberta
Email - [e-mail]
Instagram - / carywmason

[@CanuckAlert]

You seem to be like me at times on hikes with a ugh why do I do this moment here and there. Then you get to the top and it's like oh this is why. Thanks for the adventure Cary.

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

That's exactly it. Couldn't have worded it better myself😁 Thank you for watching and commenting. I just hiked up to Mount Kidd Fire Lookout today, and those words applied again.🤣🤣🤣

[@davebloggs]

glad you took along your camera for that one. I have seen that mountain many times and after watching your video i will add that to my do not try list. way out of my comfort zone, i will remain happy looking up at it from wedge pond. great video though.

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

Ya it was out of my comfort zone as well🤣🤣🤣 Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@davebloggs]

@@LIVEONALBERTA you have some great videos , I like to stay in the forests and spend most of my time clearing deadfall and brush etc. i will leave the scrambles to the more adventurous people for sure, like Ben Larry rob walker etc and your good self . keep the videos coming its the only way i get to see the view from the top.

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

I am definately more of a hiker as well, but I do like the odd scramble and peak bagging. I like to mix it up.😁

[@EmmaLead11]

So yes, the view from the top was beautiful, and that little spot you stopped to have your lunch break was magical, everything else was NOOOOOOOPPPPPPEEEEEEEEE central. That corvid at the top was totally mocking you.

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

Yep he did not like me in his space. This one was definately a learning experience for me.😄😄😄

[@theveggieman]

Damn that was one hell of a hike, I was exhausted just watching your video. I will "NOT" be putting this on my list of must do.

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

You got that right. It showed me that things don't always go as planned, and that some trails are just not to be hiked.🤣🤣🤣

[@broitall6031]

in the bush eh

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

Yep😁

[@patriciareay5908]

Looks like a miserable hike

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

If I knew then what I know now, I never would have attempted this one.

[@batwithglasses]

Are you referring to the "collective" we and us Kerry?..or are ya all by your lonesome? Be careful doing these types of hikes by yourself.

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

No just me. I don't plan to do another one like this. I enjoy hikes with a little scrambling, I am not a scrambler. A lesson learned.