Mount Baldy XVI
 
July 10, 2014
 
Mountain height: 2192 m      
Elevation gain:    800 m
Round-trip time:  5:30
 
Scrambling with Nicole and Chris.
 
The standard Kane route up Mount Baldy has almost become a “rite of passage” for would-be scramblers. The short but exposed downclimb is a classic test-piece. Also, in many ways it’s a near perfect route – short, but with interesting and varied terrain throughout, the aforementioned downclimb, and terrific views, featuring Barrier Lake.
 
I was very excited to drag Nicole and Chris up this wonderful mountain. Only the downclimb (for Nicole) was cause for some apprehension. Fortunately, her reaction to the Baldy downclimb was far more subdued than the Yamnuska chain section, where she unleashed a barrage of unrepeatable language on me! I did receive a snarl and a somewhat disapproving glare, but once started, she realized the hand- and footholds were pretty bomber. Chris descended the step as if it were nothing.
 
We all thoroughly enjoyed the remainder of the ascent, Chris taking several challenging lines up the final section. I did try to tempt them with the north to south traverse, but one downclimb for the day was more than enough!
 
A terrific day and both my partners passed, with flying colours, the “Baldy Test”! 

Typical terrain above treeline



Chris on the downclimb. Nicole has already done it.



Leaving the downclimb behind



Some fun hands-on terrain


    
Easy does it here - it's more exposed than it looks



The summit



Chris takes a challenging hands-on line



Barrier Lake is a beautiful shade of green



Nicole and I took followed the trail up



Chris waves to us from up high



And then he tackles another section of scrambling



Nicole and Chris on the summit ridge



Chris' summit pose



The northeast side of Barrier Lake



The South and West peaks of Baldy in the foreground



Heading south to check out the "other" downclimb



Nicole practices some "tight-rope" walking just in case we end up doing the extension to Baldy South



It's a no-go!



Back at the summit



Descending



Same as above



I'm photo-bombing Nicole's selfie!



While not exactly The Matterhorn, I always find the summit block of Baldy to be beautiful and very photogenic



Back on that short, exposed section



Care is needed here too



The rock bench is a perfect place to celebrate the accomplishment



We took the bypass route on descent

The End

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