Glacier Mountaineering Society

Sat, Aug 11 2018 - McGlaughlin, East Pintlar & Debby Pk. (View Original Event Details)

Coordinator(s):		Dell Meuchel, Gail Meuchel
Participants:		Dell Meuchel, Gail Meuchel, Brian Kennedy, Denise Davies

Write Up:
A trip into the Pintler Wilderness area is dominated by granite peaks and countless mountain lakes. Denise Davies and Brian Kennedy met coordinators Gail and Dell Meuchel at their Boulder Creek family cabin outside Philipsburg for a Pintler adventure. The destination included East Pintler Peak, Debbie Mountain and McGlaughlin Peak. A traverse between Pintler Pass and Rainbow Pass was planned with the peaks as an added bonus. With eighteen miles, eleven hours and 5,000 feet of yo-yo climbing behind us Pintler Pass and East Pintlar Peak proved to be plenty. The first five miles of trail took us through the stark scenery of last year's 50,000 plus acre Meyers Ridge fire. We walked in several inches of powdery dust past the blackened remains of forest. From Johnson Lake to Pintlar Pass and beyond to East Pintler the forest was saved. An amazing contrast. The yo-yo route from the pass to the peak became quite tiring our legs were burning. Although there was a smokey haze we were treated to views that dd not disappoint. I thank Denise and Brian deciding to come in spite of the smoke. On our way out to the pass a quick thunder storm passed with no moisture to speak of. Gail took one last look towards the Big Hole side and spotted two new plumes of smoke. Within minutes the plumes exploded and a forest fire was born. We ran into a forest service ranger at Johnson Lake the reported the fire. As usual the trail out was much longer than going in but the beverages at the trail head made it worth the “extra” distance.

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.