Glacier Mountaineering Society

Sun, Jul 14 2013 - Mount Helen (View Original Event Details)

Coordinator(s):		Greg Kushnak
Participants:		David Schuler, Greg Kushnak, Bob Hensler, Dennis Eaves

Click for Album

Write Up:
Our approach to Mt Helen was via the Dawson Pass Trail, which was somewhat of a “gainer” – as in steep, persistent grade. Near the upper end of the trail is a steep, dangerous snow crossing that persists until mid-July. The great folks of the Park Service had just chopped a passage thru it, so we didn’t need to use the ice axes. From the pass, we enjoyed a pleasant stroll up the ridgeline to the so-called true summit (west summit). Sadly, the summit register had been defiled with vulgar profanity, so we chose not to add our names. From certain angles of view, the east (false) summit seemed higher. David and Dennis volunteered to climb over to it for a GPS measurement, and found it to be 2 feet higher than the true summit. Upper Two Medicine Lake was nearly straight down below us, and views in all directions were spectacular. Totals for the day were 17 miles, and 3600’ vertical. Pictured in the Mt Helen summit photo, L-R: Greg Kushnak, Bob Hensler, Dennis Eaves and David Schuler. (Photo by David Schuler).

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.