Glacier Mountaineering Society

Mon, Jul 18 2011 - Tinkham Mtn. & McClintock Pk. (View Original Event Details)

Coordinator(s):		Dell Meuchel
Participants:		Martin Valles, Rick Thomas, Frank Wesolovski, Stacey Endebrock, David Endebrock, James Hulvat, Dell Meuchel, Steve Berg

Write Up:
On Monday July 19th eight GMS climbers left the Dry Fork Trail Head near Middle Two Medicine Lake on a journey to Tinkham Mountain near the isolated Nyack Creek Valley. Twelve and a half hours later a weary group returned having summited. Rick Thomas, Steve Berg, Frank Wesolovski, James Hulvat, Martin Valles with David and Stacey Endebrock, and coordinator Dell Meuchel were in the group. As all who climbed Monday learned, the day was hot (81 degrees on Tunkham’s summit) and hydration was a major concern. Equipped with ice axes and crampons the group was prepared for the snow hazards mentioned on the park web site. Fortunately the snow that threatened was easily skirted around and as Frank commented “Another trip of practicing carrying an ice axe and crampons.” The added weight not appreciated in the scorching conditions. Steve decided to continue around on the Dawson- Pitamakan Loop as opposed to Tinkham. It was an added to treat to have David and Stacey along; new GMS members from St Louis Missouri. Tinkham is over twenty-one and a half miles with a vertical gain of over 5,000 feet, quite a GMS introduction. We were all amazed at the snow levels in the upper Nyack Valley. The Middle Fork will have a high flow season all summer. On the return trip James was the lone climber to complete the double and take the 15 minute trip up McClinock. Beverages, chips and salsa were a just reward for a long climb.

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.