Wind Ridge (820 m elev. gain)

Kona Wind Ridge Rimwall Summit Mt. Lougheed Kananaskis
Kona on Upper Slopes of Wind Ridge above the Cloud Bank

Rimwall Summit poking through the clouds on the way up, nearing the ridge top in late July.

Kona Wind Ridge Mt. Lougheed Wind Tower West Wind Creek
Kona on Wind Ridge with Lougheed Peaks and Wind Tower behind

Wind Tower and the four Lougheed peaks (peak 4 later renamed Wind Mountain, although the Lougheed viewpoint information at the trail head refers to the Lougheed Massive’s five summits, so includes number 4). A peak west of Banff was originally named Mt. Lougheed before the name was transferred to these supposedly more prestigious-looking peaks in the 1940’s. For some reason the original Mt. Lougheed remains without an official name. Mt. Allan at extreme left.

Wind Ridge Rimwall Summit The Orphan
View SW along Wind Ridge towards Rimwall Summit and The Orphan

View towards Rimwall Summit and to the right “The Orphan.” Big Sister out of frame to the right.

DSCF2766

“Timmy”, one of five other dogs we met ascending the trail on our way down.

Wind Ridge Mt. Lougheed Wind Mountain Kananaskis Canmore Bow Valley
View of Wind Ridge from below Lougheed Peak 4 (Wind Mtn.) on Lougheed Peak 1-to-4 Traverse July 22, 1989

View of Wind Ridge, Bow Valley and Grotto Mtn. from steep and loose slopes of Lougheed Peak4 (Wind Mountain) on a long day traverse of the four peaks July 22, 1989.

Wind Ridge Rimwall Summit Grotto Mtn. Bow Valley Canmore
Wind Ridge from Rimwall Summit with Grotto Mtn. behind.

Wind Ridge from ridge of Rimwall Summit June 25, 2017. Grotto Mtn. behind across Bow Valley.

 

Advertisement

Rimwall Summit (1000 m gain)

DSCF9064 Rimwall Sept 2018
Kona on Rimwall Summit early September – Wind Tower behind

Kona and friend on Rimwall Summit in early September, Wind Tower behind and parts of Peaks 1 & 2 of Mount Lougheed at right. Pyramidal shape Mt. Allan in distance centre and ridge connecting Mt. Collembola at left.

DSCF9651 Rimwall Wind Tower June 2019
Rimwall Summit from Wind Tower

View of Rimwall Summit from Wind Tower June 2019. Big Sister, Middle Sister and The Orphan behind.

Rimwall Summit (980 m gain)

DSCF6301
Kona on Rimwall Summit – Lougheed behind

Kona on Rimwall Summit in late June with Collembola, Allan, Lougheed and Sparrowhawk behind. Kona scampered up and down the two minor cliff-bands near the top after a little coaxing.

DSCF6307
Kona on Rimwall Summit rehydrating

Kona keeping hydrated by Knorr chicken broth-flavored water.

DSCF6314
Kona descending Rimwall Summit

Kona starting down from summit, Spray Lake Reservoir below with Mt. Nestor and Old Goat Mountain behind.

DSCF6308
Three Sisters and The Orphan from Rimwall Summit

View to Three Sisters, with ‘The Orphan’, barely discernible in front of Middle Sister.

Lougheed from Windtower
Mt. Lougheed from Wind Tower oil 12×16 2005 KrisT

Artistic impression of Lougheed peak 1 from Windtower/ Rimwall direction.

Middle Sister (Charity) (1400 m gain)

DSCF6178
Kona on Middle Sister – Little Sister behind

Kona on Middle Sister in early June. Little Sister (Hope), Wind Ridge and Pigeon Mountain behind.

DSCF6179
Kona on Middle Sister – Mt. Lougheed behind

View towards Wind Tower, Rimwall Summit, Mt. Lougheed peaks 1 and 2, Mt. Sparrowhawk, and beer cooling in snow.

DSCF6182
Kona on Middle Sister – Mt. Lawrence Grassi behind

View to adjoining ridge with Ship’s Prow and Mt. Lawrence Grassi.

DSCF6201
Kona descending Middle Sister – The Orphan behind

Quick descent down snow slopes. French and Robertson glaciers left of 3,406 m Mt. Sir Douglas, Mt. Birdwood, Mt. Nestor and Old Goat Mtn. on skyline. The Orphan (alternate approach) above the scree slopes.

DSCF6204
Kona on Middle Sister snow slope

Kona enjoying the snow.

Middle Sister Jun 11 88-2 Mort Morrow register
Mort Morrow’s tribute register on Middle Sister 1988

Mort Morrow’s summit register tribute and less developed Canmore in 1988.

DSCF6199
Wind Tower and Mt. Lougheed from Middle Sister

Close-up of Wind Tower, Mt. Lougheed 1 and 2, and Mt. Sparrowhawk.