01

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

Window Mountain
  • Location: Crowsnest Pass
  • Activity: Scrambling
  • Height: 2,576 m (8,452 ft)
  • Elevation Gain: 800 m (2,625 ft)
  • Distance: 9.5 km / Round Trip (5.9 mi)
  • Avg Steepness: 9.6°
  • Estimated Time: 3-5 hrs
  • Technicality: Expert.2a
  • Fitness Level: Moderate

Above stats are for estimate to Window Mountain and return the same way. For complete stats for this trip, please see page 9.

I parked at Window Mountain Lake parking lot. Be sure not to drive a low clearance car. Normal cars can handle this rough road but low clearance can’t. If your car can’t handle or if road is muddy or too much snow, then I suggest to park at side of the main road (add only 2.5 km flat walk). Also this lake is popular among locals and the parking lot is small, so come early if it’s a beautiful summer day.

From parking lot, I followed the road for 1.1 km, then I took left and another left 200 m after the first turn. This will lead to quad trail. I was hoping this quad trail would take me to closer to the Window Mountain and that exactly what happened. After going over a hill, you will see Window Mountain and scree. You need to calculate how long you want to stay on the quad trail because longer you stay on the trail, more elevation you will lose. Earlier you leave the trail, longer you have to walk on sidehill.

Way to the “window” is pretty much straight forward. Go up (page 3). From the window to actual summit was where the difficult scrambling started. First I had to lose about 20 m elevation then I went right (east). Walk along the wall. The end of wall is the end of summit ridge. You can get on top of the ridge there. The ridge is exposed and requires some scrambling. It appeared much worse when I saw the route first when I get on the summit ridge, but it wasn’t as bad (page 5).

To Allison Peak from Window Mountain, again the ridge to Allison ridge looked really bad, but it wasn’t as bad as it appeared (page 9). The crux was the ridge between waypoint “Allison-Window Junction” to Allison Peak. The ridge became narrow and exposed. Even though the length of this narrow section was only 40 m or so, if you are not used to exposed ridge, this will scare you for sure (page 11). I didn’t really find rocks being so loose though. After this, there is no other challenges and it’s pretty mush hike to the peak.

Because I have already done Mount Ward, instead to traverse to Ward, I stayed on Great Divide for a while until near waypoint “Cain 2” (page 15). There was one moderate (close to difficult) step with exposure near a peak GR307143 (still page 15), but that was the only scrambling part in entire ridge beside Allison Ridge. At waypoint “Cain 4” indicating the end of the ridge, I came down to the Window Mountain Lake. There was a trail, so make sure to look for it while coming down slope. It becoming tradition of mine here that no matter how many times I have come here I still manage to get lost at the lake…

02

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

Following the quad trail led to the bottom of Window Mountain. Nice!!

03

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

Window!! I have been here twice back in 96-98. Old memories. But I didn't go to the summit though. Mouseover for line.

04

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

Crowsnest Mountain and Seven Sisters from the window.

05

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

When I saw this I laughed because it looked impossible to continue at first, but it was ok.

06

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

"Junction peaks" and Mount Ward (right).

07

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

Some major exposure on this ridge. Dark spot on top left corner is the window.

08

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

Creative summit register case.

09

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

Allison Peak
  • Location: Crowsnest Pass
  • Activity: Scrambling
  • Height: 2,645 m (8,678 ft)
  • Elevation Gain: 1,175 m (3,855 ft)
  • Distance: 12.6 km / Round Trip (7.8 mi)
  • Avg Steepness: 10.6°
  • Estimated Time: 5.5-8 hrs
  • Technicality: Expert.2a
  • Fitness Level: Hard

To Allison Peak. Despite Kane says "Climbers and experienced, capable scramblers can continue" but I didn't find it that bad.

10

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

Semi-Earth shot. Ward, Window (left), and Allison (right).

11

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

The Crux. The narrow ridge part. Picture can never accurately show how ridge looks like especially no person on the ridge standing. So this picture probably can't give you a good idea. Sorry I tired… (ノДT)

12

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

From summit. NW side. There was another lake.

13

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

South side. Crowsnest Mountain stands out.

14

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

From col between "Allison-Ward" and "Allison-Window" junction peaks.

15

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

GR307143, the last difficulty of the day beside finding the well established trail at Window Mountain Lake…

16

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

I love grassy ridge! I feel like I am a sheep… What the heck does that mean?

17

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

Near the end of the ridge. Ward (left), Window Mountain Lake (bottom)

18

Window Mountain to Allison Peak | 2010-07-25

I was hoping I could be naked and swim but there was a family… The last 4 hikes has been warm/hot and there was at least 1 lake, but I haven't seen bikini girls yet… NOT ACEPTABLE!! (`ε´)

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