Blue Trail Photography

Second installment of photos from my Chief Mtn climb a few weeks back.

A few more photos from my Chief Mountain climb a few weeks back. I still can't get over how beautiful the area is. Here you can see the mountains of Glacier National Park (Montana) and Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta) in the background.

View of the Waterton-Castle region from Chief Mtn, Montana. Belly River valley in the foreground.

The many faces of Chief Mountain. Those of you who have lived in or visited southwest Alberta need no introduction to the Chief. Standing tall at 9085 ft, it's a landmark on the horizon and can be seen as far away as Lethbridge. The local (Montana and Alberta) Blackfeet tribes have held it sacred for hundreds of years. In geological terms, it's known as a 'klippe' - a mountain that stands alone. The upper 'tooth' of Chief Mtn is formed of two separate belts of Precambrian rock, while its base consists of Cretaceous limestone. The layers are strikingly noticeable from up close. Whether you're an aboriginal, a geologist, a resident, or a visitor, one thing is for sure: the mountain leaves an impression.

Last weekend my cousin and I hiked Chief Mtn, near the Montana-Alberta border. It had been a dream of mine for over 20 years to do just that. I discovered just how out-of-shape I was (it's been over 9 years since I did any serious hiking)! The hike was much more challenging than I expected, and took longer than it should have. But, I'm pleased to say that we made the summit. Here's a shot of the iconic Chief, taken from the Chief Mountain Parkway.