Glacier Mountaineering Society

Sun, Aug 23 2015 - Big Hawk Peak (View Original Event Details)

Coordinator(s):		Darrel Coverdell
Participants:		Darrel Coverdell, Connie Schuler, Phalen Schuler, Paul Cogswell, Diane Lundgren, Jason Wilkes

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Write Up:
Most who had signed up for this event withdrew due to the smoke from the fires, however six GMS members persevered and had a great day. Smoke was evident along the reservoir as we drove up to the trailhead at the end of the Wheeler Creek road. A couple of miles before the end of the rod the smoke totally cleared for a great morning hike and scramble. Light smoke returned in the afternoon, but visibility was still a few miles. The route took us to the summit of an unnamed peak west of Big Hawk Peak, but it was necessary to descend around some cliffs on the ridgeline as we descended to a saddle before climbing to the top of Big Hawk Peak. Four of us summited Big Hawk Peak which is the highest and likely the most difficult peak to climb in the Jewel Basin Area. Four of the group summited the peak while two others chose to climb only the unnamed peak. The descent to Wheeler creek was direct but heavy alders slowed things as we approached the Wheeler Creek trail. We were happy to get back to the car for a smoky drive back home. The climb was a bit more challenging than anticipated and some declared it to be a mountaineering event rather than a scramble. Totals for the day were 8 miles and 3600 feet of vertical.

Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Tim Anderson at twamontana@gmail.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.