Want to contravene PLPP winter trail rules? Just follow the ACC's directions to Elk Lakes Cabin.

Trip date: Sunday Dec 10, 2023

Submitted by Mike W

Particpants:


Discussion:

First of all, further to SteveR's 2023-Dec-10 story about the confused hikers looking for Frozen Lake on Blueberry Hill: I and 5 other Ramblers came across them shortly after they turned around on Blueberry Hill. I couldn't tell what route they took from the Elk Pass Parking lot to the north end of the Hydroline ski trail, but instead of taking the snowshoe/walking trail about 10 metres west of the power line, they walked on the Hydroline ski trail (thankfully not in the track-setting) and then from Elk Pass they walked down the Elk Pass ski trail and up the Blueberry Hill ski trail, leaving lots of boot divots in their wake. Along the way, they ignored about 4 red "Skiers Only" signs. So even if they had followed the correct trail from the top of Elk Pass to Frozen Lake, they were deliberately on the Hydroline ski trail instead of the Hydroline snowshoe/walking trail. They weren't on ski trails "by accident" or "because they took a wrong turn".

I don't know if they were using a phone app. But far too many people blindly use phone apps for planning and navigation. Kananaskis Parks put out a special bulletin earlier this year warning about how unreliable and potentially dangerous these apps are. I wonder if they knew that the summer trail to Frozen Lake takes you into avalanche terrain near the top, and whether they had avalanche safety equipment and training? In any case, using an erroneous phone app is not an acceptable excuse for ignoring posted signs. Just like following Google Maps directions is not an excuse for driving through a "Bridge Closed" sign and into a river.

Finally, Kananaskis Parks has yet to put out a special bulletin informing the public to ignore the directions the ACC (Alpine Club of Canada) provides for getting to Elk Lakes Cabin (see photo). Since I'm not a summer user of the PLPP hiking trails, I can't comment on the "hiker" signs the ACC directs you to follow. But there is definitely no trail that will take you from the trailhead to Elk Pass in 4.8km. The shortest trail is 5.5km. And in winter according to the ACC, feel free to walk, snowshoe or bike on the Elk Pass and Hydroline ski trails to Elk Pass! So it's no wonder you see lots of snowshoers heading to the Elk Lakes Cabin via the ski trails instead of the snowshoe trails. SkierRoger, do you know who I should contact at Kananaskis Parks to tell the ACC to correct their directions?