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South Peak of Baldy
Kananaskis, Alberta
June 29, 2019

Distance: 12.5 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 880 m

Although the South Peak of Baldy can be done as part of the Mount Baldy Traverse that includes all three peaks, it's easier reached using the south ridge. Unlike the traverse which entails a difficult scramble after climbing over Mount Baldy, the south ridge has only an easy scramble section. The route is simple too: hike up Baldy Pass trail and after reaching the pass, turn left and follow the ridge trail 2 km to the South Peak of Baldy.

You can expect to see others on Baldy Pass trail; Dinah and I did. The popular trail begins as a single dirt path, but when it enters a stony drainage, it splits in places only to merge further on. Eventually it settles into a rooty path that extends to the treed pass.

From the pass, Dinah and I started up the stony ridge trail, actually an enjoyable ridgewalk. We soon reached The Tower, a rocky knob that we scrambled up. Beyond that, almost halfway along the ridge, is a high point. Here, before the ridge descends and then rises to meet the summit, Dinah decided to call it a day. As she waited for me, we kept in touch with cell phones.

I continued along the ridge but missed the scree trail on my left and ended up taking the trail on the right side of the ridge. I encountered some brief and easy scrambling, but nothing more difficult than The Tower. After regaining the crest, I turned onto the scree trail and trudged to the summit.

Once I finished taking photos, I cruised back, this time taking the scree trail all the way down. I soon met Dinah, and we returned to the pass. As we hiked back down Baldy Pass trail, we found it busy and passed groups starting up in the afternoon.

KML and GPX Tracks


Hiking up the trail. Ahead is the ridge we'll ascend.


For a time, the trail follows a dry creek bed


A sprawling cairn marks Baldy Pass


Starting up the trail to the South Peak


Behind us is Midnight Peak


The Tower appears ahead


The Tower is a short, easy scramble


Dinah scrambles up The Tower


Continuing after The Tower


Looking back along the ridge


Hunchback Hills and Cox Hill


The South Peak of Baldy, or South Baldy as Alan Kane calls it, appears bracketed by West Baldy and Mount Baldy


The trail drops down and runs over a few rocky bumps


Beyond the bumps, the ridge narrows but isn't exposed


The trail splits ahead: right offers bits of easy scrambling, while left is a scree trail


Keep left for the scree trail and right to scramble. I'm barely visible, well up the ridge.


West Baldy


Looking back along the ridge


I'm almost at the summit


Mount Baldy


Standing on the summit


82 J /14 Spray Lakes Reservoir, 82 O/3 Canmore

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