Distance

6.9 km to summit

14.2 km total

Elevation

1,534 m start

2,612 m max

Vertical

1,580 m gain

Time

5 hr 35 min to summit

8 hr 20 min total

I noticed the unlogged Mt. MacKay and MacKay Hills earlier this year and was curious why they didn't seem to be hiked often, considering this is Kananaskis. I wasn't sure if it was accessibility or the effort:reward factor for these large "hills". After scoping these peaks from adjacent peaks, I figured it would be fun to pick up the FA badges in combination with climbing The Wedge. I found a few trip reports and GPX files that involved a longer distance loop for the MacKay Peaks, but decided on a 'there and back' route plan. I anticipated a trip of 14km and 1400m, but ended with 13.6 and over 1800m! This could easily have been over 2000m if we hadn't found ways to avoid regaining the high points on return. Alternatively we could have taken a few loop options through the north valley, but that would have added a lot more distance and bushwhacking than we wanted. This answered my curiosity as to why there isn't a lot of traffic to these peaks! Despite the effort, we weren't disappointed. Mount MacKay is a large hill and MacKay Hills has some interesting rock formation for the area. It also had a few short sections of scrambling. Views were great! Especially getting a closer perspective of Fisher Peak. On return, we kept to game trails on the south side of the ridge from col to col and traversed across galleys under the east side of the Wedge to meet the main trail.

Route name

The Wedge and MacKay Peaks

out-and-back
Obstacles

no info yet

Key gear

no info yet

Other peaks climbed on this trip