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It's just two weeks short of a year since I bounced over 100 metres down the Northern ridge of Midnight Peak, I was very lucky to escape that fall and I still bear the physical scars on my arms,stomach and thigh. That day was obviously at the forefront of my mind as I made my way from the car park beside highway 40 into the forests covering the southern approach to Baldy Pass.
In a very short time the effects of the recent flooding was apparent, this shot shows what was a narrow (one person wide) dirt trail through the lower forest.
Even in the areas where the majority of trees have survived the forest floor is now covered in rocks, all of which dance under my boots with every step making the hike more 'interesting'
Higher up the initial stages the washout existed prior to the floods, just not so damn wide, it must have been an incredible sight in full flow, this shot looks back toward the trailhead.
eventually I reach the point where the original trail can be picked up as it begins the steeper ascent toward South Baldy Pass. All the way along I thought of my son Mark and our trip up here together two months ago when we climbed to the south summit of Baldy, in my head we chatted about the difference between the trail then and now.
Once on the higher original trail I began to think about that north ridge and the way it had collapsed under me as I ascended last year, I thought about all the rain and wondered if it would have been undermined further. Then on my right I saw a long meltwater channel reaching up toward one of the lower ridges, I quickly decided to take this route and avoid the north ridge entirely.
early on the channel provides great footing with overgrown boulders knitted together with grass,weeds and bearberries and a fine view of Mt Baldy opening up as I ascend. It is great to see so many bearberries up here as many of these have been lost to the floods which might make autumn time a little more 'exciting' with hungry bears ranging further seeking food sources.
I have no idea about the route up here but can see the contours on my map showing a manageable slope to a small side ridge which connects to the main summit ridge higher up, still low down in the forested areas the going is good as I pick out a route upward toward the ridge.
as the ascent steepens and the ground underfoot becomes less stable I commence a long section of self imposed switchbacks choosing my footing carefully and continually adjusting the upward route to make the best of underfoot conditions.
The long pull up the scree and boulder slope eventually lifts me out of the forest and above the south ridge of Baldy, now I can see the prairies to the east, almost all of Baldy and even Yamnuska away in the distance.
Directly east is the sheer sided north ridge that almost got me last year, whilst the fall is in my mind it's not bothering me, it's just a good reminder of what can happen even when the greatest of care is taken.
I'm pleased when I'm off the scree/boulder slope and onto the lower ridge, wonderful views open up all around, the rate of ascent slows to a gradual plod and I wander along the stable surface looking down at highway 40 and the numerous huge washout areas that have appeared over the past month.
After a steady plod along the 'S' shaped ridge I reach the summit ridge and drop my gear before taking a well earned rest and scoffing down some fruit and water. I'm pleasantly surprised to find it is bloody freezing up here, The weatherman was reporting snow on the summits a couple of days ago and it actually feels a lot like it right now, I have to get the fleece out immediately.
My views to the north are (right to left) the wide open prairies leading away to Calgary, the three tall summits of Mt Baldy representing the eastern edge of the rockies and far away on the cloud line the ghost region north of the Trans-Canada highway.
to the west is the kananaskis valley which runs north -south, there are huge washouts reaching across the road that can be seen from here, behind them stands Mary Barclays Mountain and Mt Lorette, the deep scars in the dark green forest on the left of shot is the Nakiska Ski Area
To the south is Porcupine Ridge (running across centre of the shot) which is a wonderful hike in its own right. Behind that Wasootch Ridge, another great hike. Behind them is Mt McDougal and its long reaching ridges which will lead you to Old Baldy all of which make up the northern end of the Fisher Range.
finally, to the east in the centre of the frame is the summit cairn for Midnight Peak just a short wander away, and leading away to the right is Boundary Ridge, to the left are the foothills with wonderful cloud shadows racing across their forest covered slopes.
A short hike gets me to the summit, my nemesis conquered I stand and take in the stunning surroundings. The movement of the cloud shadows is mesmerising, the steep sharp line of Boundary Ridge cuts a definitive edge to the Rockies and away on the horizon I can now see Moose Mountain standing alone in the foothills.
I carry on beyond the ridge and drop down to a small abutment on the eastern edge, turning around from the foothills and looking back into the endless sea of mountains streaming away to the west is such a wonderful contrast that I actually do it twice.
Baldy Pass is the dip in the mountains in the lower right of this shot, you could bike to it from the eastern side and then charge down the western slope through the forest, I think the washed out trail will end that particular fun for a while at least. Mt Baldy is a wonderful mountain, you can take on the scramble from the north to the north summit then traverse to the south summit and down the pass, or reverse that route or take either the north or south and then cross to the west summit and descent the scree slopes to a point on the pass trail. For me it will always be the first mountain I climbed with my boy....and my best day in the hills.
Back to the cairn now for the evidence shot and yes, I'm as pleased as I look right now though it is bloody cold. The temperature is not normal for the time of year and at only 7800 feet it's hardly a huge mountain but somehow it is 20 degrees different between the car park and here.
A zoomed shot of the peaks behind me shows the remnants of the fresh snow that fell two days ago giving some indication of the temps up here right now.
Looking back along the ridge to my gear, I decided to wander back and set off down a little way before stopping for lunch as my hands were freezing and I didn't have gloves with me today. It s a real shame to descend from a spot like this on a day like today, but hopefully there'll be a few more days like today before I hang up my boots.
As I start my descent I grab one more shot of those wonderful cloud shadows over the foothills before dropping down the ridge I had ascended on.
I stayed with the ridge beyond the point I had joined it on ascent because the slope from lower down looked less steep and had more greenery suggesting a more stable surface, finally I stopped in the trees for a quick lunch in the warmth of the afternoon sunshine before the last push for home.
by the time I was reaching the last of the washed out section my feet were sick and tired of moving boulders beneath them and it was nice to break off here into the forest for the last 1.5km to the car park.
As I wandered through the forest I couldn't help but smile at this little squirrel happily munching pine cones as I passed, judging by the enormous pile of debris under that tree I assume he sits here a lot!!
This was a great hike in wonderful conditions and finally lays my nemesis to rest, now I can drive down highway 40 without that huge shadow looming over me every time......now where to next.
