Notes: Not recommended in winter, there is likely a denning bear on route.
Trip Report
This route passed directly over what looked like an active bear den. We couldn’t tell what kind of bear it was, but given that this is a Grizzly area and Grizzly Bears are a threatened species, I’m inclined to suggest simply leaving this area alone until Spring so this sweetheart can conserve energy over Winter. There are a number of similar peaks in the area to choose from.
This short scramble is just outside of Ya Ha Tinda Ranch and is doable as a day trip from Edmonton. With good route finding skills, the scrambling is never beyond the easier end of Moderate. It sounds like there are two common routes up Maze Peak: Spirko’s route and a gully route. The two meet up along the ridge. The area had received fresh snow in the week prior, and we felt more comfortable trying the well-treed slope of Spirko’s route. The gully route would somewhat avoid the bear den, but is still too close for winter access. For parking, there is a gravel pullout on the west side of Ya Ha Tinda Road, about 100m south of where we entered the trees.
We could have entered the trees anywhere as it was easy travel through thin forest. However, evidence of human-felled trees are visible from the road, and we hoped this could be a sign of potential trail maintenance. Nothing was obvious once leaving the road, but we were able to simply aim for the low ridge at the right side of this photo. The forest soon opened up.We were quickly above the trees and beginning the shale slog. Labyrinth Mountain, with her dusting of snow, commands the view.The snow thinned near the top of the ridge. We foolishly trended left on the way up here, looking to gain the ridge at its highest accessible point; but the steep, loose shale quickly grew tedious. On the way down we stayed closer to the edge of the trees (out of view to the right of this photo) and found the terrain much easier.Topping out onto the ridge certainly had us feeling warm. Footing on the loose shale may have been worsened by light snow cover, but it was doable without spikes and relatively short.Once on the ridge, Maze Peak comes into view (right). Our path will follow the ridge to the left, eventually winding around to ascend the peak from the left.I didn’t spot this bear den until I was on top of it. I moved swiftly past, only snapping this photo in passing. Dan is oblivious to my reasons for snapping his photo here, as he walks across an active bear den. Ignorance is bliss! Access to the cave, behind the tree, showed recent use. I’d seen mention of a bear den in decade-old trip reports, but hadn’t expected anything to still be here. I certainly didn’t expect a den to be directly under the route!Even under the snow it was easy to pick up game trails, like the one I am following in this photo. The route along the ridge was obvious, and the snow did not present much additional hazard.Looking back, the winter sunshine bathes the ridge in warmth (perhaps we were just sweating from the close-call with a bear den?)Those smart sheep always have a path around the cliffs and up easier slopes. I insisted on following them, even where a different line seemed better. Their tracks don’t always lead to the objective, but if the way forward is ambiguous, it can be worth checking where they lead!Parts of the ridge were corniced, but easy to avoid.Our trekking poles were indispensable for probing our footing along the ridge.Approaching a Y in the ridge. The peak is to the right and a northwest outlier is to the left, out of frame. Spirko’s trip included the outlier, but we chose to skip it due to limited daylight hours.Turning to the right and heading towards the peak. I was grateful this short section of downclimbing wasn’t in deeper snow! We never ended up needing our mountaineering axes, but were still wise to bring them.The summit ridge grew less intimidating as we neared it. None of the slab was as vertical as it looked in the previous photo, and all tricky sections were easily bypassed.The slab was good, grippy rock. We welcomed the few steps on a solid, snow-free surface.Bypassing an interesting rock feature along the way to the summit. The northwest outlier Spirko tagged is at the far right of this photo. We had downclimbed the ridge directly above Dan’s head.Almost at the peak, I gained a high point and got a look at the last bit of the route, which was spicier than expected. As I gazed down the snow-covered cliff in front of me, I spotted a gentle ramp to the right, leading to a much easier downclimb. While it was easier-going than it looks here, heavier snow cover could have necessitated our mountaineering axes.The ramp lead to a much shorter section of cliff to climber’s left. I used my trekking poles to brush snow off of a few sections until I found good, positive holds. Here Dan is following my path.After a much warmer-than-expected journey, we made it to the peak!Crushed it! Ya Ha Tinda Ranch can be seen in the distance, off to the right.Summit panorama.Beginning the return trip. The summit ridge looks daunting in the snow, but is barely even moderate scrambling. When footing was uncertain, extra attention and some probing with the poles did the trick.This rock wall was again easily bypassed my retracing my path back to the ramp. I am towards the left of this cliff, starting up an easier line with solid hands and feet on rock.The short winter day necessitated a quick return trip. We skipped the outlier and went directly back the way we came. We hoped the bear would be in a deep sleep, or out foraging until sundown.One last view of Maze Peak in the low afternoon sun before ducking back down the shale slope.
On the way down we kept slightly further south on the shale slope, where the angle is less severe and the shale more solid. Travel back through the trees was straightforward and we reached the car in 5 hrs 45 min, easily getting home at a reasonable hour (for the hungry traveler, service at the Sundre A&W is surprisingly good). This area offers views not available from popular peaks in Banff and Jasper, and I’d be interested in returning for other winter objectives. However, I feel that any spot with a denning bear should be left alone for the Winter, so I won’t be coming back to this ridge.
Peak Bliss 
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