Scrambling Photos from Windy Point Ridge

June 1, 2008

Windy Point Ridge is a popular scramble near the end of Abraham Lake. It starts at the parking lot at Windy Point 22km South West of Nordegg. The Ridge has at least 4 peaks as far as I could tell. We ascended the first 3 which are named The Lookout, The Buckle and Talus. Talus is the highest and furthest back of the 3.
Nearly all of the scramble is open with some scattered trees here and there. The scrambling is moderate in places leading up to The Lookout. From there on most of the ridge is hiking. The views never disappoint for the entire traverse. No need to travel through a boring approach for this hike. One thing to watch out for though are ticks. This area is very popular with Bighorn Sheep and they carry a lot of ticks. Be sure to check yourself for ticks once you have returned to your car

Click on the play button in the top left to start the slideshow or click on any picture to enlarge it. Use the icons on the top left to navigate.

A lone sheep on Windy Point.

Starting our ascent up to The Lookout.

Starting our ascent up to The ...

Mount Michener across Abraham Lake to the South.

Mount Michener across Abraham ...

Marc hiking above Abraham Lake.

Marc hiking above Abraham ...

Abraham Mountain nearby on our left.

Abraham Mountain nearby on ...

A false summit on Windy Point Ridge.

A false summit on Windy Point ...

Looking South down Abraham Lake.

Looking South down Abraham ...

Some easy scrambling on the ridge.

Some easy scrambling on the ...

Crossing some moderate scrambling terrain on Windy Point Ridge.

Crossing some moderate ...

Hiking up some easier sections.

Hiking up some easier ...

Mount Michener across Abraham Lake.

Mount Michener across Abraham ...

Kista Peak

Elliot Peak and Sentinel Mountain to the South across Abraham Lake.

Elliot Peak and Sentinel ...

Two O'Clock Ridge to the South.

Two O'Clock Ridge to the ...

Lioness Peak, Lion Peak and Mount Cline far to the South

Lioness Peak, Lion Peak and ...

Andrew hiking up some steep terrain with Abraham Lake below.

Andrew hiking up some steep ...

Abraham Mountain from the summit of The Lookout.

Abraham Mountain from the ...

The Buckle as seen from The Lookout. It is the second summit on Windy Point Ridge.

The Buckle as seen from The ...

Looking far North West to Coliseum Mountain.

Looking far North West to ...

Shunda Mountain far to the North West.

Shunda Mountain far to the ...

Talus the 3 and highest peak on Windy Point Ridge.

Talus the 3 and highest peak ...

A 360 degree panorama from the summit of The Lookout.

A 360 degree panorama from ...

A Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel.

A Golden Mantled Ground ...

Yours Truly on the summit of The Lookout with The Buckle behind.

Yours Truly on the summit of ...

Descending from The Lookout en route to The Buckle.

Descending from The Lookout ...

Unnamed Peak beside Mount Michener to the South.

Unnamed Peak beside Mount ...

Looking up The Buckle. This is not the ascent route.

Looking up The Buckle. This ...

Looking back down to The Lookout.

Looking back down to The ...

Hiking up beside The Buckle.

Another look at The Lookout.

Talus from the summit of The Buckle.

Talus from the summit of The ...

Unnamed peaks across the valley to the North.

Unnamed peaks across the ...

Abraham Mountain

Looking far South West to Lioness Peak, Lion Peak and Mount Cline.

Looking far South West to ...

Elliot Peak and Sentinel Mountain to the South.

Elliot Peak and Sentinel ...

Kista Peak to the South East.

The Lookout as seen from the summit of The Buckle.

The Lookout as seen from the ...

A panorama from the summit of The Buckle.

A panorama from the summit of ...

Allstones Ridge to the North right of center and Allstones Lake on the left.

Allstones Ridge to the North ...

Looking North East to the Bighorn Dam on the right. In the distance is Shunda Mountain on the left and Coliseum Mountain to the right of it.

Looking North East to the ...

Zoomed in looking North. Allstones Lake is on the left and AllStones Ridge is on the right. In the distance is Largehorn Peak left of center and Kidd Peak on the left.

Zoomed in looking North. ...

Scrambling back down easy terrain on The Buckle.

Scrambling back down easy ...

The North West aspect of The Buckle.

The North West aspect of The ...

Looking back to The Buckle from further along Windy Point Ridge.

Looking back to The Buckle ...

Heading up to some rock ribs en route to Talus.

Heading up to some rock ribs ...

Talus the highest summit on Windy Point Ridge.

Talus the highest summit on ...

A closer look at Talus.

On the easy slopes of Talus.

Look back along the ridge.

Looking down along Windy Point Ridge. The Buckle is in the center with The Lookout on the right. Kista Peak is in the distance to the South East.

Looking down along Windy ...

Kista Peak to the South East.

Marc Hiking up the last section of Talus.

Marc Hiking up the last ...

Looking far to the South West. Lioness Peak, Lion Peak and Mount Cline.

Looking far to the South ...

Gruff Peak the Eastern most of the Whitehoat Peaks. Looking far to the South West.

Gruff Peak the Eastern most ...

Elliot Peak and Sentinel Mountain to the South.

Elliot Peak and Sentinel ...

Looking far to the South past Abraham Lake. Siffleur Mountain is on the left and Mount Loudon is right of center with Mount Pesket to the right of it.

Looking far to the South past ...

Mount Michener to the South across the lake.

Mount Michener to the South ...

Abraham Mountain nearby.

Allstones Peak nearby to the West. The right ridge line looks like the easiest route up it from all the pictures that I have taken from various locations.

Allstones Peak nearby to the ...