Glacier Mountaineering Society

Sun, Aug 22 2010 - Ptarmigan Point (View Original Event Details)

Coordinator(s):		James L Valentine
Participants:		Michael Barragan, Don Arthur, Joe Schletz, Frank Wesolovski, Bret Doucett, Paul Cogswell, James Hulvat, Rich Briles, James L Valentine

Write Up:
On August 22nd nine GMS members met near Clearwater Lake, south of Condon, to climb Ptarmigan Point in the Swan Range. The climb route was up the main gully coming off the west face of the Mountain. The gully had avalanched two winters past and flooded this past spring making the route appear to be easier than a steep slog up through thick timber and brush. It took some skill going up and down this gully to keep from falling due to the loose debris and rocks. We climbed some steep side gullies to attain the west ridge which took us to the Swan divide. The final push was north along the ridge line to the summit of Ptarmigan Point at 9083 feet. Views to the east were of the Bob Marshall wilderness and alpine lakes lying just a short distance east of the divide. Ptarmigan Mt, which lies further north along the divide, is about 300 feet lower in elevation than our destination. We enjoyed good weather with the clouds and colder air coming in during the later part of our descent.

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.