MOUNT MACKIE

MT MACKIE   2167m   7109′
A low level peak in the Rossland Range 3.75kms northeast of Neptune. Better for skiing in the winter. Route becoming overgrown with alder. 

Difficulty:
Elevation gain:
Key elevations:
Distance:
Time: 7 hours round trip
Season: June through October
Access: Good. 4km of 2WD
Map: 82F/4 Rossland-Trail and 82F/5 Castlegar 

Drive: From Castlegar, drive 17km west on Hwy 3. Turn left (east) on  the Mackie Creek FSR and drive for ~4km. Park at a good spur road going off to the left (east). 

Route: Walk up the road paralleling a creek for a few hundred yards to a washout. At the top of the next hill, enter a newly planted clear-cut (2007) with views of Mackie. Continue on the road for another kilometre taking one left turn. Alder started overgrowing the road up three switchbacks and into a newly established forest. As the route steepens, enter old growth and scramble to the summit. 
There are good views: close by are the Seven Summits, Crowe and Neptune. The summit has a green radio repeater cone. 2 hours down.