Ptarmigan Tunnel to Ahern Pass Goat Trail, #3

Ptarmigan Tunnel to Ahern Pass Goat Trail, #3

The last of the three pictures of the actual goat trail. This trail is absolutely amazing—during parts of it the concentration level matches that of a technical climb! But boy, is it worth the effort! Photo by Vernon, July 20, 2005.
Saintgrizzly
on Mar 10, 2006 6:56 am
Image ID: 179867

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Viewing: 1-19 of 19
Gangolf Haub

Gangolf Haub - Mar 13, 2006 10:58 am - Voted 10/10

Sick!

This doesn't look like good rock quality

Sajama

Sajama - Apr 3, 2006 8:55 am - Voted 10/10

woow

Striking path!

munroitis

munroitis - May 25, 2006 7:46 am - Voted 10/10

Cracking location

Saingrizzly.

That traverse really appeals. Where within the park is it? Although I'm over In December I'll have to leave this until another trip in the summer. Amazing.

mvs

mvs - Jul 23, 2006 8:29 pm - Voted 10/10

Reminds me of the Dolomites

That could be on Tofana or in the Brenta. Amazing secret path there!

jhp1004 - Sep 27, 2006 2:11 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: Reminds me of the Dolomites

You are quite right!
Jørgen

tuntun

tuntun - Oct 15, 2006 8:25 am - Voted 8/10

Rock

Dear.. What kind of rock in this pic? First i have not see the people. Then... amazing they are walking..

Bob Bolton

Bob Bolton - Jan 11, 2007 1:13 am - Voted 10/10

Hope the Mt. Cleveland ledge...

... isn't quite this scary! Call me a wimp!

Bob Bolton

Bob Bolton - Dec 8, 2008 11:29 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: Hope the Mt. Cleveland ledge...

It wasn't!

shanrickv

shanrickv - Jan 14, 2007 3:28 pm - Voted 10/10

Woa!

I get dizzy just looking at this!

pcirani@tiscali.it

pcirani@tiscali.it - Mar 22, 2007 9:44 pm - Voted 10/10

slippery...

gosch!! Paolo

stinkycheezman33

stinkycheezman33 - Aug 21, 2007 3:01 pm - Voted 10/10

wow

my hand are getting tingly just looking at this photo

samh

samh - Nov 19, 2007 3:18 pm - Voted 10/10

An Amazing Journey

I got beta on this route from my friend and co-worker Kyle Sharfe (who's dad, local legend Don Sharfe owns Rock Mountain Outfitters in Kalispel, MT). I had climbed Gould the day before and was looking for an exciting route from the Granite Park area down to Swiftcurrent on my weekend off from work on the Middle Fork Trail Crew. Kyle was working on the Granite Trail Crew and he suggested the Ptarmigan Route. I borrowed Edward's book from the staff at Granite Park Chalet, jotted some notes on a piece of paper and headed off. It was the most terrifying route I've ever been on and look forward to the day I can do it again.

Big Benn

Big Benn - Mar 24, 2010 5:22 am - Voted 10/10

My vertigo

My vertigo has kicked in very badly just looking at that. Gonna have to find an image of a flat desert landscape to look at now. Damn good photo though.

gimpilator

gimpilator - Mar 29, 2010 3:27 pm - Voted 10/10

Count me out

I can handle that much exposure for a short while but not a long stretch like this. Awesome photo!

mike_lindacher

mike_lindacher - Aug 23, 2010 5:28 pm - Hasn't voted

Yikes

Knowing the rock quality of Glacier, this image makes me quiver. Good stuff.

Saintgrizzly

Saintgrizzly - Aug 23, 2010 8:25 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Yikes

Thanks for the comment, Mike. J. Gordon Edwards, author of "A Climber's Guide to Glacier National Park," and an individual knowing a LOT about mountains (and mountainous areas) in general, called the Ptarmigan Tunnel to Ahern Pass Goat Trail, the "greatest 12 miles on the North American Continent." After doing the thing, I'm inclined to take that as fact, and not just opinion. If you ever have the chance...it's an absolutely unforgettable day!

justintoronto

justintoronto - Jan 30, 2013 8:58 pm - Hasn't voted

wow

my palms are sweating looking

ManyGlacierMountaineer

ManyGlacierMountaineer - Mar 21, 2013 6:58 pm - Hasn't voted

Best route ever

I have done this goat trail twice and plan on using it again. One of the best adventures one can undertake in all of Glacier. In 2010 I did this solo and descended via Iceberg Notch. In 2012, I did it with two others and climbed Iceberg Peak, then descended down Iceberg Notch. It is truly a marvel of goat engineering!!!

kriko - Jul 10, 2013 11:12 am - Hasn't voted

um...

what happens if you meet up with a goat coming the other way?

Viewing: 1-19 of 19