Thursday, April 19, 2012

Ski traverse of 'Mt. Mackay' and the ‘Mackay Hills’

April 9, I choose to do a solo ski traverse of 'Mt. Mackay' and the ‘Mackay Hills’. These highpoints are the minor peaks east and south east of The Wedge between Rocky and Evan-Thomas Creeks. Unofficial name to recognize Walter Grant Mackay who had a coal mining claim on these hills.



From ETC parking skied to Wedge Connector trail, then after ETC crossing, headed due south towards ‘Mt. Mackay’. Bushwaching, then open. 5.5 hours to the 2455m summit of GR 323350 ('Mt. Mackay').



Second summit in 2 hours. GR 333341 ('Mackay Hills - centre') elevation of 2440m. From the central hill less than one hour to GR 341335 ('Mackay Hills - south').






Awesome ski descent, sun baked snow, then super soft, deep powder in the trees. Down the creek bed of the minor stream in between the two Mackay Hills with fast travel to ETC. Good downstream passage and only had to take off the skis twice to bypass the canyons. The ski out was without skins and quite fast on frozen snow. I was 13 hours car to car.