It’s nearly impossible to have a bad day in the mountains – apart from near death experiences or wildlife encounters.
But even those mishaps or screw ups gives you something in the way of a lesson or in the very least a cool story to share with your friends.
Moody skies and slight rain drops greeted us Saturday morning at the parking lot for Wind Ridge. I had been up Pigeon Mountain, the week before, so Wind Ridge was definitely on my mind. It’s one of those ridges/mountains that I tackle at least twice a year.
Amanda hasn’t done Wind Ridge so I was happy for another opportunity to be a mountain guide. The crazy fog obscured our early views but it made for some dramatic photos.
By the time we reached the summit, the fog began to lift and we were rewarded with lush, green valleys. I wish I could soak in these views every day. Mountains are so humbling. They really give you another perspective on life.
After reaching the summit, we decided to explore where the other the trail lead beyond the summit. It was early in the day and we had all the time. We could see a clearly defined trail from the summit, which led to somewhere. Why not find out? We scaled down a little rocky section but otherwise it was smooth sailing.
Exploring is one of my favourite parts of being in the mountains. There’s so much to see and to discover. We didn’t see any bears (in case you were wondering) but we did see a marmot scurrying around the ridge.
Wonderfully, the ridge continued for at least another kilometre and half. We kept going until we reached a full stop. Despite the name, there was barely any wind on the mountain top. Once the fog cleared, it perfect. We took some glam running shots before turning back.
We enjoyed a quick run back to the parking lot. My legs welcomed the downhills and flat bits after the climb. There was a little more vert than I expected but I think I was fixated on vert because I was trying to rest my legs for Sinister 7.
This is one of my favourite mountains near Canmore. So if you are ever in the area, I encourage you to stop in. Just get there early because the parking lot and the gravel road leading to the trail head is always a gong show after 9 a.m.