descending Mount Merritt

The view down the loose, rocky northwest slope of Mount Merritt. If you like slippery blocks of talus and scree, you've come to the right place... for 2,000 feet, the route is a mix of classic Glacier class II and III cliffs, ledges and ramps. The only real obstacle is in the form of the algal reef, a band of smooth gray rock that forms steep cliffs. Fortunately, if you stay down the gut of this slope, trails will lead climbers through the easiest break. Mighty Mount Cleveland, tallest in Glacier, rises at right behind Glenns Lake. The triple summits of the Stoney Indian Peaks rise from the ridge line to the left. August 27, 2011