Glacier Mountaineering Society

Sat, Jun 13 2020 - Middle Camas Peak (View Original Event Details)

Coordinator(s):		Dell Meuchel, Gail Meuchel
Participants:		Dell Meuchel, Gail Meuchel, Lou Herritt, Adam McClure, Louis Hatch, Mary Morrison, Bryan Kercher, Laurel R. Vielle

Write Up:
In true GMS style, despite a forecast of 80% rain and thunderstorms, our climbing group embarked from the Camas Lakes trail head to Camas Point. It was Saturday June 13th and the morning was beautiful. Dell and Gail Meuchel welcomed Lou Herritt, Adam McClure, Lou Hatch, Mary Morrison, Bryan Kercher and Laurel Vielle for a trip in the Bitterroots. In the week before the climb we had been warned about thunderstorms, that an ice axe and crampons were a must and a flooding Camas Creek. Heeding the warnings we departed with ice gear and wading shoes. The “flooding” creek was easily negotiated and the unused wading shoes stashed. The trail was scattered with wild flowers as we approached the first of the three levels of Camas Lakes. Rule one at Lower Camas Lake stay low as I proceed to loose the trail and went much to high from the shore. Much more work than necessary as I reminded the group “stay low” and not follow me again. As we began to encounter snow it proved to be a highway to the summit block. Soft enough for excellent traction and no post holing. Bryan, Adam, and Laurel did the route finding through the boulder fields near the summit. Not long after we summited dark clouds began rolling over peaks to the west. A wet boulder field would be a disaster to descend so we quickly ate and headed to safer ground. A second summit, Lion Point was less than a half mile away but it would have to wait for another rip. The trip down was hasted by the threat of rain which hit about a mile from the trail head. All arrived a little damp and the tailgate abandoned due to a down pour. A great day in the Bitterroots with climbing friends. Dell Meuchel

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.