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Glacier NP: Route from Hidden Lake to Avalanche Creek?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 5:27 pm
by Stu Brandel
Something that looks possible on the map is taking the trail from Logan Pass to Hidden Lake and then following the creek from the lake down to Avalanche Creek. Anyone ever tried this?

nope

PostPosted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:02 pm
by distressbark
Never done, but I have hiked past Hidden Lake to Floral Park Pass and marveled at Avalanche Lake sitting at the base of a large cirque 2000+ feet below. I didn't get a chance to explore the area at all, as we got a late start from Logan Pass en route to Sperry Glacier Basin and ultimately Lake McDonald, but I do recall seeing some steep, loose gullies that appeared to be of the class III-IV variety heading down towards Avalanche Lake. Not sure if any of them are safely passable. I would not be surprised at all if you were able to find some kind of route down towards the lake from there.

If you are interested, check out the Floral Park route page for information on the cross-country hike from Logan Pass to Lake McDonald. This is unquestionably one fo the best routes in the entire park, and allows you to cross three mountain passes and Sperry Glacier Basin over the course of a very long, incredibly scenic and interesting day.

A few of my friends tried climbing the Little Matterhorn from Avalanche Basin. They had difficulty describing the route to me, but it apparently ended a ways beneath the summit on some scary, crumbly ledges.

Re: nope

PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 1:45 pm
by Saintgrizzly
distressbark wrote:A few of my friends tried climbing the Little Matterhorn from Avalanche Basin. They had difficulty describing the route to me, but it apparently ended a ways beneath the summit on some scary, crumbly ledges.


You might be interested in this quote, from the Edwards' "Climber's Guide":

Ted Steiner and Kenny Kasselder climbed from Avalanche Lake directly to the summit of the Little Matterhorn. They described their first ascent as a grueling technical ascent involving seven very intense pitches. They had difficulty finding safe rappel routes on the descent, and reached Avalanche Lake after sixteen hours on the face.

From Avalanche Lake, most definitely not an easy mountain!!!

PostPosted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:52 pm
by Stu Brandel
Thanks for the Info. And for the tip about that Logan pass to Lake MacDonald route.

Re: nope

PostPosted: Mon May 03, 2010 5:20 am
by distressbark
saintgrizzly wrote:
distressbark wrote:A few of my friends tried climbing the Little Matterhorn from Avalanche Basin. They had difficulty describing the route to me, but it apparently ended a ways beneath the summit on some scary, crumbly ledges.


You might be interested in this quote, from the Edwards' "Climber's Guide":

Ted Steiner and Kenny Kasselder climbed from Avalanche Lake directly to the summit of the Little Matterhorn. They described their first ascent as a grueling technical ascent involving seven very intense pitches. They had difficulty finding safe rappel routes on the descent, and reached Avalanche Lake after sixteen hours on the face.

From Avalanche Lake, most definitely not an easy mountain!!!


Now that you mention it, I definitely remember coming across this information in the Climber's Guide. I thought they were a little nuts to even give it a try. I guess they made it high enough to have an amazing view of Avalanche Lake, but I'm glad they decided to turn around and head back!

PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2010 6:20 pm
by FlatheadNative
I think another point worth mentioning here is that if this were to be attempted the attempt would be better done climbing up from Avalanche Basin rather than down from Hidden Lake. Route finding could be problematic when down climbing.

It would be a lot more work to climb up but in the end isn't climbing about safety first?

PostPosted: Tue May 11, 2010 11:55 pm
by FlatheadNative
Your post got me thinking about that route so I scouted it out a bit today while on the trail to Avalanche Lake. The creek from Hidden Lake is flowing pretty good right now and there is a lot of down fall near the confluence of Hidden Lake Creek and Avalanche Creek.

It looks lke there is an elevation difference of about 2700 feet from the outlet of Hidden Lake to Avalanche Creek. The slopes on the Cannon Mountain side of the stream are more open and looks like a pretty serious bushwack all the way up.

Good luck with that if you decide to do it. I believe that this is the way the civilian conservation corp brought power to Logan Pass Visitors Center so obviously there is a way up there.

I have posted some photos as well.

http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=620619&context_id=598273


http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=620620&context_id=598273

PostPosted: Wed May 12, 2010 2:04 am
by Stu Brandel
Thanks for the heads up, Flathead Native. I was looking for a boulder strewn ascent of a roaring creek, not a bushwack. It still looks great on the map, but thanks to you I am wiser and will pass! I have a fear of both brush and bears.

PostPosted: Wed May 12, 2010 2:20 pm
by FlatheadNative
Like I said it looks like it can and has been done. It is also difficult to say what it would be further up the creek. Perhaps someone will explore this route someday.

PostPosted: Fri May 14, 2010 1:25 am
by FlatheadNative
I found another photo of the outlet of Hidden Lake. This is taken from the false summit of Bearhat Mountain.

Image

PostPosted: Fri May 14, 2010 2:26 am
by Stu Brandel
This picture is worth a 1000 words - many thanks Flathead Native. Now I am somewhat interested again...

Re: Glacier NP: Route from Hidden Lake to Avalanche Creek?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 6:09 am
by Matt Brake
I completed this route yesterday. I found the old CCC trail in several spots and lost it in most others. On the walk in I came across one power pole still standing and remnants of another in a dry creek bed. The bushwhack is not suitable for the weak among us. The only viable options at many times are either thick alder and/or devil's club on a steep cross slope. In a few places you can ascend along the creek. The gully climbed (Bearhat side) had probably a dozen places down low where the copper of the original lines is clearly visible. Any original insulation around the wire is gone and only the copper wire is left. At one point I came to a chimney which was easy 5th class and maybe 8-10 feet high? Bring a rope and sling to rappel in case you decide to bail out higher on up and need to descend this. At some point I traversed towards Hidden Creek. Twice I found remnants of old cable anchored around large trees. I came to another gully and (as I recall) I followed this one all the way to the top, more or less. I did a lot of traversing back and forth; and, I ascended many upper 4th to lower 5th class pitches, only to descend them in search of an easier route. There were sections of quality rock, absolutely crappy rock, and sections of an incredibly steep mixture of dirt, evergreen shrub/tree and rock in others. I did not have a gps with me. I intend to spend more time exploring the possibility a lower traverse (in the trees above the beautiful waterfall) on my next visit. Certainly I will scout the route from below better. When I crested the summit ridge I was perhaps few hundred feet above Hidden Lake and steeper cliffs were to my right. Via ferrata potential far left of the waterfall.

Re: Glacier NP: Route from Hidden Lake to Avalanche Creek?

PostPosted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 12:22 am
by RoryKuykendall
Wow. That's pretty cool Matt. How long did that take you?