Jamez - Oct 26, 2023 8:41 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2023
May 27
Went up mill creek because we wanted less snow on the way up...took the south face straight up to Castle Crag, hit snow at 7200ft, freezing rain at 8,000 took about 2 1/2 hours up that 3200ftish. Was wet the entire trip had it had stormed the day before. Camped on top of the peak that night, gorgeous view after the clouds cleared out for about 30m before dark. Took Sheafman out came down that gnarly couloir ( brother and I were feeling very daring ) 3 different stages of snow and rock, hecka sketchy but totally worth it!
I suggest not doing this by yourself.
Snow all the way down to about 6,000 feet in Sheafman, lots of deadfall on the trail that's in the wilderness part.
Definitely a trip to second !
missoula - Jul 19, 2020 8:44 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2020
fun glissade back down
Another bitterroot peak off the list. Wonderful weather. Went up with my buddy Nate. Glissaded back down to Aichele lake. Back home in time for dinner!
griftgilbert - Jun 20, 2015 1:07 am Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2015
The Crags of the Castle
Pretty straightforward and beautiful hike. Found some good snow in the gully leading up to the main saddle. Great snow conditions which made the fairly steep climb somewhat entertaining. The views from the summit were amazing, and the trudge back on the fairly flat trail make was alright.
I would definitely suggest this peak to any newcomers and/or anyone looking for a view!
Sophia - Jun 17, 2015 12:46 am Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2014
SE Ridge, Fall Color
Camped at Knaack Lake before climbing up to the summit. Fall colors were perfect. Want to try climbing from the opposite ridge sometime. Will be back summer 2015!
T Sharp - Aug 9, 2014 6:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2014
Nice Summit
Climbed with some GMS friends! Wonderful day, light smoke in the area, but still nice views!
I have also climbed Castle Crag from the North (S Fork of Fred Burr)Cirque up a very loose Couloir we deemed the Garbage Chute!
Camped for a few nights in the area and couldnät resist climbing this thing. What a cool area.
MTfred19 - Mar 5, 2011 4:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 20, 2009
SE ridge from Sheafman Lake
Camped at Sheafman Lake. What an impressive wall!
Michael Hoyt - Nov 6, 2008 5:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2010
Three Summits - One Day
17aug10 - Took a couple of friends on a 3-peak outing which included both East and West Sheafman Peaks plus a finish on Castle Crag. It's a long day with lots of elevation gain, but worth every bit of the effort required.
12sep09 - Took a group of 4 first-timers to the summit of Castle Crag. We camped at Knaack Lake on the 11th, then did the climb on a perfect late-summer morning before returning to the trailhead in the late afternoon. We celebrated with greasy hamburgers and french fries at one of Hamilton's famous eateries.
1oct08 - This was the third of three summits I climbed on a truly perfect fall day. Four miles from the trailhead I left the maintained trail, climbed to East Sheafman Peak, followed the ridge to West Sheafman Peak, descended to Knaack Lake then, after deciding my energy stores were not depleted, decided to climb Castle Crag (only a week after climbing it for the first time). A wonderfully long and tiring day in the mountains.
15sepo8 - The last time I was on the Sheafman Creek Trail (2007) it was in awful shape. This time it had been completely cleared of deadfall all the way to the lakes.
The climb to the SE ridge was a little dicey because of the remnants of new snow on the Beargrass - extra slippery! The remainder of the climb was nice and the views rather special including a mixture of fall colors and snow.
Jamez - Oct 26, 2023 8:41 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2023
May 27Went up mill creek because we wanted less snow on the way up...took the south face straight up to Castle Crag, hit snow at 7200ft, freezing rain at 8,000 took about 2 1/2 hours up that 3200ftish. Was wet the entire trip had it had stormed the day before. Camped on top of the peak that night, gorgeous view after the clouds cleared out for about 30m before dark. Took Sheafman out came down that gnarly couloir ( brother and I were feeling very daring ) 3 different stages of snow and rock, hecka sketchy but totally worth it!
I suggest not doing this by yourself.
Snow all the way down to about 6,000 feet in Sheafman, lots of deadfall on the trail that's in the wilderness part.
Definitely a trip to second !
missoula - Jul 19, 2020 8:44 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2020
fun glissade back downAnother bitterroot peak off the list. Wonderful weather. Went up with my buddy Nate. Glissaded back down to Aichele lake. Back home in time for dinner!
griftgilbert - Jun 20, 2015 1:07 am Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2015
The Crags of the CastlePretty straightforward and beautiful hike. Found some good snow in the gully leading up to the main saddle. Great snow conditions which made the fairly steep climb somewhat entertaining. The views from the summit were amazing, and the trudge back on the fairly flat trail make was alright.
I would definitely suggest this peak to any newcomers and/or anyone looking for a view!
Sophia - Jun 17, 2015 12:46 am Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2014
SE Ridge, Fall ColorCamped at Knaack Lake before climbing up to the summit. Fall colors were perfect. Want to try climbing from the opposite ridge sometime. Will be back summer 2015!
T Sharp - Aug 9, 2014 6:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2014
Nice SummitClimbed with some GMS friends! Wonderful day, light smoke in the area, but still nice views!
I have also climbed Castle Crag from the North (S Fork of Fred Burr)Cirque up a very loose Couloir we deemed the Garbage Chute!
larch32 - Mar 6, 2012 9:06 pm
SE ridgeCamped for a few nights in the area and couldnät resist climbing this thing. What a cool area.
MTfred19 - Mar 5, 2011 4:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 20, 2009
SE ridge from Sheafman LakeCamped at Sheafman Lake. What an impressive wall!
Michael Hoyt - Nov 6, 2008 5:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2010
Three Summits - One Day17aug10 - Took a couple of friends on a 3-peak outing which included both East and West Sheafman Peaks plus a finish on Castle Crag. It's a long day with lots of elevation gain, but worth every bit of the effort required.
12sep09 - Took a group of 4 first-timers to the summit of Castle Crag. We camped at Knaack Lake on the 11th, then did the climb on a perfect late-summer morning before returning to the trailhead in the late afternoon. We celebrated with greasy hamburgers and french fries at one of Hamilton's famous eateries.
1oct08 - This was the third of three summits I climbed on a truly perfect fall day. Four miles from the trailhead I left the maintained trail, climbed to East Sheafman Peak, followed the ridge to West Sheafman Peak, descended to Knaack Lake then, after deciding my energy stores were not depleted, decided to climb Castle Crag (only a week after climbing it for the first time). A wonderfully long and tiring day in the mountains.
15sepo8 - The last time I was on the Sheafman Creek Trail (2007) it was in awful shape. This time it had been completely cleared of deadfall all the way to the lakes.
The climb to the SE ridge was a little dicey because of the remnants of new snow on the Beargrass - extra slippery! The remainder of the climb was nice and the views rather special including a mixture of fall colors and snow.