i think i've read this trip report before, but i found myself engrossed by it again last evening. glad you guys made the right decision; that goat trail does NOT look like the place to be in the midst of inclement weather!
perhaps this question has been asked already (i read through most of the comments last night, but don't recall if it was discussed), but my understanding is that that Park Service will issue primitive camping permits for climber's wishing to undertake expeditions such as Mount Cleveland. in August of 2008, some friends of mine wanted to climb Mount Jackson, but all the sites at Gunsight Lake were booked. after a discussion with the rangers, they were granted permission to camp somewhere near the base of Mount Jackson, making it possible to camp the first night, summit the second day and hike out that evening. frankly, this is the only way that certain places in the park can be safely visited (Mount Stimson, Red Eagle Pass, for example), and the rangers are willing to work with you if you are indeed serious about your intentions. i will hopefully be at Many Glacier in late May, and dream of climbing Cleveland as well as possibly setting up camp in undesignated places (Miche Wachburn Lake, Otatso Lake are some ideas I've had), so i hope to chat with the rangers about the possibility of doing so. assuming i have access to the internet, i'll share my findings with everyone here.
great photos & story telling - and what a story. I've been on the mountain a couple of times. Both times I/we reached the coulier from the trail from directly below. You might find this easier on your next ascent. During my second summer working in the park it snowed two feet at St. Mary. We climbed Altyn Peak & "swam" down head first. I attempted to beat a stom to the top of the South Sister in Oregon only to be met by lightning & thunder a hundred yards from the summit. Thankfully it has a very steep descent. My second trip up Cleveland I heard a grumbling noise in the wind at about the same spot you turned back. We had met a part that had summited Clevened earlier that week who had met several griz on the summit ridge. I turned back & joined my friends who had gone on to Crosly lake. Thanks for all your work on Glacier & beyond. - Scott
I've used bear canisters in the park a couple times. The backcountry rangers give them out for off trail routes and summits. My favorite use was for camping on the Sue lake bench.
A great aid and wonderfully written. This author was one of the site's best and contributed greatly for those visiting, and I appreciate that some others dare to question the holy Glacier National Park. I made some disparaging remarks recently about GNP and have been feeling some wrath for it. I think hikers do simply out-number climbers so greatly that the park feels they can do without climbers, and would prefer to. But there ought to be a better compromise possible, and while the very few who want to go up major peaks are a sliver fraction of visitors that also means accommodations to them would not greatly challenge the park's structure. Of every national park I have been to, GNP cares least about people with ambitious plans. Runner up is the Grand Canyon.
distressbark - Jan 5, 2010 10:23 am - Voted 10/10
fantastic readi think i've read this trip report before, but i found myself engrossed by it again last evening. glad you guys made the right decision; that goat trail does NOT look like the place to be in the midst of inclement weather!
perhaps this question has been asked already (i read through most of the comments last night, but don't recall if it was discussed), but my understanding is that that Park Service will issue primitive camping permits for climber's wishing to undertake expeditions such as Mount Cleveland. in August of 2008, some friends of mine wanted to climb Mount Jackson, but all the sites at Gunsight Lake were booked. after a discussion with the rangers, they were granted permission to camp somewhere near the base of Mount Jackson, making it possible to camp the first night, summit the second day and hike out that evening. frankly, this is the only way that certain places in the park can be safely visited (Mount Stimson, Red Eagle Pass, for example), and the rangers are willing to work with you if you are indeed serious about your intentions. i will hopefully be at Many Glacier in late May, and dream of climbing Cleveland as well as possibly setting up camp in undesignated places (Miche Wachburn Lake, Otatso Lake are some ideas I've had), so i hope to chat with the rangers about the possibility of doing so. assuming i have access to the internet, i'll share my findings with everyone here.
AndrewRickert - Jul 23, 2010 10:03 pm - Hasn't voted
Nice workHey saint did you ever conquer cleveland? I give you credit for attempting stoney indian route that is a route I was not ready to attempt
AndrewRickert - Jul 23, 2010 10:03 pm - Hasn't voted
Nice workHey saint did you ever conquer cleveland? I give you credit for attempting stoney indian route that is a route I was not ready to attempt
AndrewRickert - Jul 23, 2010 10:03 pm - Hasn't voted
Nice workHey saint did you ever conquer cleveland? I give you credit for attempting stoney indian route that is a route I was not ready to attempt
scottavila - Aug 6, 2010 4:37 am - Hasn't voted
whew!great photos & story telling - and what a story. I've been on the mountain a couple of times. Both times I/we reached the coulier from the trail from directly below. You might find this easier on your next ascent. During my second summer working in the park it snowed two feet at St. Mary. We climbed Altyn Peak & "swam" down head first. I attempted to beat a stom to the top of the South Sister in Oregon only to be met by lightning & thunder a hundred yards from the summit. Thankfully it has a very steep descent. My second trip up Cleveland I heard a grumbling noise in the wind at about the same spot you turned back. We had met a part that had summited Clevened earlier that week who had met several griz on the summit ridge. I turned back & joined my friends who had gone on to Crosly lake. Thanks for all your work on Glacier & beyond. - Scott
scottavila - Aug 6, 2010 5:22 am - Hasn't voted
psI've used bear canisters in the park a couple times. The backcountry rangers give them out for off trail routes and summits. My favorite use was for camping on the Sue lake bench.
andrew david - Apr 7, 2013 2:46 am - Voted 10/10
WonderfulA great aid and wonderfully written. This author was one of the site's best and contributed greatly for those visiting, and I appreciate that some others dare to question the holy Glacier National Park. I made some disparaging remarks recently about GNP and have been feeling some wrath for it. I think hikers do simply out-number climbers so greatly that the park feels they can do without climbers, and would prefer to. But there ought to be a better compromise possible, and while the very few who want to go up major peaks are a sliver fraction of visitors that also means accommodations to them would not greatly challenge the park's structure. Of every national park I have been to, GNP cares least about people with ambitious plans. Runner up is the Grand Canyon.
But this TR is certainly a model to emulate.