50. Baldy Pass from the South/Midnight Peak

Distance: 12.4 km
Elevation gain: 1061m

June 8, Wednesday, a nice day before a poor weather forecast for the weekend, we found another hike in Kananaskis relatively near Calgary. We started early to finish before a possible thunderstorm in the afternoon. We could see mountains  from the parking lot but weren't exactly sure which one was our goal.

The trail was broad with good footing.

The flowers were still in their early spring perfection. Rose, calypso, clematis,columbine etc

There was still rocky evidence of the flood 3 years before with gravel all over and a washed out bridge going nowhere.

We soon reached the pass but the view was quite blocked from there.

So we climbed a little higher to the right to a better lookout and then saw a trail leading on to a peak. This seemed to be the unnamed peak the book was describing so up we went.

The ridge in the background was our goal and we started out on a trail but soon it was just a few ribbons here and there and then a little disturbed dryad bed between rocks.

Soon the steep climb through the woods became a very steep climb on rocks.

I took a break part way up to renew my energy with lunch. What an experience, the world at my feet, no one else around. Moose Mtn (trip 27) was on the slope across.

Eventually we reached the high point and there was the cairn, or ahu, with the canister for us to register our name and thanks. We gave thanks that we were still able to do such wonderful climbs.

The view from the top was mountains all around.

We had climbed Mt. Baldy to the north (trip 25)but now could see it from a different angle and in clear light conditions. Apparently South Baldy peak is in that direction and also a good hike so we hope to try again. From the top we could see the alternate route down which the book described. It looked a little friendlier so we followed the ridge down, down to the green dryad mat and over to the dry creek bed at the bottom. Eventually we rejoined the trail going up to Baldy Pass.

It got windy and cloudy for about 10 minutes.

From the trail we could look back up and admire our amazing 50th hike, definitely the scrambliest so far.