Windy Peak
May 12, 2013
2240m
Kananaskis Country (South), AB
Windy Peak is one of the few officially named summits in the Livingstone Range on the southern edge of Kananaskis Country. The peaks in this area are low in elevation and technically easy, which makes them ideal for off-season or shoulder-season ascents. Windy Peak isn’t an exception. I did it as the 2nd objective of the 4-peak traverse in this area. The first objective was Mount Hornecker.
The Livingstone 4-peak traverse route
Due to the forested isothermal snow, from the summit of Hornecker, Raff and I were forced to descent a line almost straight down towards Windy/Hornecker col. That brought us even closer to Windy Peak. Raff had done it but he was okay to wait for me at treeline. I dumped all gears and speeded up towards this objective. It probably only took me 10 minutes to top out on the ridge crest, and then it was a hike (in strong gusting wind) to the summit.
Windy Peak seen from Mount Hornecker
Descending rubble slope towards the col
Looking back towards Hornecker. It looks quite like a peak from this angle
And it was a straightforward hike to Windy Peak, with strong wind though
Mount Hornecker again
The summit ridge was flat and long
Summit Panorama. Click to view large size
Peaks including Cabin Ridge and Isola Peak
Beautiful clouds over the foothills and prairie
The summit cairn
Mount Livingstone
Clouds above Hailstone Butte
Saddle Mountain, our next objective
I could barely stand there taking an obligatory panorama, before running back to rejoin Raff, and then we would be going up Saddle Mountain together.
Steven's Peak-bagging Journey 
I just discovered Windy Peak this weekend – had seen it from the top of Hailstone Butte the previous weekend. It’s beautiful – loved it!