chugach mtn boy - Jan 27, 2011 12:06 pm - Voted 10/10
OverlookedYes, my old Bonney guide has it listed with no reported climbs--and I doubt if it's seen much activity since. The S Ridge looks possible in photos from the other side, but it might not be trivial. And when I was on Abiathar's S ridge I remember thinking Amphitheater looked scramble-able from upper Amphitheater Creek--but that is really unreliable information!
Bob Sihler - Jan 27, 2011 12:57 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: OverlookedIt sounds like a good peak for me, then!
I, too, have studied it on maps.
The Turiano guide mentions someone putting a register up there back in the 90's, but that's all.
So you've climbed Abiathar? How was it? That's on my agenda for August.
chugach mtn boy - Jan 27, 2011 2:09 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: OverlookedNo, I have just been up to Point 10120 on the S Ridge a couple of times. It was almost spooky up there--I'm generally never lost, but in two ascents and two descents, the landmarks seemed to vanish by magic. So prepare yourself for some serious routefinding. It is very, very rugged up there, as you know I'm sure. BTW, there was some nice petrified wood up near the crest.
Bob Sihler - Jan 27, 2011 8:23 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: OverlookedYeah, I know Abiathar is a pretty serious undertaking, and I actually have enough sense, just barely, not to go it alone unless I absolutely have to. There are tentative plans to climb it with another SP member who attempted the peak once before but had trouble finding the right way up to the ridge in time. However, he is pretty sure he spotted it and has a picture of it as well. So I'm looking forward to it.
The next day might be Pilot Peak, and then try #2 on Dead Indian!
chugach mtn boy - Jan 28, 2011 1:16 am - Voted 10/10
Re: OverlookedPilot ... you are a braver man than I am! But I wish I could hook up with you for Abiathar or Amphitheater myself(unfortunately I don't think this is a Yellowstone year for me). Definitely a trip report I'll read!
Bob Sihler - Jan 28, 2011 7:53 am - Hasn't voted
Re: OverlookedShould things change, let me know. I do have exact dates.
Tom Tucker - Jun 19, 2021 6:38 pm - Hasn't voted
Climbing Amphitheater It's possible to hike to the top of Amphitheater, with a little care. From downtown Silver Gate go south to the Bannock Trail ( a local dirt road - the original 'highway' from the YNP to Silver Gate and Cooke City.) Turn right, and go about a half mile on the old road to an obvious creek crossing. Follow this creek south, up the mountain to Guitar Lake. You'll have to maneuver around the cliff of the Pilgrim Limestone to reach the lake.
Beyond the small lake, ascend the andesite talus slopes to the top of the ridge east of the main body of Amphitheater. The top of this arete narrows in places to just a few feet in width, in highly fractured andesite, with near vertical drops on either side of a few hundred feet. The big horn sheep have left obvious scuff marks on the rocks, and following their trail is fairly good footing. Follow them to the summit plateau of Amphitheater Mountain. The top is a reasonably plain grass covered surface covering an acre or two - like a nice softball field. The views are of course spectacular. There were a couple of dozen sheep on top. And I've run into mountain goats around the periphery of the mountain.
A fellow geologist friend and I climbed the peak about 15 years ago, in mid-summer. I've had a cabin in Silver Gate for 40 years and local mountaineer Larry Fahlberg and his girlfriend are the only persons I've known to climb Amphitheater, and I believe they did it in the winter with skis, and descended on the skies to the northwest into Amphitheater Creek valley.
Our descent was along the same route we had climbed. Walking along the arete with the significant vertical exposure can be a challenge. A fall wouldn't be survivable.
I've seen pictures posted on the web of purported features along the route to Amphitheater, but they don't look like anything that we came across. Perhaps that's why they didn't get to the top.
Take care if you attempt climbing Amphitheater. Tom Tucker
Bob Sihler - Jun 21, 2021 6:40 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Climbing AmphitheaterThis is awesome information, Tom. Thanks for posting!
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