The Kananaskis Range
A year ago today we drove through parts of the Kananaskis Range in Alberta. Though apparently not as well known as some other sections of the Canadian Rockies, the mountains in this range are massive, and it’s hard to convey their scale in photographs. With that caveat, here are four of the peaks I photographed that the staff at Alberta Parks could give me names for.
Cat’s Ears
Mount Lorette
Mount Blane
Mount Brock
© 2018 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
These mountains look so much more new & raw, than the parts of the Rockies I’ve seen, in the U.S.
Robert Parker
September 11, 2018 at 8:18 AM
Same here. It’s that massive ruggedness that makes them so impressive. I’ve been encouraging people to go and visit that area.
Steve Schwartzman
September 11, 2018 at 8:44 AM
That’s a lot of rock. Our Presidential Range in NH is impressive but these are truly awe inspiring.
Steve Gingold
September 12, 2018 at 3:10 AM
The Canadian Rockies are the most impressive mountains I’ve ever seen.
Steve Schwartzman
September 12, 2018 at 5:36 AM
Amazing.
Nomzi Kumalo
September 12, 2018 at 4:17 AM
We made the right decision to spend a day in the Kananaskis Range.
Steve Schwartzman
September 12, 2018 at 5:37 AM
Did you happen to see the rock glacier while there? We were surprised that something like that even existed. A moving, active rock glacier!
scottandloristravels
September 12, 2018 at 7:29 AM
No, I didn’t even hear about it when we were in the area. Thanks to your lead, I found information about it:
http://hikingwithbarry.com/2010/07/24/rock-glacier-%E2%80%93-kananaskis-country-%E2%80%93-hiking-alberta
Steve Schwartzman
September 12, 2018 at 8:30 AM
There’s something about these peaks that seems different, and much more impressive than our Rockies. Are they a good bit higher? It seems as though there’s more above the treeline than I remember from the U.S. Rockies. These remind me of photos I’ve seen of the Alps, or the Himalayas. There’s a kind of barren, wild beauty to them that’s marvelous.
shoreacres
September 12, 2018 at 10:15 PM
I, too, was more impressed by the Canadian Rockies than by the part of the chain in the United States. Paradoxically, the United States has many more tall peaks than Canada. Here’s what a Wikipedia article says about that: “Of the 100 highest major summits of the Rocky Mountains, 62 peaks exceed 4000 meters (13,123 feet) elevation, and all 100 peaks exceed 3746 meters (12,290 feet) elevation. Of these 100 peaks, 78 are located in Colorado, ten in Wyoming, six in New Mexico, three in Montana, and one each in Utah, British Columbia, and Idaho. The 30 highest peaks are all located in Colorado.”
You can see the article and the list of the top 100 at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mountain_peaks_of_the_Rocky_Mountains
The article also includes a list of “The 50 most topographically prominent summits of the Rocky Mountains.” There you’ll find Canadian peaks better represented. In fact 19 of the 50 in that list are from Canada, including #1.
To recast an old saying: it isn’t how tall you make them, it’s how you make them tall.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2018 at 7:44 AM
[…] a different take on the Kananaskis Range of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada: a silhouetted view with graphic clouds beyond and above. […]
Minimalist mountains and clouds | Portraits of Wildflowers
September 13, 2018 at 4:53 AM
Brock is my last name… what a magnificent rock that is!! Ha ha!
Littlesundog
September 15, 2018 at 8:18 AM
Then you can tell people that magnificent rock was named for you. Whether they’ll believe you is another matter.
Steve Schwartzman
September 15, 2018 at 8:27 AM
Stunning! These sure are impressive Steve …
Julie@frogpondfarm
September 18, 2018 at 12:35 AM
I’ll have to say that as much as I like the mountains in New Zealand, these surpass them. Impressive indeed.
Steve Schwartzman
September 18, 2018 at 5:53 AM