McGillivray Ridge to Ma Butte | Scrambling in Crowsnest Pass

01 McGillivray Ridge to Ma Butte | 2013-06-30

McGillivray Ridge

Location: Crowsnest Pass
Activity: Hiking
Height: 2,354 m (7,723 ft)
Elevation Gain: 570 m (1,870 ft)
Distance: 4.6 km / One Way (2.9 mi)
Avg Steepness: 7.1°
Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hrs
Technicality: Novice
Fitness Level: Easy

Download GPX: [Trail] McGillivray Ridge to Ma Butte.gpx
OpenStreetMap: See track recorded by GPS
Print: Display in printer-friendly format
Conditions:
- Weather
- Avalanche Bulletin
Note: For stats for the entire route, please see page 11.

I was looking for mid long trip in Crowsnest Pass. By looking at topo, Ma Butte interested me and what do you know, little bit of surfing, I found Bob Spirko's trip report... of course.

Access:
Using Bob's GPS track, I found the small opening where I could park my car and the trailhead was right there. If you don't have GPS, the trailhead is around 8.8 km from where HWY 40 starts according to my GPS track. However I have to say it's hard to find the spot especially when you are driving as there was nothing to indicate the trailhead.

Approach:
Not much approach to this one from road. Only in few minutes from the trailhead, I came to cutline for power line (page 2). I followed the cutline to get up on the hill then I saw what appears to be a trail for quad? Followed the trail and soon I came to open grass hill.

To McGillivray Ridge:
Follow the ridge. Once on top of the ridge, it's quite flat.

To Ma Butte:
Follow the ridge. Go up and down a high point between. I went right of the summit block-like feature near the summit (page 11).

Note:
Official height of Ma Butte is 2331 m and I could not find official height of McGillivray Ridge. So according to my GPS McGillivray is 2354 m. However also according to my GPS, height of Ma Butte is 2358 m, so I believe Ma Butte is actually higher.