Climbed with Stefan. We were originally going to trail run up to Ranger Peak, but a new fire near Big Creek Lakes caused a trail closure at Teepee Rock to allow helicopters to work on it. So we opted for plan B. We ran up to the creek drainage that is just SE of Heavenly Twin which was supposed to be dry for the year, but surprisingly still had a little flow to it, causing for some dangerously slippery rock. Getting into the upper basin was beautiful. Made the summit in four hours flat, and got a good look at the fire close by, as well as the first smoke pouring into the area this season (crazy late but I'm not complaining!). Back to the car in 7 hours 45 min.
MTfred19 - Oct 19, 2015 1:02 pm Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2015
Nice Fall Day
Took the ridge route out from the St. Mary Peak trail. Three of us and a dog. Quite an enjoyable trip, though a long day with all the ups and downs. We decided that hanging out on the summit of the South Twin for awhile was a better use of our time than scrambling over to the North Twin. What a great hike!
mtn ear - Apr 10, 2011 10:59 am Date Climbed: Oct 24, 2005
Nice Fall Day
Climbed with dog. Great fall day. Came up drainage from Big Creek (4.5 miles up trail). Repeated this route in July 2010 with son and friends.
Michael Hoyt - Aug 21, 2010 7:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2010
Very Tough Climb
My friend Jim and I climbed over Saint Mary Peak to the South Heavenly Twin. Re reached it just at out turn-around time so didn't follow the ridge to the North Twin in spite of the fact that it looked very doable and tempting. We decided to leave it for another day.
The Twins are remote and require plenty of stamina to reach and survive!
Ion - Sep 16, 2008 9:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2008
Good stuff
Hiked in K. Creek, up the fourth ridge and across N and S Heavenly, down the SW side, around the south, then back down the second drainage to K. Creek and back to the car. 11.5 hours. A tough day. 5.5 hours to the N. Heavenly summit, another 30 minutes to the S. summit, then almost 3 hours to get down that canyon! It's got some good brush in it. I found the whole high traverse to have nothing worse than class 3, provided one route finds reasonably well. I was solo in trail runners, and did not bring or desire a rope or technical gear.
alpine climber - Jun 29, 2008 7:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2008
one twin down, one to go
Summited the South Twin via St. Mary. 10 hours from car-to-car. Would like to try the North Twin with a rope...the final push of the traverse looked a little sketch. Will be back in a month or two.
montanaboy - Nov 24, 2007 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2005
Saint Mary Peak route
Some of the most beautiful country in all of the Bitterroot. One brute of an effort though. Up and down all day with a total of 5800' of elevation gain. The constant changing of gears makes this route hurt.
This route can be kept to a Class 3 by staying below the ridge between Saint Mary and the South Twin and then going up the back side (west slopes).
T Sharp - Nov 24, 2007 6:52 pm Date Climbed: Mar 28, 2004
Very Tough Peaks
We were thwarted on our traverse attempt by unstable snow on the saddle between S. and N. Heavenly, Luke who was on lead, fell through a cornice up to his armpits, we tried to push on but kept breaking through. We missed a winter summit by one week on this one, though we climbed in full on winter conditions!
mtmtnslayer406 - Feb 24, 2024 11:16 am Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2022
Top of South Heavenly!Second time on the summit of South Heavenly - Done both routes, from the bottom of Big Creek, and also from the St. Marys Lookout TH!
missoula - Sep 3, 2022 6:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2022
Bitterroot 9ker number 20Climbed with Stefan. We were originally going to trail run up to Ranger Peak, but a new fire near Big Creek Lakes caused a trail closure at Teepee Rock to allow helicopters to work on it. So we opted for plan B. We ran up to the creek drainage that is just SE of Heavenly Twin which was supposed to be dry for the year, but surprisingly still had a little flow to it, causing for some dangerously slippery rock. Getting into the upper basin was beautiful. Made the summit in four hours flat, and got a good look at the fire close by, as well as the first smoke pouring into the area this season (crazy late but I'm not complaining!). Back to the car in 7 hours 45 min.
MTfred19 - Oct 19, 2015 1:02 pm Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2015
Nice Fall DayTook the ridge route out from the St. Mary Peak trail. Three of us and a dog. Quite an enjoyable trip, though a long day with all the ups and downs. We decided that hanging out on the summit of the South Twin for awhile was a better use of our time than scrambling over to the North Twin. What a great hike!
mtn ear - Apr 10, 2011 10:59 am Date Climbed: Oct 24, 2005
Nice Fall DayClimbed with dog. Great fall day. Came up drainage from Big Creek (4.5 miles up trail). Repeated this route in July 2010 with son and friends.
Michael Hoyt - Aug 21, 2010 7:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2010
Very Tough ClimbMy friend Jim and I climbed over Saint Mary Peak to the South Heavenly Twin. Re reached it just at out turn-around time so didn't follow the ridge to the North Twin in spite of the fact that it looked very doable and tempting. We decided to leave it for another day.
The Twins are remote and require plenty of stamina to reach and survive!
Ion - Sep 16, 2008 9:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2008
Good stuffHiked in K. Creek, up the fourth ridge and across N and S Heavenly, down the SW side, around the south, then back down the second drainage to K. Creek and back to the car. 11.5 hours. A tough day. 5.5 hours to the N. Heavenly summit, another 30 minutes to the S. summit, then almost 3 hours to get down that canyon! It's got some good brush in it. I found the whole high traverse to have nothing worse than class 3, provided one route finds reasonably well. I was solo in trail runners, and did not bring or desire a rope or technical gear.
alpine climber - Jun 29, 2008 7:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2008
one twin down, one to goSummited the South Twin via St. Mary. 10 hours from car-to-car. Would like to try the North Twin with a rope...the final push of the traverse looked a little sketch. Will be back in a month or two.
montanaboy - Nov 24, 2007 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2005
Saint Mary Peak routeSome of the most beautiful country in all of the Bitterroot. One brute of an effort though. Up and down all day with a total of 5800' of elevation gain. The constant changing of gears makes this route hurt.
This route can be kept to a Class 3 by staying below the ridge between Saint Mary and the South Twin and then going up the back side (west slopes).
T Sharp - Nov 24, 2007 6:52 pm Date Climbed: Mar 28, 2004
Very Tough PeaksWe were thwarted on our traverse attempt by unstable snow on the saddle between S. and N. Heavenly, Luke who was on lead, fell through a cornice up to his armpits, we tried to push on but kept breaking through. We missed a winter summit by one week on this one, though we climbed in full on winter conditions!