6^th Annual Glacier Classic

Well its almost here! Our sixth installment of The Glacier Classic should be a great one! The dates are August 27-29, 2010. Once again, here are the details:

WHERE: We have reserved at group site at APGAR CAMPGROUND near the west entrance of Glacier National Park. This will be our “basecamp” for all our weekend activities. (see campground map below- we will be in the “E” loop. Look for our “The Rocky Mountaineers” signs)

WHEN: Friday, August 27 through Sunday, August 29^th. Camp is reserved for two nights. Come for one day or all three. Most attendees will drive up on Friday afternoon or evening. Car pooling should be very possible.

WHAT: We will have a number of hikes and climbs for you to participate in. The list is not finalized but several are listed below. You are more than welcome to come on up and do your own thing as well. Or offer to lead something if you’d like. The main thing is to just come along (we like to make stuff up as we go!)

BRING: Anything you’ll need for the specific hike or climb you wish to participate in. Also, all your regular camping stuff (tents, bags, etc). Food: For Friday dinner, burgers, brats, dogs will be provided. For Saturday’s dinner, Tom Hanou will once again be making burritos! Bring whatever sides and drinks you wish for yourself or to share. Breakfast and lunches are on you. No pets allowed (Glacier’s rules).

PLEASE: If you are planning on attending, contact Forest Dean by phone or email. (see contact info below)

Trips:

Thurs-Friday- MOUNT JACKSON (Climb and overnight camp)

Rating: Class 3; Distance: 18 miles; Elevation: 6000’

Description: For those interested in a slightly longer weekend. Thursday morning we will drive up to Apgar, pick up a permit, then hike from the Jackson Glacier Overlook to Gunsight Lake. I have reserved a campsite here for Thursday night (LIMIT 4 – 3 spots already taken- if more than four people wish to go on this trip, we can apply for another campsite). Friday morning we will climb the Northeast Ridge route of the massive 10,000’ Mt. Jackson (one of the five peaks in Glacier that are over 10K). The climb is supposed to be without any technical difficulty, but it is a long way up. Return to camp, hike out and head over to the group camp at Apgar.

Leader: Forest Dean- 240-7612- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday- HEAVENS PEAK (Scramble/Climb)

Rating: Class 3; Distance: 6 miles; Elevation: 5500’

Description: East Face Route (for more info see SummitPost.org). We will begin on the Going to the Sun Road approx 6.5 miles past Lake McDonald Lodge. Ford McDonald Creek and then up the obvious drainage on east/southeast side of mountain. Near the top the route climbs huge slabs of rock. Class 3 all the way with little exposure. Short route but a lot of elevation gain.

Leader: Forest Dean- 240-7612- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday- MT. POLLOCK AND MT. PIEGAN (Scramble/Hike)

Description: I will be leading a hike and scramble up Pollock and Piegan Mountains. We will be taking the shuttle right from Apgar Campground to Logan Pass and from there a shuttle to Siyeh Bend. It is a 4.5 mile hike to Piegan Pass and 1,670' of elevation gain. We will then leave the trail and head south to the saddle between Pollock and Piegan Mtns. This is all a scramble up loose scree. We will go up Pollock (El. 9,190') first as it has to be a killer view, looking north along the Garden Wall to Bishop's Cap and then to Mt Gould and a 360 view panarama of the mountains farther north, in the St. Mary's Lake and Logan Pass area and west to Heavens Peak and the Livingston Range. After enjoying the views and some lunch, we'll head down and cross the saddle and go up Piegan Mtn (El. 9,220'). There are 2 options to go down, one is the way we came up, back to Siyeh Bend, the other is to go down the south side couloir, staying east of the drainage that takes you back to Going to the Sun Hwy and maybe a 1/2 mile hike back to Logan Pass

Leader: Tom Hanou- 360-3564 – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday- MOUNT GOULD (Scramble/Climb)

Rating: Class 3, Distance: 7 miles round-trip if we start at Logan Pass and descend directly to the highway. Elevation total: 6700 ft

Description: This will be an easy scramble up a classic Glacier Park peak (9553’). We will likely ascend and descend be different routes; West Face Route and Northwest Ridge Route.

Leader: Steve Niday – 721-3790 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday- TROUT LAKE (Hike)

Rating: Class 1; Distance: 11 miles; Elevation: 4000’

Description: This will be a hike starting at the north end of McDonald Lake and then going up Howe Ridge to the north before descending down to Trout Lake.

Leader: Julie Kahl- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday- AVALANCHE LAKE (Hike)

Rating: Class 1; Distance: 4-5 miles; Elevation: 500’

Description: This hike will start at Avalanche campground and follow avalanche creek on a very good trail back to the lake. The lake sits in a picturesque cirque with numerous waterfalls.

Leader: Becky Richards- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sunday- SCALPLOCK MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT (Hike)

Rating: Class 1; Distance: 8 miles; Elevation: 3100’

Description: Scalplock Mountain and Lookout are in the southwest corner of Glacier NP. The trail begins at the Walton Ranger station. There are excellent views from the Lookout of Mount St. Nicholas, Elk Mountain, and Salvage Mountain. Scalplock Lookout was built in 1931 and rehabbed in 1999. It is listed on the National Historic Lookout Register. A "scalplock" is defined as follows: a long lock of hair left on the top of the shaven head of certain Native American warriors.

Leader: Richard Smith- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it