McDonald peak is as challenging of a climb as you can read on any trip report. A combination of bushwhacking, steep off trail, thigh high creek ford, and snow climb requiring ice axe an crampons. We camped at the beautiful cliff lake, then made an early start to climb McDonald via the south slope. 40 mph wind gusts made the snow quite firm on the climb up, but softened up for a pleasurable boot ski on the way down. We made the mistake of taking the old trail down to island lake, leading to a horrendous bushwhack to heart lake. Was it mentally and physically challenging? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes.
