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Old Baldy
Kananaskis, Alberta
July 22, 2017
Distance: 14.1 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 890 m
After ascending Old Baldy using the southwest ridge, I wondered why this trail wasn’t popularized. Unlike the rocky valley trail, it’s mostly smooth sailing to the summit on a good trail with pleasant scenery to boot. Partway up, one must negotiate a talus slope, but the rocks are stable, firm footing throughout. To make the most of Old Baldy, Zora and I went up the ridge trail and came down the valley trail.
The ridge trail shares the same approach as the valley trail. We hiked 2 km up Evan-Thomas trail to the side trail alongside McDougall Creek. Another 600 m brought us to a cairned fork: the valley trail continues along the creek while the ridge route ascends left. We followed the ridge trail in trees for some time before catching clearings that provided a few views. From one of the glades, we caught a glimpse of the talus slope that we had to climb. When we got there, we found numerous cairns kept us on track through the rocks, and a pika entertained us with its squealing and scampering. In a short time, we regained the ridge crest lined with burnt trees. The trail becomes spotty here and eventually vanishes on a plateau, but the open summit ridge of Old Baldy ahead left no question as to where to go. A final, brief stretch of trail traverses a scree slope before petering out on a grassy slope. When the trail disappeared, we hiked up to the ridge and sauntered to the summit.
We welcomed the open summit ridge that stretched before us, but the flat summit itself is unmarked and inconsequential. I took a panorama but darting clouds wreaked havoc, creating a patchwork of shadows on the result. We picked a spot out of the wind and relaxed for an hour before continuing west along the ridge. Just before reaching the col at the far end, we dropped down to a cobalt tarn where we picked up the valley trail.
We were concerned about the effects of the 2013 flood on the valley trail, but to our surprise, good detours are in place, and the trail runs nearly seamlessly. The valley trail offered little of interest to see, and as we hiked back, we agreed that the southwest ridge is the preferred route for Old Baldy.
Hiking up Evan-Thomas trail. The side trail is just ahead.
Turning off onto the McDougall Creek trail
The ridge trail splits from the creek trail
The trail mostly follows the ridge crest
A huge talus slope lies ahead
The route skirts the edge of the rocks
Then it runs up the talus slope. In the background are Mackay Hills and The Wedge.
Finally we get off the talus slope and onto the ridge. Behind is Volcano Peak.
Rampikes and fireweed cover the next ridge section
The trail follows the clifftops
More cliffs ahead
White camas, a poisonous plant
The trail disappears on a plateau and reappears on the scree slope ahead only to vanish in the grassy slope
On the trail in the scree
After the trail disappeared we hiked up to the ridge
We followed the curve of the ridge to the grassy summit on the right and dropped down to a tarn
Old Baldy Mountain ahead
Looking back along the expansive summit ridge
We headed to the tarn
On the lower slope, we came across a trail and followed it to the lake
We picked up a trail in the valley where it soon turned into the trees
We passed a patch of heart-leaf arnica (mouse over)
The trail follows a side creek that drains into McDougall Creek
The fork where the side creek meets McDougall Creek
Part of a trail cuts into the bank above Zora; the initial section was lost in the 2013 flood
Starting along the trail
Looking back at the trail
Cascading water
There were a few creek crossings, but none left our feet wet
We're almost at the junction where the ridge trail begins
Hiking back on a newly-built section of trail
82 J/14 Spray Lakes
