Upcoming Meetings

Come join us for our last regular monthly meeting until September. As always, we will begin the meeting at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, May 14 at Pipestone Mountaineering. This business portion of the meeting will be followed at 7:00 by our annual elections (see President's Message) and then our Feature Presentation by Walker Kuhl. Feel free to come to any or all of it, bring a snack and some drinks if so desired. Hope to see you there!

Walker Kuhl is a Kalispell native who grew up hiking and backpacking in and around the mountains of Glacier National Park. He discovered sport climbing in high school, and soon found himself trying out mountaineering routes with a few friends, and learning by trial and error. Following a tour of duty in the armed forces, Walker returned to Montana to attend Flathead Valley Community College and then the University of Montana, where he is currently majoring in Economics and Arabic. He also returned to the mountains with an invigorated passion for climbing, and has since attempted (and hauled terrified friends up) many of the area's classic routes. Walker will talk about how he got into climbing, and how his ideas about climbing and the mountains have changed over the years. His slide show will cover some of the classic lines on Pingora Peak in the Wind River Range, and the Becky Chounard in the Bugaboos, along with a variety of other smaller routes. Time permitting, he will also show some photos from a ski traverse from Roger's Pass to Fairy Meadows.

The club meeting begins at 6:00 followed by the Presentation at 7:00. Both are held at Pipestone Mountaineering, and are open to all.

President's Message

State of the Club Address: AKA- My Last President's Message: 

Our club was started in 1960 by a small group of very active and adventurous souls.  I like to think of them as explorers.  In those days, unclimbed peaks abounded, large areas of unknown terrain existed, and the opportunity for exploring new places was great.  Imagine going into one of the big, high, alpine basins in the Bitterroot or Mission Mountains with no knowledge of the environment other than a topographic map.  OK, it doesn't sound as dramatic in print as it does in my mind, but realize that you would be looking at beautiful unclimbed lines all around you, with no assurance that any of them would go.  Even climbing the blatantly obvious would likely have been a first.  By now, most of those have been climbed, but there are still many very nice unclimbed routes, and lots of unexplored or little explored terrain in our backyard.  There are obscure little basins, lakes, meadows, and falls, that few if any have ever experienced.  We are truly blessed to know that these places still exist and we are able to get to them in a day trip.  It keeps the explorer in us alive.  The grand places around us are certainly worthwhile, that is why they are grand, think El Capitan, Trapper Pk, McDonald Pk, Gray Wolf Pk, Holland Pk, and Swan Pk.  However, there are some wonderful places to be found that are not so “grand”.  I know many of you have found places in the nearby mountains where you felt like the first person to have ever visited.  Whenever I find myself in one of those places, it is very inspirational.    

Our club is still a group of active and adventurous souls, and hopefully we can continue to be inspired and inspire others along the way.  I thank you all for making this a pretty cool club, one that I am proud to be a member. 

The music is starting, so I must make this brief, but I do want to give particular thanks to the following people for all they have done in the last two years: Forest Dean, Tom Hanou, Julia Kahl, Frank Kleschen (deceased), Lewis Kogan, Joshua Phillips, Lorraine Riedl, Steve Schombel, Jim Wilson, Alden Wright, David Wright, anyone who has ever led a trip or gave a presentation, my wife, my daughter, my parents, my kindergarten teacher, etc, etc.   Steve Niday

Classic Series
The club runs a monthly series of hikes and climbs to local peaks and and other destinations.

Other Organizations

Northern Rocky Mountain Grotto (Caving)

Membership: Please help support the club by joining. The cost is only $10/year for a family membership with e-mail delivery of the newsletter.

We have an online photo gallery where members can upload pictures into albums at http://rockymountaineers.com/gallery/. For more information, click on the "Photos" link above.

About The Club

Meetings: The club has monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of the month from September through May. Meetings are in the Pipestone Mountaineering store at 129 West Front Street of Missoula, Montana. Meetings usually have a program.

Trips: Club members volunteer to lead trips. For current trips, see the current newsletter. Trip reports are published in the newsletter.

Newsletters: Current trips, trip reports, and other news is in the current newsletter (PDF format).

Cabin: The club maintains a primitive ski cabin (winter use only) on the east face of Little St. Joe Peak in the Bitterroots.

More information: For more information, e-mail

info @ rockymountaineers.com.

For current conditions at Lolo Pass and other local nordic ski areas, check out http://missoulanordic.org/snow_grooming/.

Upcoming Trips

Saturday, May 10 -- Lolo Pass Ski Trip I plan to either (1) ski the 13-mile Moose Ridge loop, or (2) do a point-to-point ski trip if we have enough vehicles to do a shuttle. Cross-country or shoe shoes are fine. Meet at Big Lots (K-Mart) parking lot at 6:30am. Bring water, lunch, and sunscreen. Call Jim McLean, 626-2471 (between 7-10pm) for information, or e-mail: jim AT frenchtownpt.com

Sunday, May 18 -- GOAT MOUNTAIN (Bitterroots) Rating: Class 1-2; Mileage: 5.0; Elevation: 1500' Description: Last year we had a large group hike up this smaller point in the Bitterroots, and I can see why it is one of Mario Locatelli's favorite places. As of May 3rd. the snow was mostly gone, and what was left on the upper part was firm enough to prevent post holing. I saw for the first time this year Glacier Lillies and Bluebells, also Shooting Stars and Buttercups and some Pasqueflowers with buds, not in bloom, and one Indian Paintbrush with a little bit of red. In a couple of weeks there should be a lot more wildflowers. The hike is all on a steep trail and gains about 1500' in two and a half miles. Leader: Steve Schombel -721-4686

Fri-Mon, May 23-26 -- MOUNT RAINIER (Washington Cascades)

Rating: Class 4; Mileage: 11 miles; Elevation: 9000'

Description: Memorial Weekend climb of the Kautz Headwall route (if conditions permit- route choice subject to change- also, trip could shift to following weekend if weather looks better). Currently the trip party size of 3-4 climbers is full. However, if others are interested, or if someone else would care to lead another party on the same or a different route, my thought was that we could sort of coordinate everything together. Anyone interested should have some prior glacier climbing and travel experience, as well as the necessary gear. If enough others are interested to comprise another rope team, I will coordinate a planning party to go over all the details.

Special Equipment: Harness, rope, crampons, pickets, ice tools, screws, helmet, transceiver, appropriate clothing, climbing permit.

Leader: Forest Dean -- C: 240-7612, email: mtnear1@gmail.com

Saturday, June 7 -- SPIRE ROCK (Homestake Pass area) Description:  Spire Rock's granite offers a variety of climbing options: cracks, bolts and topropes.  We will meet at East Gate Strip Mall at 6am (near the footbridge) and carpool east, through Butte and over Homestake Pass to Spire Rock.  Bring your climbing harness and shoes as well as water and food.  This should be a full day of enjoyable climbing if the weather cooperates.  All experience levels are welcome. Leader: Joshua Phillips 543-0898

Sat-Sun, June 7-8 -- TRM CABIN (Bitterroots)

Rating: Class 1-2; Mileage: 4.0+; Elevation: 1200'+

Description: There still should be snow around the cabin, and hopefully the road will be open to the trailhead. The idea is to hike, probably through mixed conditions, to the cabin and stay over night. There may be some good skiing yet up that high, we'll go up mid day on Sat. and come down Sun. afternoon.

Leader: Julie Kahl 543-6508

July 18/19 to July 27, 2008 -- WIND RIVER RANGE CLIMBING TRIP Description: There is something for everyone in this week-long trip to Titcomb Basin.  Whether you enjoy backpacking, fishing, scrambling, snow/ice climbing or rock climbing, Titcomb has it all!  This trip will begin with a two day (15 mile) hike from Elkhart Park Trailhead outside of Pinedale, Wyoming into the basin to establish a base camp near upper Titcomb Lake.  There is a high concentration of scrambles, snow/ice climbs, fifth class multi-pitch routes and trout filled lakes in this stunning alpine setting. Some may even use this trip as the perfect launch pad for climbing Gannet Peak (Wyoming's high point). Save these dates, bring the kids if you have 'em, and come enjoy the heart of the Wind River Range with us!  (no limit to number of participants) Leader: Joshua Phillips - 543-0898 

4th Annual Glacier Classic

Dates: August 22-24, 2008

Place: Many Glacier area

We would like to encourage everyone to join us in Glacier National Park for our annual Glacier Classic this August. Once again we plan to have a wide variety of climbs and hikes to go along with the camping fun! Our plan is to drive up on Friday, secure some campsites at the Many Glacier (NPS) campground, then eat, drink, tell tall-tales, etc. Saturday we will have some scheduled hikes/climbs, as well as Sunday. You are more than welcome to come along and do your own thing or nothing at all, as well. We had about 25 attendees last year and it was a great time. Additionally, if you feel like leading a trip in that area, please let me know. More details in the next few months; below are some preliminary trip listings:

Saturday

Altyn Peak -- (Class 1-2 -- off trail scramble) Leader: Tom Hanou

Iceberg Peak -- (Class 3-4 -- via the Iceberg Notch) Leader: Steve Niday

Mt. Wilbur -- (Class 5 -- technical climb) Leader: Forest Dean

Sunday

Apikuni Mountain -- (Class 2-3 -- scramble) Leader: Forest Dean

Allen Mountain -- (Class 3 -- scramble) Leader: Steve Niday

Contact: Forest Dean or Steve Niday for more information.

For more trips, check the current newsletter .