Geocache file generated by BrassCapCache BrassCapCache 2026-05-25T00:01:08.0000000-07:00 cache, geocache, groundspeak 2839.169 2010-09-01T02:00:00-06:00 BCP494 Fortress Ridge by outforthehunt, Benchmark (1.5/4) http://brasscap.albertabattlecache.ca/capbreakdown/BCP494.html Fortress Ridge Geocache Geocache|Benchmark Fortress Ridge outforthehunt outforthehunt Benchmark Virtual 1.5 4 Canada Alberta <a href='http://brasscap.albertabattlecache.ca/capbreakdown/BCP494.html'TARGET='resource window'>Past Finds for BCP494</a> <a href='https://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?ID=17395&LogType=2'TARGET='resource window'>Log Your Find</a> CAP IN ROCK 20 M SE HIGH POINT Elevation 2839.2m ASC BRASS CAP IN ROCK WITH ANCHOR BOLTS. 20.0M SE OF THE HIGH POINT OF THE CLIFF BEHIND THE FORTRESS SKI HILL 2.0M LOWER THAN HIGHEST POINT; 3.0M West South West OF DROP OFF DOWN FOR 300m 2021-09-25T20:00:00 Found it WhyWhySee BCP494 [FOUND] I had a totally epic time hiking Fortress and this outlier with a friend yesterday. We did a counter-clockwise loop via Headwall Lakes and Chester Lake. By 9 am the parking lot was full, but we saw no crowds on our way. By 18:30 there were still enough people at Chester Lake to make me want to turn around and hike back away LOL. The parking lot was almost empty by 19:30, with some late coming cars still parked a kilometer away from the lot entrance along the road. Thanks Sleepy_hollow for mentioning the cap in your cache description, I would have totally missed it! 2013-07-13T20:00:00 Found it Winkelried Fortress Ridge Brass Cap - BCP494 N 50°49.381 W 115°14.116 Altitude: 2847 m What a place! 2010-10-02T20:00:00 Found it Sleepy_hollow BCP494 - Fortress Ridge Well this was one fine hike and scramble in perhaps one of best spots for scenery in the Rockies. Red Rouge has done a fine job of reporting all the details of our trip, including the challenges - from my perspective the lack of known routes to the destination is really what makes these types of caps a special experience. My track log showed a round trip distance of approximately 23 km with 1500 metres of elevation gain. I'll upload a few pictures to truly tell the story of this special location - thanks OFTH for this fine cap! 2010-10-02T20:00:00 Found it RedRouge BCP494 Fortress Ridge Well I got the call early in the week about a proposed hike up to Fortress Ridge. I hummed and hawed as I didn't know what to expect and my past record with Sleepy_Hollow is often great views, lots of work but no brass <img src="/images/icons/icon_smile.gif" border="0" align="middle" />. I eventually gave into the force and off we left at the typical crazy 4:30 am start. We arrived at the trail head and began hiking at 6:30 am. It was pitch black so head lamps were required. We ventured up the trail whooping and hollering to ward of those night bears. The sun began to rise as we hiked up the Headwall valley. We had beautiful views of the sun breaking on Mount Fortress. We estimated where our brass cap would be situated and discussed two options. One, head to a col just south of Mount Fortress and hopefully follow the ridge south to the cap. Two, head up a gigantic scree slope by Mount James Walker and walk along a ridge to the cap. We had no trip reports to go with so we went for option one. Option one, the scramble up to the col was steep with some good views of Fortress Ski area. We then picked our way up and south looking for a way to the cap. I must admitt this was way beyound my comfort zone. I had no idea how I was going to get down <img src="/images/icons/icon_smile_shock.gif" border="0" align="middle" />. Well I got to within 50 metres (horizontal distance) and waited while SH scouted for a route. Sleepy was within 30 metres when he poked his head out and said there was no way to the top without climbing gear. We had run into sizable cliffs. So back down we went and I made it <img src="/images/icons/icon_smile.gif" border="0" align="middle" />. We caught our breath at the col and talked about our options and decided to have a look at the scree slope we passed several hours ago. Option two, we head up the very steep scree and after some interesting scrambling we made it to the ridge. And what a ridge. It was extremely broad and provided beautiful views of Mount James Walker and the mountains of the Opal Range to the East. As we were approaching the cap I was praying that it would be on the ridge and not down some nasty dropoff. Well we were finally rewarded for our efforts with brass and outstanding views. Now the long journey home. We navigated down the steep scree slope, not an easy task and then began our trip back to the car. Our trip was a slow one as we were both beat. We had travelled about 23 km with our adventures and by the time we reached the car over 12 hours on the trail. 2010-09-01T20:00:00 Update Coordinates outforthehunt ** Coordinates Changed From ** N 54° 28.993 W 116° 58.249 Distance From Old: 1389313.7 feet or 423462.8 meters. New location at Fortress Ridge. BCP494