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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
Little McDougall II
- Location: Kananaskis Country (Highway 40)
- Activity: Scrambling
- Height: 2,553 m (8,376 ft)
- Elevation Gain: 1,070 m (3,511 ft)
- Distance: 12.5 km / Round Trip (7.8 mi)
- Avg Steepness: 9.7°
- Estimated Time: 6-8 hrs
- Technicality: Intermediate
- Fitness Level: Moderate
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I always wanted to finish off the last 2 peaks of the big traverse in the More Scramble book by Nugara. The opportunity came when I saw Richard from CSMC posted this trip, so I grabbed a spot. Not exactly traverse but by completing McDougall and Old Baldy, I have done all 4 peaks.
Approach to Volcano Peak:
We followed Evan-Thomas Fire road for 2.1 km then turned to left to Old Baldy trail (Waypoint "Left"). However there were 2 trails very close to each other. Take the second one which is gated by cairns both sides.
I don't know if there is a trail leads to Volcano Peak AKA Little McDougall. We followed my GPS from previous trip to Volcano. We followed Old Baldy trail for 1.4 km then went off-trail (Waypoint "Off-Trail"). This involves a short bushwhacking then slogging up steep unstable rubbles.
To Mount McDougall:
Follow the ridge. Closer to the summit, there was a down climbing part (page 9). Other than that it's pretty easy.
To Old Baldy Mountain:
Nothing but follow the ridge. We had little fun with scrambling towards the end. It was difficult scrambling but it's easily avoidable (page 19). Just like ridge between Volcano to McDougall, it was pretty easy.
Descent:
There were little bit of slabby sections higher up, after that we had decent scree which speeded up descent time quite a bit. There wasn't any difficulties to get to the lake down bottom. From there we followed Old Baldy trail.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
Quite steep rubble slope. These rocks were quite wabbly even the big ones which made this little bit tiring.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
That is the summit of Volcano Peak.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
McDougall. It wasn't as long as how it looks to get McDoughall from Volcano.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
Again the unnamed peak which looks impressive enough to have a name.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
Old Baldy looks near impossible from far below. Still it looks pretty steep from McDougall.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
I was at Glacier National Park in Montana a day before. Peaks there had less snow than peaks in K.C. but still they have glaciers. I don't understand.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
Big peaks of Kananaskis. Mouseover for peak pointers.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
Summit picture with CSMC members.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
Other side is massive cliff.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
Little ups and downs on the way.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
We stayed on slab near the cliff for the last steep section on Old Baldy.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
This is avoidable crux. We could have go to easy scree but decided to scramble up here.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
I think I have done 3 trips with Richard.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
Skipping summit pictures from Old Baldy and showing descend pictures.
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Volcano to McDougall to Old Baldy | 2013-06-16
Took this long gully to the lake.
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