Second attempt after the previous summers attempt started up the wrong route (trial by fire). This time successfully climbed the Fellowship, though it was definitely sketchy and runout climb. Very long day and first big multi-pitch climb.
Biked to Ross Pass then enjoyed the nice scramble to the peak and hit the summit at sunset. Be careful of loose rock...super fun bike ride down in the dark.
tomrgibson - Sep 19, 2018 8:11 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2018
Take some Tape
Hiked up from Brackett Creek. Road is really getting rutted out above the "Upper and Lower Brackett Creek" parking lot, so I biked from there to the trail head. Saw a Subaru make it up above, so it's doable but be prepared to pick your line. Trail up to the pass is straightforward, though getting washed out in spots. Read up on the hike/scramble from the pass to the peak and was careful to watch my lines and memorize place markers to make the descent back down. There are a few exposures up high, but it's pretty manageable. It's great up top and the views to the north especially are lovely. Coming down wasn't as awful as I expected, but it was challenging to not make a wrong descent. I'd recommend taking pictures or using some removable tape to ensure that you don't slide down the wrong chute. There were several existing tapes on tree branches that kept me on track, but it's a little tricky.
Started from the Lower Brackett Trailhead and made my way to the climber's trail up the gullies leading to the summit ridge, then mostly stayed right on the limestone crest for some scrambling before the summit. Tons of summit register entries just from this summer, seems to be a pretty popular peak.
lelephantchamp - Aug 28, 2017 4:01 pm Date Climbed: Feb 20, 2017
Skiing the Banana
Skied this with my buddy. Longer approach in the winter. Once we got to the pass we used spikes and axe for the "scramble". Considered trying to go for the summit just to tag from the top of the couloir, but once we got up to the false summit it was apparent that we would need to sink more effort then we were willing to give to get up there.
jigglelow - Aug 1, 2017 12:24 am Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2017
Tough, but worth it
Jocelyn and I started at Lower Brackett Ck. TH on the west side of 86. Rode bikes to about a mile below Ross Pass. Locked them up and hiked the rest of the way, up the south face. Challenging scramble, especially coming dow. Hardest hike in the Bridgers, but beautiful. Unfortunately, a bit smoky today so the views were slightly limited.
jdarr67 - Jul 19, 2015 8:22 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2015
I hiked from a friends house off springhill rd. We took corbly gulch to get to the peak. A little exhausting but we made it and that's what its all about!
Great climb. We drove to the Middle Brackett trailhead without needing 4WD, just a little clearance. Most fun scramble I've come across in the Bridgers! After a super hazy day yesterday, we were lucky the winds changed and blew all the smoke out for some great views.
I finally got a chance to hike Ross Peak, and not a day too soon because today (9-30-09) it is a blizzard outside. Thankfully I was ready for the wind when I got up to Ross Pass, but that was the only downside of the hike. This is probably my new favorite hike in the Bridgers, such a fun scramble to the top. I was and still am awestruck by the incredible rock formations on Ross Peak and the west side of Ross Pass.
Jerry L - Aug 21, 2009 10:46 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2009
Dog
said no
samh - Aug 3, 2009 1:11 am Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2009
Round Two
It was Liz' birthday today and she's been wanting to summit Ross so four of us grabbed our mountain bikes and rode to the pass. Locked up the bikes, changed into trail runners and summited the peak. On the descent we took the Northern trail along Brackett for a change of pace. Fun riding and great climbing. It was also cool looking through the summit register to see who'd summitted since I was last up there a couple days over a year previous.
Alcas24 - Aug 12, 2008 4:10 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2008
Great day
Started down on 86 and rode my bike up to the pass. Beautiful day. A little over 2 hours up and less than an hour down. I suck at mountain biking but it was really fun and not too scary. We are very lucky to have such cool and beautiful areas so close to town.
samh - Jul 27, 2008 12:08 am Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2008
First Peak in Bozeman
I recently moved back to the mountains of Montana from Minnesota. Having lived up in Whitefish and West Glacier for long enough to get it in my blood it was hard to move to the Midwest. Now I call Bozeman home and having been here two weeks it was time to bag a local peak. I did lots of homework on Summit Post and noticed all the good pages for peaks around here. I thought my virgin peak should be a virgin page on Summit Post as well so I got out the topo maps and prepared myself for the craggy knob located in the middle of the Bridger Range.
I opted for an approach along a Forest Service road starting at Brackett Creek. One with a 4x4 could basically drive all the way up to Ross Pass but I opted to park and walk. I had camping gear with me in the event I felt like staying up high for the evening. Temps were in the mid 80s F and the sun was ablazin'. I made the pass in good time and chatted with a couple other folks along the way. I had only a small amount of beta for making the summit from the pass but upon arriving at the pass a relatively obvious use trail was present.
The use trail proceeds straight up next to a fin of rock and is easy to follow all the way to the summit so long as you watch for it and a small set of cairns. It's a steep climb with only one short section of class 3 that I had to pass over.
Summiting is exciting as the route I took near the top included a six or ten foot wide knife edge with massive exposure off to the Northeast. Once atop the peak there are number of short arms that you can walk out and get great views of the rest of the range, Ross Pass below as well as the fields of Bozeman. A summit register is also present located in an orange-painted ammo box. It has entries back to 2005.
I left the summit with the intention of following the ridge north to Sacagawea and then dropping down to the National Recreation Trail that walks below the ridge on the West side but I quickly encountered serious exposure and very windy conditions that got ahold of me and turned me around. Instead I re-summited and simply headed back down into the valley at a leisurely pace.
I have climbed no other peaks in the Bridger Range but just looking at them from a distance I feel as though Ross is the most exciting (others having signed the summit register felt this way as well). I scoped some very sick looking couloirs that may need to feel the edge of my snowboard in the coming winters so I'll probably make another trip to the top of this fine peak.
Kyle Van Vleet - Jun 20, 2020 7:31 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2020
Fun peakFun peak with good people on the solstice. Route finding up the gullies is not bad at all.
guerinak - May 22, 2020 6:55 am
Bit of an epicSecond attempt after the previous summers attempt started up the wrong route (trial by fire). This time successfully climbed the Fellowship, though it was definitely sketchy and runout climb. Very long day and first big multi-pitch climb.
wallacecasper21@gmail.com - May 8, 2020 9:59 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2019
Bike ApproachBiked to Ross Pass then enjoyed the nice scramble to the peak and hit the summit at sunset. Be careful of loose rock...super fun bike ride down in the dark.
tomrgibson - Sep 19, 2018 8:11 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2018
Take some TapeHiked up from Brackett Creek. Road is really getting rutted out above the "Upper and Lower Brackett Creek" parking lot, so I biked from there to the trail head. Saw a Subaru make it up above, so it's doable but be prepared to pick your line. Trail up to the pass is straightforward, though getting washed out in spots. Read up on the hike/scramble from the pass to the peak and was careful to watch my lines and memorize place markers to make the descent back down. There are a few exposures up high, but it's pretty manageable. It's great up top and the views to the north especially are lovely. Coming down wasn't as awful as I expected, but it was challenging to not make a wrong descent. I'd recommend taking pictures or using some removable tape to ensure that you don't slide down the wrong chute. There were several existing tapes on tree branches that kept me on track, but it's a little tricky.
Peaker - Sep 13, 2018 11:48 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2018
RossStarted from the Lower Brackett Trailhead and made my way to the climber's trail up the gullies leading to the summit ridge, then mostly stayed right on the limestone crest for some scrambling before the summit. Tons of summit register entries just from this summer, seems to be a pretty popular peak.
lelephantchamp - Aug 28, 2017 4:01 pm Date Climbed: Feb 20, 2017
Skiing the BananaSkied this with my buddy. Longer approach in the winter. Once we got to the pass we used spikes and axe for the "scramble". Considered trying to go for the summit just to tag from the top of the couloir, but once we got up to the false summit it was apparent that we would need to sink more effort then we were willing to give to get up there.
jigglelow - Aug 1, 2017 12:24 am Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2017
Tough, but worth itJocelyn and I started at Lower Brackett Ck. TH on the west side of 86. Rode bikes to about a mile below Ross Pass. Locked them up and hiked the rest of the way, up the south face. Challenging scramble, especially coming dow. Hardest hike in the Bridgers, but beautiful. Unfortunately, a bit smoky today so the views were slightly limited.
jdarr67 - Jul 19, 2015 8:22 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2015
CloudyFun scramble in the clouds.
Ruby Soho - Jan 8, 2015 4:36 pm
Peakbagging RossI hiked from a friends house off springhill rd. We took corbly gulch to get to the peak. A little exhausting but we made it and that's what its all about!
awhite28 - Jul 20, 2014 9:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2014
RossGreat climb. We drove to the Middle Brackett trailhead without needing 4WD, just a little clearance. Most fun scramble I've come across in the Bridgers! After a super hazy day yesterday, we were lucky the winds changed and blew all the smoke out for some great views.
Ruby Soho - Jan 8, 2015 4:33 pm
Re: RossHave you done Ross peak this winter?
ianc82 - Nov 26, 2009 1:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2009
Made it with my dogMy dog had trouble but he made it! Fantastic day and rewarding views.
bbfish8675 - Sep 30, 2009 1:36 pm Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2009
Braving the WindI finally got a chance to hike Ross Peak, and not a day too soon because today (9-30-09) it is a blizzard outside. Thankfully I was ready for the wind when I got up to Ross Pass, but that was the only downside of the hike. This is probably my new favorite hike in the Bridgers, such a fun scramble to the top. I was and still am awestruck by the incredible rock formations on Ross Peak and the west side of Ross Pass.
Jerry L - Aug 21, 2009 10:46 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2009
Dogsaid no
samh - Aug 3, 2009 1:11 am Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2009
Round TwoIt was Liz' birthday today and she's been wanting to summit Ross so four of us grabbed our mountain bikes and rode to the pass. Locked up the bikes, changed into trail runners and summited the peak. On the descent we took the Northern trail along Brackett for a change of pace. Fun riding and great climbing. It was also cool looking through the summit register to see who'd summitted since I was last up there a couple days over a year previous.
Alcas24 - Aug 12, 2008 4:10 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2008
Great dayStarted down on 86 and rode my bike up to the pass. Beautiful day. A little over 2 hours up and less than an hour down. I suck at mountain biking but it was really fun and not too scary. We are very lucky to have such cool and beautiful areas so close to town.
wyomtman - Jul 27, 2008 11:50 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2006
The Bridgers Limestone CrownHiked up East Face, great peak.
samh - Jul 27, 2008 12:08 am Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2008
First Peak in BozemanI recently moved back to the mountains of Montana from Minnesota. Having lived up in Whitefish and West Glacier for long enough to get it in my blood it was hard to move to the Midwest. Now I call Bozeman home and having been here two weeks it was time to bag a local peak. I did lots of homework on Summit Post and noticed all the good pages for peaks around here. I thought my virgin peak should be a virgin page on Summit Post as well so I got out the topo maps and prepared myself for the craggy knob located in the middle of the Bridger Range.
I opted for an approach along a Forest Service road starting at Brackett Creek. One with a 4x4 could basically drive all the way up to Ross Pass but I opted to park and walk. I had camping gear with me in the event I felt like staying up high for the evening. Temps were in the mid 80s F and the sun was ablazin'. I made the pass in good time and chatted with a couple other folks along the way. I had only a small amount of beta for making the summit from the pass but upon arriving at the pass a relatively obvious use trail was present.
The use trail proceeds straight up next to a fin of rock and is easy to follow all the way to the summit so long as you watch for it and a small set of cairns. It's a steep climb with only one short section of class 3 that I had to pass over.
Summiting is exciting as the route I took near the top included a six or ten foot wide knife edge with massive exposure off to the Northeast. Once atop the peak there are number of short arms that you can walk out and get great views of the rest of the range, Ross Pass below as well as the fields of Bozeman. A summit register is also present located in an orange-painted ammo box. It has entries back to 2005.
I left the summit with the intention of following the ridge north to Sacagawea and then dropping down to the National Recreation Trail that walks below the ridge on the West side but I quickly encountered serious exposure and very windy conditions that got ahold of me and turned me around. Instead I re-summited and simply headed back down into the valley at a leisurely pace.
I have climbed no other peaks in the Bridger Range but just looking at them from a distance I feel as though Ross is the most exciting (others having signed the summit register felt this way as well). I scoped some very sick looking couloirs that may need to feel the edge of my snowboard in the coming winters so I'll probably make another trip to the top of this fine peak.