Glacier Mountaineering Society

Sat, Sep 21 2013 - North Trapper (View Original Event Details)

Coordinator(s):		Tim Sharp
Participants:		Tim Sharp, Bill Schulz, Frank Wesolovski, Ken McDermott, Denise Davies, Dell Meuchel, Brian Kennedy, Don Arthur, Carly Hohf

Write Up:
Coordinator: Tim Sharp After some anxious hours monitoring the weather forecast for North Trapper Peak, we were able to discern the impending storm, which promised rain and snow, would delay for 12 hours or so and allow us a window to climb! So, Bill Schulz, Ken McDermott, Dell Meuchel, Don Arthur, Carly Putman and Jesse Manning joined me in departing from the Baker Lake Trailhead at 8 a.m. We met up with Frank Wesolovski, Brian Kennedy and Denise Davies who had camped the previous night at Baker Lake. Jesse was having discomfort with his back and decided to wait the day there and the rest of us proceeded up the route. With grace, agility, ability and mobility, we maneuvered the varied and challenging features of the route, and stood on top of the peak at 12:30 p.m. The wind was gusty and the peak narrow, so we hunkered down for the obligatory summit photo, and with an upcoming storm firmly in mind we began the second half of our journey at 1 p.m. Our descent was as efficient as could be possible and we were down off the hazardous sections of the peak well ahead of any possible moisture. The descent of the route involves a 600-vertical foot ascent of a steep, narrow and loose gully, and that was accomplished without incident or significant rock fall which enabled the entire party to proceed in all their parts to the waiting refreshment at the cars by 5:15 p.m. It was a marvelous day with the GMS and many members drove from great distances to climb this Bitterroot gem which sits high above the valley floor in southwestern Montanta. I am very appreciative of the style and collegiality this wonderful group of climbers displayed and I very much hope to climb with each and everyone of them in the future! On Sept. 15, a week prior to the official GMS climb, I was joined by Laurel Vielle, Dennis Bonawitz, Alda Sigvaldason and Brett Doucette (who were all on the patiently waiting list) for a wonderful Sunday summit. They were each gallant climbing partners and I look forward to climbing with them again.

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.