Pigeon Offered a Bird's Eye View

Today's attack plan for Pigeon Mountain was to give it the credit it is due and to do it right this time!  My friends were all on board with my thinking and most importantly thank you Mother Nature, so were you.  The main objective was of course to reach the cairn on the true summit of Pigeon Mountain to where we would have a bird's eye view down into the Bow Valley, Canmore and of all the surrounding mountains.  That cairn is on the tip of that beige looking rocky bit at middle left in the below photo.

The second objective was to explore and discover what was up on top of this ridge.

The first four to five kilometers of the hike are boring because it follows the Skogan Pass Trail which is entirely in the trees.  It is worth it though to put up with this because then it is nothing but wide open spaces where you have that bird's eye view and can see forever.

We took the higher trail to reach the first (false) summit so we could admire the valley below....

....and the colorful rock formations.

 Then it was on to the true summit at 2394 meters (7855 feet.)

This was a much more enjoyable summit visit....

 ...from the one I experienced on November 5, 2011.

We had time to dine on the summit, nap and play photographer.   

A bit further down from the summit cairn was a perfect spot to take in the view.  

After our main objective was conquered, it was time to carry on to see what was up on that ridge that just stands there looking very inviting.  

We found a defined route and followed it.

In no time at all, we were on the top!  I was surprised to discover a big beautiful green meadow covered in wild flowers.  There is more exploring to do up here but that will have to wait for another day.  We had a great view of Pigeon Mountain.  The summit from where we just came is at the tip of my left shoulder.

 The door was locked!

 We descended the way we ascended.  See my two friends in the cloud?

I was pleased we were able to accomplish both objectives today.  More often then not, mountain summits are a very windy and sometimes cold place to be but that wasn't the case today.  It was hot with the odd tiny slight breeze which made for ideal conditions for an extended summit visit and for taking the time to explore.  It was rewarding to accomplish doing it right this time and that made me feel like I was "on top of the world!"