The Wedge Scramble

Lat/Lon: 50.85°N, 115.13°W
The Wedge is a distinctive peak located in Kananaskis Country, Kananaskis
Provincial Park of the southern Canadian Rockies. It is located close to Kananaskis
Highway (40) between the Fisher and Opal mountain ranges. Its official name is
descriptive of the mountain as its summit is shaped like a carpenter’s wedge. The
Wedge should not to be confused with Wedge Mountain located in the Crowsnest
River Valley.

The Wedge offers a variety of steep technical routes on its west side. The published
scramble route utilizes the northwest ridge and face. This is not a remarkable
scramble, but does give up decent ridge views.

Getting There
Take the Kananaskis Trial (Highway 40) exit off of the Trans-Canada Highway
between Calgary and Canmore. Travel 30 km south on Highway 40 and turn left into
the Wedge Pond day use area.

Red Tape
There are no permit requirements to enter, climb and/or park in Kananaskis
Provincial Park. This is active grizzly country however. Take bear spray. You drive by
the park headquarters on the way in on Highway 40. Any recent notices will be
posted on the bulletin board outside. If they are open, check in with the ranger staff,
they have tons of beta and are always friendly.

When To Climb
As with most scrambles in the Canadian Rockies, the driest time is from June
through September. I climbed The Wedge in June when much snow still covered
other prospects in the area. There are no published backcountry ski routes on the
mountain, nor would it be conducive to ski.

Camping
The closest camping is across Hwy 40 at the Eau Claire Campground. You cannot
camp outside of the marked specific camping areas in Kananaskis. Refer to the
Kananaskis Provincial Park website for more information regarding camping and/or
lodging.

Mountain Conditions
The Kananaskis Provincial Park website is a very thorough park website, including
trail conditions or closures, wildlife notices, weather conditions, avalanche
conditions, camping permits, whitewater conditions, etc. It is an excellent source if
you are going to spend any time here and comparable to any National Park website
I have used. Outside of the parks web site, Canadian Avalanche Association is also
useful, particularly for winter travel.

Route
This is a 3600’+/- ascent day. Proceed down to Wedge Pond and immediately head
left into the woods following an animal trail or two to achieve a well worn trail next to
a drainage (high volume running creek in June, 2004) that heads south. Continue
straight for the northwest ridge.

The northwest ridge runs right into the upper mountain. From here, simply pick a
route staying close to the right skyline which dumps onto another laid back portion.
There are several cairns and you easily top out on the northern point. Proceed
southeast to the summit end of the relatively flat top. No serious crux on the ridge,
but one should, as always, take caution traversing certain spots. Same for return.

There was a register in June, 2004. You gain a great vantage point of the Opal
Ridge Traverse, which is on this web site and a highly recommended scramble
objective. To the east you have good views of front range peaks and ridges. I
enjoyed a multitude of wildflowers on the ridge including Rock Jasmine.

Essential Gear
Normal hiking paraphernalia, helmet, bear spray, gaiters and alpine ax for any
remaining snow and helpful for the scree as well.

Trip Report
No one else on the route. Quiet outing. Totally peaceful, low ceiling, no wind at the
summit. A quick day when everything else is out of shape.