There was nothing special about Mount Quirk – except its name. The route to the summit involved an easy trek along a rough dirt bike busy road and single track forest trails.
I didn’t care because it was a new-to-me area and I was thrilled to explore another area. MQ had eyed this summer for some time. She camps in the area and wanted to summit this little peak.
I jumped at the chance to do it – mainly because I loved the the name – Mount Quirk.
We started on the Fisher Creek Road, off the McLean Creek Road in the provincial recreation area. Our plan was to follow the east ridge route to the summit then descend on the west side to reconnect with Fisher Creek Road.
There was some light route-finding at one junction but otherwise it was a straightforward trail and route to the summit of Mount Quirk. The summit offered views of the foothills and the front ranges including Mount Burns, Bluerock Mountain, Cougar Mountain, Mount Rose, Banded Peak, Outlaw Peak, Mount Cornwall, and Mount Glasgow.
There was no snow – just a little mud. I wanted to hold onto these snow-less days for as long as I can because it will be as usual a long, cold winter.
We came across one quirky spot with a well-built shelter and fire pit. There was a cage like contraption nearby. Not sure what that was all about.
Mount Quirk was a definite departure from my usual mountain adventures but sometimes it’s nice to explore your own backyard without all the stress. Planning and exploring new routes can take a lot of energy – the mental stress is draining but worth all the effort.
One of the most interesting thing was the sound of guns in the distance. The area is well used for dirt bikes and target practice.