Late season ski down Eastern slopes. A lot of hiking for a little skiing, but beautiful day nonetheless!
CamDole - Jun 27, 2020 6:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2018
Introduction to the Missions
Made me hungry for more in the missions.... grizzly sighting up high but no concern. Class 2/2+ scramble across scree the last mile or so. Had to route find the last half mile- climbed a snowfield we probably didn't have the right gear for.
missoula - Aug 7, 2019 8:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2019
bagged with a traverse to Mountaineer Peak
I joined a group of the Rocky Mountaineers for a long day traverse starting at Mission Falls Trailhead, up past Lucifer and Picture Lakes, up to Mountaineer Peak. Then some minor route finding was needed to get south over to East Saint Mary's, and down that trail to the other car. Big Day!
There is an excellent, albeit steep, trail that starts right next to the fire pit at the campsite.
Peaker - Aug 5, 2017 2:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2017
Nice Area
Up the steep trail and a bit of snow to the top then over to Lowary Peak for my first outing in the Missions. Fantastic mountain range, the descent is quad zapping.
climber46 - Oct 24, 2016 7:45 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2015
standard route
Hiked East Saint Marys Peak with a friend in July 2015. We reached the summit in about 4 hours. Tried to traverse to West Saint Marys Peak but turned back after deciding the risk was not worth it. The trail through the woods near the bottom is a steep one, one of the few trails where having two poles would be most helpful.
Went on a 90+ degree day on a whim :) ESM was a workout, but once I reached the plateau at 8,600 feet and Grey Wolf emerged, everything made perfect sense. From there onward, the summit was an easy walk/scramble to the top. I did find the summit register, but the last names were from 1981(!). There was also a flag and a few random rock scrawlings dating back to the 1950s. If you go here, bring plenty of water if you're like me. I had to melt snow for more :)
tdub354 - Oct 6, 2013 5:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2012
Mtnear and I attempted to climb up the south ridge of West St Marys 2 different times during winter conditions a couple years back and were stopped at the same place both times - about 300 feet below the summit - because of cornices and narrowness of the ridge and the overall difficulty and time needed to complete the route. Well, he completed the route last summer and I chose to finish it off this summer. The bushwack up the south ridge of WSM is brutal and I don't recommend it so much (a lot worse in summertime brush and recent blowdowns than it had been in winter). The final 300 feet were no problem and actually quite fun, as well as the traverse over to East St. Marys. A bunch of mountain goats were up on the summit just before I got there. Headed back down the trail, and overall it ended up being a pretty awesome and a bit tiring traverse!
bets tasting beer ever on the summit with the herd
DoctorStrapp - Sep 16, 2012 1:33 am Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2012
Yes!
Great climb with a herd!
DoctorStrapp - Aug 3, 2012 1:04 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2012
Quite the Hump
Had a great time getting above 9300'. Perfect weather. Enough snow to keep the dog and I from reaching the summit...
lapotka - May 25, 2012 1:18 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2011
punishing climb
totally worth the effort
MTfred19 - Mar 5, 2011 3:26 pm Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2009
SE ridge from St. Marys Lake
Called in sick and hightailed it up the ridge on a beautiful fall day. Combined it with Black Buck, Lowary(Peak X), and Peak Y to make for one of the greatest solo days I've had in the mountains.
skimissoula - Jan 10, 2010 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Jan 9, 2010
ski Jan 2010
The first 500-600 vertical feet have 1/4-2 inches of snow that is hard and icy. Due to the steepness, I would strongly recomend crampons. Our party had significant dificulty getting down safely and had several bad falls on this section.
Around 600 vertical feet fromt he trailhead the snow is very light and fluffy, but only 3 feet deep. This means that you sink to the forest floor with each step and stumps, logs, bushes and rocks prevent effective navigation uphill on skis. We had to keep post holing for another 200-300 vertical feet before we hit a deeper crustier snow.
The dense trees and shrub thickets further hindered our skiing descent. There is not enough snow to cover all of these obstacles, and the snow that is there is mostly so light that my skis were hitting 12 inch logs on the forest floor.
!!!Wait for more snow before trying this one!!!!
FlatheadJim - Jul 5, 2009 2:06 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2000
E St Marys
Need to do this trip with boards & skins some year. Save the knees.
urnotreal - Aug 18, 2008 9:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2008
up up up
with jim and lucy. lucy's 2nd ever summit! my first mission summit. strawberries, thimbleberries, huckleberries, beautiful wildflowers, an amazing view of grey wolf, and, oh yeah, a ridiculously steep grade. also lucy likes snow too!
dhoy19 - Sep 9, 2022 12:05 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2022
Pando's 1st bagged peakmy akita Pando made it up to the top of his 1st ever mountain! the trail was easier to find and more developed than i could of imagined :-)
STATS (Strava app):
- 7.8 total miles (st marys lake-> up and back)
-5,944 total elevation gained over ~4 miles
guerinak - May 18, 2021 9:22 pm
Late season skiLate season ski down Eastern slopes. A lot of hiking for a little skiing, but beautiful day nonetheless!
CamDole - Jun 27, 2020 6:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2018
Introduction to the MissionsMade me hungry for more in the missions.... grizzly sighting up high but no concern. Class 2/2+ scramble across scree the last mile or so. Had to route find the last half mile- climbed a snowfield we probably didn't have the right gear for.
missoula - Aug 7, 2019 8:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2019
bagged with a traverse to Mountaineer PeakI joined a group of the Rocky Mountaineers for a long day traverse starting at Mission Falls Trailhead, up past Lucifer and Picture Lakes, up to Mountaineer Peak. Then some minor route finding was needed to get south over to East Saint Mary's, and down that trail to the other car. Big Day!
Calrs84 - Jul 28, 2019 12:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2019
Totally worth it!!Straight up to the top! Amazing views of The Garden and Gray Wolf.
dhoy19 - Sep 9, 2022 12:07 pm
Re: Totally worth it!!i think you maybe thinking sonielem ridge is the garden wall as the wall is fairly off into the distance?!
larch32 - Jul 23, 2018 10:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2018
Good TrailThere is an excellent, albeit steep, trail that starts right next to the fire pit at the campsite.
Peaker - Aug 5, 2017 2:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2017
Nice AreaUp the steep trail and a bit of snow to the top then over to Lowary Peak for my first outing in the Missions. Fantastic mountain range, the descent is quad zapping.
climber46 - Oct 24, 2016 7:45 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2015
standard routeHiked East Saint Marys Peak with a friend in July 2015. We reached the summit in about 4 hours. Tried to traverse to West Saint Marys Peak but turned back after deciding the risk was not worth it. The trail through the woods near the bottom is a steep one, one of the few trails where having two poles would be most helpful.
HikesWithDogs - Jun 27, 2015 12:43 pm
You earn it!Went on a 90+ degree day on a whim :) ESM was a workout, but once I reached the plateau at 8,600 feet and Grey Wolf emerged, everything made perfect sense. From there onward, the summit was an easy walk/scramble to the top. I did find the summit register, but the last names were from 1981(!). There was also a flag and a few random rock scrawlings dating back to the 1950s. If you go here, bring plenty of water if you're like me. I had to melt snow for more :)
tdub354 - Oct 6, 2013 5:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2012
East St. MarysClimbed every mtn in the basin, huge day.
MTfred19 - Sep 9, 2013 6:40 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2013
St Marys TraverseMtnear and I attempted to climb up the south ridge of West St Marys 2 different times during winter conditions a couple years back and were stopped at the same place both times - about 300 feet below the summit - because of cornices and narrowness of the ridge and the overall difficulty and time needed to complete the route. Well, he completed the route last summer and I chose to finish it off this summer. The bushwack up the south ridge of WSM is brutal and I don't recommend it so much (a lot worse in summertime brush and recent blowdowns than it had been in winter). The final 300 feet were no problem and actually quite fun, as well as the traverse over to East St. Marys. A bunch of mountain goats were up on the summit just before I got there. Headed back down the trail, and overall it ended up being a pretty awesome and a bit tiring traverse!
lapotka - Sep 23, 2012 12:11 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2012
tap the Missionsbets tasting beer ever on the summit with the herd
DoctorStrapp - Sep 16, 2012 1:33 am Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2012
Yes!Great climb with a herd!
DoctorStrapp - Aug 3, 2012 1:04 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2012
Quite the HumpHad a great time getting above 9300'. Perfect weather. Enough snow to keep the dog and I from reaching the summit...
lapotka - May 25, 2012 1:18 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2011
punishing climbtotally worth the effort
MTfred19 - Mar 5, 2011 3:26 pm Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2009
SE ridge from St. Marys LakeCalled in sick and hightailed it up the ridge on a beautiful fall day. Combined it with Black Buck, Lowary(Peak X), and Peak Y to make for one of the greatest solo days I've had in the mountains.
skimissoula - Jan 10, 2010 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Jan 9, 2010
ski Jan 2010The first 500-600 vertical feet have 1/4-2 inches of snow that is hard and icy. Due to the steepness, I would strongly recomend crampons. Our party had significant dificulty getting down safely and had several bad falls on this section.
Around 600 vertical feet fromt he trailhead the snow is very light and fluffy, but only 3 feet deep. This means that you sink to the forest floor with each step and stumps, logs, bushes and rocks prevent effective navigation uphill on skis. We had to keep post holing for another 200-300 vertical feet before we hit a deeper crustier snow.
The dense trees and shrub thickets further hindered our skiing descent. There is not enough snow to cover all of these obstacles, and the snow that is there is mostly so light that my skis were hitting 12 inch logs on the forest floor.
!!!Wait for more snow before trying this one!!!!
FlatheadJim - Jul 5, 2009 2:06 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2000
E St MarysNeed to do this trip with boards & skins some year. Save the knees.
urnotreal - Aug 18, 2008 9:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2008
up up upwith jim and lucy. lucy's 2nd ever summit! my first mission summit. strawberries, thimbleberries, huckleberries, beautiful wildflowers, an amazing view of grey wolf, and, oh yeah, a ridiculously steep grade. also lucy likes snow too!