On the 2nd Day of Hiking (Windy Point)

Our next day's hike was also off the Bow Valley, in the Wind Ridge drainage, and like the previous day's hike a new trail for us. Parking was at the Mt. Lougheed Viewpoint. Joan and I were headed for Windy Point, on the dark ridge at right.

More aggressive hikes also begin here, such as Skogan Pass (17.6 km/10.9 mi round trip, 670 m/2200 ft height gain) and Centennial Ridge/Mt. Allan (11.1 km/6.9 mi one-way, 1441 m/4729 ft height gain).

The lower stretches of the trail were gently rolling, with several re-routes and replacement bridges due to the 2013 floods.

Some temporary signs. Joan enjoyed the artwork.

The equestrian route diverges for a while.

Don't go the old way.

This valley has a reputation for hosting grizzlies, so Joan and I were periodically calling "Yo Bear!" to warn any possible ursus arctos of our presence.

This new bridge had curiously offset boards forming the approach,

because it rests on a large downed tree trunk, 

an ingenious conservation of material.

After this bridge (one of a close-by pair) the uphill work began.

For a long time we were walking through the woods, keeping an eye out for wildlife, flora, and trail damage. After the sharp turn at the bottom center of this image, it was uphill all the way.

Some trail repairs were minimal, but good enough for the purpose.

Picture taken looking back, downhill.

After a couple of switchbacks and a short flat stretch the trail, littered with loose stones, lurched straight up the side of an open area. Joan and I were very glad to have our hiking poles, as the stones preferred to pretend they were ball bearings.

We neared the ridgeline, walking past a path beaten in the grass that departed from the main trail, and continued on. Wonderful views into the valley and the peaks beyond opened up, even with the wildfire haze. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

The trail ascended with the ridgeline, headed towards the high point of Wind Ridge.

That might have been our destination, but we'd read this in Gillean Daffern's Kananaskis Country Trail Guide, Vol. 3, regarding the first of several sandstone rockbands ahead: "This is the crux scramble. Starting is hard if you can't put your left foot where your left ear is. Get someone to give you a shove ..."

We decided that the beaten-grass path must have been the way to Windy Point, and turned around. It wasn't far to the viewpoint. Here we lunched.

The trip back down the main trail began with a hair-raising descent on the steep path to the bottom of the open area. I'm glad it wasn't any longer than it was.

Our return was largely uneventful until we were back in the rolling, creek-threaded country. I saw a spruce grouse emerge into the wide path.

Then another one!

They were fearless, slowly walking up the trail in our direction, bobbing and pecking for edibles. They didn't veer away from us until only a meter away.

Love those eyebrows.

Joan and I were well satisfied with the Windy Point hike, a good workout for our second day in the Rockies. That sandstone rockband on Wind Ridge ... another time? Maybe! Maybe.