BOU AVENUE
Mount Sparrowhawk
Given the unfavourable weather forecast for 7 October 2006, I was looking for a short and easy day in the mountains and decided to head up Mount Sparrowhawk in Kananaskis Country.  Starting from some flagging at the edge of the forest just north of Sparrowhawk Day Use area, I followed a well-beaten path heading up through the forest (only on my descent did I realize that there is a good trail further south that goes up Read's Ridge).  Fresh snow made the footing slippery, and I lost the path on several occasions.  Nevertheless, it was not difficult for me to find my way up Read's Ridge, and by the time I reached tree line, the overcast sky was beginning to clear up nicely.  From Read's Ridge, I could make out a figure in the distance ascending the ramp just north of Read's Tower.  Slogging up endless snow-covered rubble, I eventually caught up to this person at the base of Mount Sparrowhawk's summit block.  This person would later introduce himself as Wayne Pickard.  Some verglas and wind-blown snow on the steep slope below the summit made for some tricky climbing, but I managed to get up by kicking steps in the snow and sticking to rocks wherever I could.  Wayne was not as lazy as me and stopped to don his crampons before easily trudging up this slope.  A brisk wind made our summit stay unpleasantly chilly.  Wayne could not open the register canister, and I was so cold that I did not even bother trying.  We warmed up nicely though as soon as we dropped back down the summit block.  After Wayne removed his crampons, we descended the rest of the mountain together without trouble.  My round-trip time was 6 hours.
Looks frosty on the summit... The clouds clear to reveal the summit block of Mount Sparrowhawk.
I will definitely return to hike up Read's Tower. This is looking back at Read's Tower from the upper slopes of Mount Sparrowhawk.
Being motivated to catch up to Wayne actually helped me climb this boring section quickly. Wayne is barely visible on the horizon at right as he circles around the summit block.
Snow conditions were ideal here. Sonny walks up an easy snow slope.
Snow conditions were not so ideal here--wind-blown and hard. Wayne climbs up the steep slope below the summit.
Wayne made short work of the slope with his crampons on. Here is a close-up of Wayne in action.
Rather pathetic flag, eh? Sonny stands on the 3121-metre summit of Mount Sparrowhawk.
Weather turned out to be better than I had expected. Wayne poses near the summit with Spray Lakes Reservoir behind him.
Anyone know if Peak 4 can be scrambled? Clouds encircle the fourth (southeast) peak of Mount Lougheed.
And in the foreground at far right is the summit of Mount Kidd (north). A break in the clouds to the southeast reveals Fisher Peak.
My fingers were feeling pretty numb at this point. The view north includes The Three Sisters and Rimwall Summit at right.
Looks just as formidable from this angle. Here is a slightly different perspective of the summit block.
One of the nicest and longest summit stays I've had. Mount Galatea stands out prominently to the south.
Read's Ridge itself is a great hiking destination. Wayne heads back to Read's Ridge.  Mount Nestor (left) and "Old Goat Mountain" (right) dominate the view to the west.
Only another 45 minutes to get down to the road from here! Wayne is on Read's Ridge with the summit block of Mount Sparrowhawk and Read's Tower behind him.