LADYBIRD MT 2263m 7425′
The described route was enjoyable mountaineering but the bushwhack to get there was awful.
Difficulty: C3 a terrible bushwhack
Elevation gain:
Key elevations:
Distance:
Time: 8 hours.
Map:
Drive: From Castlegar, drive 10 km up Pass Creek Road to the Norns Creek Rd on the left.
0.0. Start on Norns Creek Rd
10 km Turn left (south) on East Ladybird Rd. Cross the bridge in a few hundred metres
10.3 km. Park where a barely discernable old alder-infested road leads off to the east. This route approaches the mountain from the northwest. Head for a shoulder of Ladybird that leads up to the west ridge.
Route: Follow this road for 2 hours and a kilometre of bushwhacking through alder. The general direction is east then south along an unnamed creek coming from the SW side of Ladybird. 3 washouts obliterate the road. The road ends in a mature forest and ascend the shoulder. Where the ridge is joined is too far west and several ups and downs are on the traverse. Leave the ridge heading for a talus slope and ascend the SW shoulder to the summit.
Descend from the col along the ridge and shorten the trip.
Good views are towards Nelson, the Valhallas and Mt Faith, Pallisades, Airy and Kamikaze.
Routes that use Rialto Road (just past Keenleyside Dam) approach Ladybird from the southeast and should be investigated to see if the bushwhack could be lessened.
