Navigate Site:  

Window Mountain

Home » Mountains » Crowsnest Pass
Published by vdewit on April 30th, 2009
Trip Details
Trip Activity: 
Scramble
Attained Summit?: 
Yes
Location: 
Crowsnest Pass
Trip Date: 
September 3, 2004
Summit Elevation: 
2,514m
Summit Elevation (ft): 
8,250ft
Related Content
Interesting Facts: 
(info from peakfinder.com) Naming: This outlier to Allison Peak features a "window" which is very noticeable when travelling north up the Allison Creek Valley. Unofficial name.  
Related Trips: 
Allison, Mount
Ward, Mount

Trip Report

After quickly bagging Allison it was time to beat the approaching storm up and down Window Mountain. On hindsight doing the exposed and loose traverse from Allison to Window Mountain in a rush was not the best idea I've ever had - but oh well! Most of my pictures of the traverse are actually under my allison pictures because we didn't get any summit shots on that one!

The initial route off of the high point between Allison and Window was very steep and loose. This is probably the crux, although a steep, loose crack just before the summit of Window isn't without its difficulties either. We actually didn't think much of the route until we came to a small cliff band that we had to follow right until we found a way through - then we looked back and realized what we had just downclimbed. Not the hardest scrambling I've ever done but a slip would not have had happy consequences.

A bit further along the ridge, just before the summit of Window Mountain there is a steep loose crack that you have to be very careful on. It seems like everything you try to hold onto is either loose or looser! Once gaining the summit it's an easy trek to the window and then steep scree off the mountain.

We made our way over the intervening clearcut ridge to our left to intersect our road from the way up. No difficulties there except a surprise visit with a cow and calf moose.

If you're confident of your scrambling abilities and the weather is holding you should definately try the traverse from Allison to Window Mountain. Just don't blame me if you kill yourself. ;-)


Part of the traverse to Window Mtn.

A nasty view of the ridge to Window Mtn.

Summit of Window Mtn.

Over the window! (With our route down the crux marked in red)

View of Crowsnest Mtn. through the window.

Seven Sisters and Crowsnest Mtn. to the left of the window with our route down beside it marked in red.

The roof of the window - we went over this.

View slightly to the right of the route down from the window.

Cliffs on Ward on the descent.

Heading back to the road.

Window and Ward from the way back.

A visitor startles us on the way back. The bad part was the calf that isn't in this picture!