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Mount Lady MacDonald (lower summit)

  • November 11, 2002
  • Mountain height: 2,605 m (8,544 feet)
  • Elevation gain: 1,300 m (almost!)
  • Ascent time: 2:20
  • Descent time: 1:45

Solo scramble.

Given that I was alone and it was the middle of November , I really didn?t have any intentions or expectations of reaching the true summit of Lady MacDonald, however, I did want to see first-hand what all the fuss was regarding the mountains "razor-edge" ridge traverse. A nice trail takes you all the way to the unfinished teahouse and from there it?s only a short scramble to the lower summit. From this summit you can see the first (and easiest) part of the traverse. I might have attempted at least this initial section were it not for a decent amount of snow on the ridge and a very strong west wind. The immense drop-off on the right is enough to give pause to the bravest of souls! Dark, foreboding clouds made for a wonderfully ominous scene.

 

    

The Three Sisters on the opposite side of the Trans-Canada

 

 

        

Approaching the lower summit; the easy section of the ridge traverse; the crux cannot be seen from this point 

 

 

    

At the cairn of the lower summit; dark clouds moving in, to the north

 

 

    

Looking back at the mountain on descent; the crux is the small notch along the ridge, just left of center

 

Mount Lady MacDonald

  • July 14, 2003
  • Mountain height: 2,605 m (8,544 feet)
  • Elevation gain: 1,300 m
  • Ascent time: 4:10
  • Descent time: 2:20

Hiking with Dave to the helipad; solo scramble to the summit.

I've always avoided doing difficult-rated scrambles by myself, up until now. Dave decided he'd had enough at the heli-pad and so I went to the summit solo, with faint hopes of completing the razor-edge ridge traverse. Upon reaching the south summit, I started athe traverse. Eventually, I came to a section that made me feel a little uncomfortable and so I dropped down to the scree slopes below to bypass the section. Gaining the ridge again, I was now confronted with the crux - a narrow and exposed notch in the ridge. Going very slowly and cautiously, I made it over the crux and then unto the summit. I was extremely happy to have completed the traverse alone.

    
Looking back at the crux, from the summit

 

    
A self-timed picture at the summit cairn

 

    
Dave descending the well-worn trail, with Canmore and The Three Sisters in the background

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