BOU AVENUE
Mount Ward And Allison Peak
Peak-bagging can become an addiction.  Getting high once is not enough.  Soon it becomes a hard habit to break.  After already having a pretty busy scrambling season, I was still keen on tagging more summits given the incredibly mild autumn weather.  On 25 October 2003, I headed to the Crowsnest Pass area with the intention of bagging Mount Ward, Allison Peak and Window Mountain all in one go.  Another inexplicably late start had me hiking up to Window Mountain Lake at 12:45 PM; I would be hard-pressed to bag just one peak let alone all three.  A dusting of snow made for slippery conditions, and a howling wind was my constant companion all day.  With some determination though, I reached the summit of Mount Ward in a little over two hours.
Mount Ward
Mount Ward
Window Mountain Lake
It's curious that the tarn below Mount Ward is named Window Mountain Lake when Window Mountain is actually on the other side of Mount Ward.
More work ahead...
This is the ridge connecting Mount Ward to Allison Peak (upper left).
This one was easy...
Sonny stands atop the 2530-metre summit of Mount Ward.  Seven Sisters Mountain and Crowsnest Mountain are visible across the valley.
Window Mountain
This is the classic view of Window Mountain.
Despite the lateness of the day, I continued along the connecting ridge to Allison Peak.  The strong wind forced me to traverse most of the ridge well below the crest; travel was tedious and even scary at times (some exposure).  There were moments when I felt like giving up and turning around, but I persevered and eventually reached the top of Allison Peak about 1.5 hours after leaving the summit of Mount Ward.  I wasted little time snapping some photographs and signing the register (didn't even bother coming up with a limerick) before heading down.  I had no illusions about going after Window Mountain though.  I was running out of daylight, and the scrambling conditions were less than ideal.  I decided to backtrack across the ridge and head out via Window Mountain Lake (I was back at my car by 6:55 PM).  Oh well, two out of three ain't bad. 
Allison Peak
Allison Peak
I should have stayed home!
Facing the full force of the wind, Sonny can barely stand up straight on the 2645-metre summit of Allison Peak.  Mount Ward is the peak in the middle while Window Mountain is visible at lower right.
Another beautiful evening sky.
Despite the wind, it's another beautiful evening in the Canadian Rockies.