McDonald Peak - Northeast face and McDonald Glacier

Nearing the summit of McDonald after the long climb from Post creek.

A good forecast motivated another mid week ski adventure to the Missions.  To my surprise, Ned was keen to join, even with a late start.  We rolled out from Mission reservoir at the very leisurely hour of 10:30 am, and were across Post creek and engaging the bushwack shortly after noon.  We climbed the peak via the Northwest face, and I was reminded both how big this climb is, and how the bushwack isn't that bad if you are patient and find the intermittent climber trail on the East side of the drainage.  Aside from a narrow elevation band of terribly gloppy snow, the climb went off efficiently, and we summited around 4 pm.  Ned was once again keen to ski the Northeast face, a run that I had wanted to ski for years, and of course one he had skied just the previous weekend.  There ended up being three-day old, foot deep slabs on the face, and while we felt OK eking the run out, I ended up just ski cutting a lot of it right at the base of the cliffs.  It was great to ski this fine line, but I'd like to return some day and ski it with better style.  We also cut the run off at the base of the mountain rather than taking it for the full 3k vertical in order to get out before dark.  

Up, up, and more up with some of the appealing Calowachan/Summit lake terrain in the background.

Ned guiding us down to the Northeast face.

A short climb put us at the top of the McDonald glacier.  We took an excellent run all the way down the McDonald glacier and exited straight to Post creek.  The run kept going and going, and the skiing was quite good.  We took skis off about a thousand vertical above Post creek, elated to have skied about 4,000 vertical feet of beautiful, moderate terrain with good snow top to bottom.  Such a grand, wild place to ski.  I was fairly concerned that we would be dealt a proper Mission beat down on the exit, but we only found "not too bad" bushwacking by staying just West of the drainage.  

First few turns of several hundred on the McDonald glacier.

Eventually we crossed the creek, found the trail, and took a break to snack and get bear spray out.  To my skin burning, eye tearing, lung searing surprise, I discovered that my bear spray can had exploded in my backpack, coating the contents in cayenne pepper.  So we hiked out with me in the back, and both brain stormed ways to drive home without fumigating ourselves with bear spray.  Fortunately, most of the aerosols dissipated on the hike out, and we made it to the car, then home without too much burning skin and completely devoid of consumption by bear.  Full disclosure: my gloves still have bear spray residue after two trips through the laundry and two thorough hand washes, and my beacon strap still makes my neck burn a month later.  

In any case, it was a fine day with a great partner.  Post creek is such a wild place, the trail is good, and I still think that doing McDonald from Post creek is a full value but quality way to ski the mountain.  I don't think that McDonald glacier will ever be a popular ski run, but it is a viable adventure, and the day was a treat.  And the Northeast face is a great ski run.  Exposed, but every bit as quality as anything on the mountain.