This long weekend, fellow ACMG guide Jenna Nodding and I hiked the route from Cougar Creek to Exshaw via Exshaw Pass.

The hiking up Cougar Creek was very straightforward. Although the area was dramatically impacted by the 2013 flood, the creek bed is easy to follow and poses little difficulty. We left the creek bed at GR 203660 and headed NW. This drainage presents more difficult terrain - expect the increased grade of the stream bed and sections of large boulders and some dead-fall to slow your progress. The last reliable water source that we encountered in this area was near a makeshift campsite just past the large scree field at GR192676.

From there we gained the Carrot-Cougar col and easily followed the ridge line before dropping down into Stenton Lake. We followed the beginnings of the South Ghost River Northward until gaining a high trail near treeline, about 150 vertical metres above the river. This fairly distinct trail took us eastward to 'Guinn's Camp' and a good water source at GR 226727.

Once at this confluence we headed south up the drainage. There is a good trail until 2140 m, at which point we headed straight up the drainage to the Exshaw High col, and then down to Exshaw Pass. From there you can expect a long, straightforward walk down the largely dry Exshaw Creek stream bed to get to the village. Don't expect to find any reliable water sources until you arrive at the Fable/Exshaw Creek confluence.

Nathan Dahl
HG