64. West Wind Pass / Wind Tower

Distance: 10.6km round trip
Elevation gain: 988m

August 23, Wednesday, time to do another hike. We chose Wind Tower and based on the description decided not to invite anyone else. The tower at the end of the ridge looked very stark and impressive from the road and we prepared for a slow and steady pace.

The trail started ascending immediately and never stopped. The tower remained daunting.

After reaching the pass, we analyzed the tower and expected a zigzag climb up the side to a leisurely walk on top to the end. Not so. The hike along the side to the ridge started out in bushes, with low headwalls to climb periodically.

The trail was well marked with cairns everywhere.

Much of the way we could see Spray Lake behind us, growing as we climbed and getting smokier as the day progressed. Across the lake was Goat Glacier where we fondly remembered camping and hiking earlier.

Then the trail turned up and we started a long, steep climb to the tower. The rocks were not very slippery or treacherous.

Beside Wind Tower and part of it is the massive Mt. Lougheed.

We reached the top, finished our lunch and totally rested in the sun and shelter breaks from the warm wind. What an accomplishment! I didn't need to be ashamed of my quads being tight for the next couple days. It was work.

To the north, Herm pointed out Canmore and Wind Ridge as well as various other familiar landmarks.

A half hour sleep and we had to descend, more easily than I had feared.

Since it was still a very warm day at the bottom we had a light supper at Driftwood picnic site before we went home, just stopping to take a picture from the highway near Deadman's Flats.