Windy Peak and The Saddle – December 6, 2008

Mountain heights:       2240 m, 2270 m
Total elevation gain:    approx. 850 m
Roundtrip time:           5:20

Solo hike.

Windy Peak lived up to its name. Although conditions weren’t too bad upon reaching the summit of Windy Peak (a short ascent with minimal elevation gain; along the same lines as nearby Hailstone Butte), the traverse to The Saddle was brutal. The highlight of the whole trip was taking shelter on a snow slope on the east side of the peak, to photograph some interesting snow formations, caused by the wind. I should have just stayed there to enjoy the scenery and violent blowing snow, as the vicious wind took most of the enjoyment out of The Saddle section of the trip. I opted to forgo the short traverse to the south summit of The Saddle because of the conditions. A decent, but not particularly memorable day out.

Fog blankets the valley around Longview on the drive there

Windy Peak (centre) from the road

Looking back at Hailstone Butte

Interesting clouds

Same as above

The Saddle, from Windy Peak

Taking shelter from the wind on the east side of the peak

Blowing snow

The cool snow formations

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A mini Grand Canyon in the snow

Geometry in nature

More snow formations - definfitely the best scenery of the day

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Looking to the south summit of The Saddle from the north summit

Some of the interesting rock of the north summit

Heading back

Taken near a park in Country Hills; there must have been a water leak somewhere and a 
bunch of trees got covered in water, making for some cool ice formations

Same as above

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