Wind Ridge

View back down the ridge from the summit

View back down the ridge from the summit

Friday July 1 2016

Wind Ridge on Canada Day. After a late start from eating pancakes at Centennial Park in Canmore and watching the Bow Valley Line Dancing on the Stan Rodgers Stage. We set off from Pigeon Creek Parking at the Banff Gates Mountain Resort. This is accessed from Dead Mans Flats from Hwy 1. The trail and bridges have change from the flooding and now there is one new bridge and some new trail. After the bridge turn right on a wide road towards the creek passing a large log jam then look for a new trail on the left to the log bridge. The other leg of the creek is crossed on three logs. Then follow the old road it does a big switch back bend before ending into a single track. This leads up a grassy trail to the first mound called Windy Point. If not going to Windy Point stay on the main trail up a steep dirt worn trail. The crux is a small cliff band with some hands on scrambling. If this is not your thing check out the trail to your right. It goes around the rock face but is still steep and I would guess slippy if wet. Then head up some more to the ridge summit. The ridge carries on past the summit and a trail on the right by-passes a rock down climb. Ramble on as far as you like. Dafferns book suggests a route down into the valley but I did not go any further than the ridge summit and returned the same way.

 

First and only new bridge

First and only new bridge

 

Second bridge.Three logs guess they ran out of funds

Second bridge.Three logs I guess they ran out of funds

Ok this makes finding the trail easier

Ok this makes finding the trail easier

No more road.Start of clinb up to ridge

No more road.Start of  the climb up to ridge.

Top of Wind Ridge from below Windy Point

Top of Wind Ridge from below Windy Point

Just blow the rock band

Just below the rock band

On the rock band

On the rock band

 

After the rock band

After the rock band

 

Further ridge ahead after a down climb Rimwall behund

Further ridge ahead after a down climb Rimwall behind

 

The Three Sisters

The Three Sisters

Wind Ridge

Wind Ridge Profile

 

 

Distance return 14 km Time return 6 hrs ( inc 30 min lunch ) Elevation Accumulated gain 770 m Elevation to Summit 962 m Summit height 2210 m

GPS Download

Google Earth – KML

Western Wood Lily

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Western Wood Lily

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