Mount Hoffman

Elevation: 2018 m
Elevation Gain: 480 m
Mount Hoffman was named for Christian Hoffmann, a chemist, mineralogist and member of the Geological Survey of Canada. The peak was first ascended and named by Arthur O. Wheeler who worked with Hoffmann and considered him a friend. After his time with Wheeler’s Geological Survey, Hoffmann became the proprietor of a hotel in Olds. Curiously, the peak’s official name contains one ‘n’ while Hoffmann’s family name contained two. The mountain’s elevation is also mistakenly listed as 1829 m by numerous sources despite the fact that topographic maps clearly show its summit to be higher than 1960 m. The peak was the site of a 1940s logging camp and, although much of the forest harvested at that time has regrown, camp artifacts can still be found here and there.
My Ascents:
June 17 2018
Trailhead: Indian Oils Trailhead
GPS Track: Mount Hoffman

Hiking has become a Father’s Day tradition in the Hobbs house. You could argue that hiking is pretty much an ‘every Sunday tradition’ in the Hobbs house anyways but on Father’s Day, I at least have an excuse for getting my way!

This year, ‘my way’ involved a family ascent of Mount Hoffman in Sheep River Provincial Park.

More of a forested foothill than a mountain (despite its official ‘mountain’ status), Hoffman isn’t much to look at. Hoffman’s summit panorama, however, offers a lot to look at! Indeed, the Geological Survey of Canada made extensive use of Hoffman’s summit as a camera station in the mid-1890s. In terms of scenic bang for your buck with a family-friendly trail to the top, Hoffman (like my toddler) was bound to be a ‘winner!’

From the “Indian Oils” trailhead, we found a wide gravel road behind the ‘facilities’ and followed it a short distance downhill towards Tiger Jaw Falls and the now-bridged Sheep River. In June 2013, the Great Kananaskis Flood washed this bridge out. I’d wanted to take my family up Mount Hoffman for a couple years now but was dissuaded by the prospect of a river ford immediately upstream of a waterfall. Fortunately, as you can see from this photo, the bridge over Tiger Jaw Falls has now been replaced, allowing safe and easy access to Mount Hoffman and a variety of other hikes on the south bank of the Sheep River.

Looking down on Tiger Jaw Falls from the new (and surprisingly heavy duty) bridge. From this photo, you can likely deduce why I wasn’t keen to ford this river upstream of the falls in the absence of a bridge!

After crossing the new bridge, we turned left and followed a good fire road east as it rose gently through the forest.

About a half hour (and 1.5 km) after crossing the river, we reached the obvious cairned turnoff for Mount Hoffman. Exiting the fire road to the right (south), we followed this old, overgrown logging road up through the sun-splashed forest.

Our toddler has somehow become convinced that she is ‘the winner’ whenever she’s in front of anyone and becomes quite upset when she’s passed. With Mera, therefore, setting the pace, we enjoyed a relaxing hike up.

A relic from logging camps which forested the area in the 1940s.

1.2 km from the fire road turnoff, we reached a fork in the trail. The left branch continues up Mount Hoffman while the right branch quickly leads to the “Hoffman Humps” (a pair of outlying high points which lookout over the Sheep River’s headwaters to the west). In need of a sandwich break, we followed the right-hand trail a short distance up to enjoy a snack with a view.

“Frankenstein” is one of several rock ‘heads’ which can be found at the “Hoffman Humps.” Although this rock doesn’t look all that monstrous in this photo, it does bear some resemblance to Mary Shelley’s creature from other angles.

Mera and I search for other ‘heads’ amongst the sandstone crags while the rest of our group refuels below (photo courtesy Gary C.).

The panorama from the top of the “Hoffman Humps” reveals larger peaks to the west beyond forested Mount Hoffman (left). Although the dense forest on Hoffman’s slopes does little to suggest past logging, keen eyes may note that most of the peak’s trees are uniformly smaller than those present in an isolated group to the right. Presumably, this stand of taller, older trees escaped the axe in the 1940s. Click to see larger.

After enjoying a snack at the “Humps”, we retraced our steps to the fork in the trail and followed the well-marked left branch to continue up Mount Hoffman.

A brief section of trail received a ‘TFS’ rating on ascent. Mercifully, this ultra-steep section was short-lived!

As the trail’s grade eased, deadfall suddenly proliferated and the character of the forest changed abruptly. If I were to guess, I’d say that this area escaped clear-cutting some 80 years earlier (although it could benefit from an encounter with a chainsaw today!).

Lichens lend their charm to the suddenly old-growth character of the forest.

Summit-ho! Alpine meadows stretch up towards the nearby summit as the forest comes to a sudden end.

With the forest behind, wildflowers littered Hoffman’s open alpine slopes.

Mera gives ‘Nannie’ a hand as the terrain grows rockier near the summit.

Upon reaching the summit, the snow-covered north face of Junction Mountain abruptly appears. What a great way to celebrate being a dad!

Of course the company is what’s most important on Father’s Day:

My ‘Baby Bear’ Penny!

…and my ‘Little Goat’ Mera!

…and even our ‘firstborn’, the ‘forgotten child’ Crux!

On top with my Loves for Father’s Day 2018! Photo courtesy Gary C.

Of course, I was not the only proud ‘Papa’ atop Mount Hoffman. It was a pleasure to share the day with Brianne’s father (and Penny’s grandfather) Gary.

A very scenic Father’s Day summit panorama. Despite its proximity to Calgary, Mount Hoffman is in an area that I’ve not frequently visited. As a result, this view was new to me and, refreshingly, I didn’t automatically know the name of every surrounding peak (until I sat down to write my trip report anyways). Another surprise was the degree to which the previously clear-cut forest in this area has regrown. Were it not for historical photos, I'd have little clue as to the extent of the forestry that took place here in the 1940s! Click to see larger.

Highwood Peak (center left) and Shunga-La-She (center right) provide a pleasant backdrop for Mera and Nannie’s summit wanderings.

Looking west into Kananaskis Country towards the Sheep River’s headwaters.

Gibraltar Mountain’s sheer east wall (center right) was, for me, the highlight of Hoffman’s summit view. Mist Mountain (left) and Storm Mountain (right) are also visible beyond Gibraltar’s dramatic face.

Surprisingly, these 3 peaks to the west are unnamed. Officially, they’re outliers of Mount Burns.

The Sheep River winds its way east at the foot of the Mount Burns massif and Bluerock Mountain.

The actual summit of Mount Burns flirts with the clouds to the right. The 2 peaks to the left are outliers (prior to this trip, I had no idea how large the Mount Burns massif was!).

Beautiful lighting on Bluerock Mountain to the northwest.

Distant green meadows look inviting at the base of Mount Rose (center) and Threepoint Mountain (center right).

Surprisingly, Mount Ware is the only other peak that I’ve climbed in this area. A return trip may be in order to remedy that situation…

Missinglink Mountain is among the forested foothills which gradually wane to the east, giving way to prairies.

Looking northeast (through the afternoon haze) to Calgary.

Always great to share a summit with ‘Nannie’ and ‘Papa” (Karen and Gary).

Brianne joins me for a Hobbs family summit photo (courtesy Gary C.).

Toute la gang (even Crux!).

After snapping our summit photos, we began our descent towards cold Father’s Day beers below!

How to tire out your toddler: deadfall hopping 101.

Mera enjoys a rest and a ride!

As we returned to the fire road, a group of horses rode by. Wanting to be the ‘winner’ once more, Mera set out to catch up to the ‘horseys.’ The resulting chase saw her hold an average speed of nearly 5 km/h, topping out at 8 km/h for the 1.5 km back to the bridge. Seeing an opportunity to motivate our sometimes ‘poky’ toddler, I encouraged the chase but began to grow concerned when Mera came close to actually catching the horses!

Mera did eventually catch up to her ‘horseys’, however, once she did, we had to wait a while for Brianne, Penny, Gary and Karen to catch up to us!

The Sheep River provides a scenic finish to our Father’s Day outing. Thanks to Mount Hoffman’s pleasant views and the excellent company of family, we all came out ‘winners’ on this day (just don’t tell Mera – she still thinks that she was the only ‘winner’)!