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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
Windy Peak II
- Location: Cowboy Trail (Highway 22)
- Activity: Snowshoeing
- Height: 2,240 m (7,349 ft)
- Elevation Gain: 580 m (1,903 ft)
- Distance: 10.5 km / Loop (6.5 mi)
- Avg Steepness: 6.3°
- Estimated Time: 3.5-5 hrs
- Technicality: Novice
- Fitness Level: Easy
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Above stats is estimate for only to Windy Peak. For complete stats for Windy to Saddle, please see page 9.
I waited for Saddle Mountain for a year. My plan was to do Saddle and Livingstone together but since we did Coffin and Livingstone a week earlier, we decided to do Windy Peak and Saddle together.
My first attempt was taking route from Bob Spirko's route. This is east approach crossing farmer's land, however these farmers don't like hikers and apparently they prohibited us to go in their land. I was unlucky one who happened to be there when a farmer was there and I got kicked out. My second attempt from Windy Peak Hills to Windy Peak to Saddle was little too long and snow shut us down.
So this time we drove HW22 → 532 → 40 (South) and parked at side of the road right at a winter gate about 13.4 km after the turn from 532. Forest was logged around that area so you can get to Mean Creek without bushwhacking from the road. Once hit the Mean Creek, we walked along the creek (page 2 & 3). You will need to cross the creek few times. We ignored the first fork, which isn't too obvious, and turned on to the second fork, which is very obvious, to east towards Windy Peak. Soon after we bushwhacked to the peak (page 4).
From Windy to Saddle, the route was quite obvious (see page 11 for route line). There is nothing much to add if you see page 11. The route is straight forward and it's hiking all the way. The higher peak is the north peak, doesn't mean you shouldn't do the south peak. It only takes 15 min from north to south. We took the first drainage to descent (see page 12 for route line). At the bottom we followed a creek until it merged to Mean Creek.
You can easily go to Mount Livingstone from Saddle Mountain. Instead of descending, you can keep going the ridge to get on top of Livingstone (see page 12 for route line). 3 peaks in a day is certainly possible.
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
Knowing how snow was at Grizzly Peak, a day before, I was expected to struggle with crunchy spring condition snow. It was a workout.
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
Typical creek crossing on Mean creek or the creek we took for decent route.
(Photo By Ali Shariat)
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
I was hoping under tree, there were less snow, but I was wrong. More nasty crunchy snow and as we got closer to the Windy Peak, slope got steeper.
(Photo By Ali Shariat)
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
Good news was once out of tree, the fresh snow was blown by strong wind and only hard snow remained. With snowshoes we could walk without sinking. Without snowshoes like Ali, he had to workout more.
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
I was expected that it would be windy. This place is always windy. But other than that, the weather was pretty.
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
See see see. So windy.
(Photo By Ali Shariat)
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
Group picture at the Windy's summit. From left, Ali, Andrea, then me.
(Photo By Ali Shariat)
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
Saddle Mountain (Livingstone)
- Location: Cowboy Trail (Highway 22)
- Activity: Snowshoeing
- Height: 2,274 m (7,461 ft)
- Elevation Gain: 1,030 m (3,379 ft)
- Distance: 15.8 km / Loop (9.8 mi)
- Avg Steepness: 7.4°
- Estimated Time: 6-8 hrs
- Technicality: Novice
- Fitness Level: Moderate
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After a quick stop, we hasted to Saddle Mountain because it was very windy and cold.
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
Bum slide from Windy's top.
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
Mouseover to see route to Saddle.
(Photo By Ali Shariat)
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
Mouseover to see route. Red line is where we went for decent. Orange line is additional route to Livingstone. Green line is for hardcore Windy → Saddle → Livingstone → Coffin Traverse. If you have done this hardcore route, please let me know, I will give you the title, "Livingstone Master"!!
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
There were still some snowy part above treeline, but wasn't deep enough to make us struggle too much.
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
After a long tiring snow walk, finally at the north peak.
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
The south peak.
(Photo By Ali Shariat)
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
I can now check Saddle off from my to do list.
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Windy Peak to Saddle Mountain | 2010-05-02
Resting at the summit. Wind on west side was brutal. It reminded me of my home, spring in Neptune. East side on the other hand was so calm. The summit blocked the brutal wind for us.
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