Kyle Van Vleet - Jul 25, 2023 3:57 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2023
Thankful
Fantastic climb in a very special place
Jim_The_Kid7 - Oct 19, 2022 4:52 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2021
Chief Mtn.
Fun Climb
GlacierCountry - Aug 31, 2022 9:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2021
Thankful
With John Bird, Cherie Show, Andrew Schnell, Jesse Jarosz, and 2 others. Nice to be part of the group's ceremonial honoring of the mountain on the summit. A fun scramble.
missoula - Aug 27, 2021 7:25 am Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2021
Glacier Classic Finale
Climbed on the last day of the 2021 Rocky Mountaineer Glacier Classic. Weather finally let up and allowed us passage up to the windy summit.
Wheelbarrow - Jan 21, 2017 12:34 am Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2015
Best Summer of my Life
Hiking through the "devastation zone" was a real treat as I was treated to the biggest rocks I've ever seen. And that ridge walk though.
We followed the West Slope route as outlined by Edwards in his book.
Summer 2015 with Sean, Xenja, and Daniel D. Hiked into Otatso Creek and up Gable pass from Slide lake. Also went up Papoose, and Ninaki before heading up Chief. Great day and a great start to the 2015 season.
We took the Humble Oil Road up and then the patchy trail around the mountain to the saddle where the southwest slope route starts. I'm not sure why that trail isn't mentioned on this page but it's definitely the way to go! A morning rainstorm took a lot of the smoke out of the air. We weren't sure if Chief was going to let us go (it said no last year) but the skies cleared and we got the go-ahead!
Pewma - Oct 15, 2013 1:02 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2011
The Chief
I climbed this mountain when I was working at Glacier in 2011 and it immediately became one of my favorites. I especially loved the Bison Skull and the moose and deer antlers on top as well as all the offerings
I saw Chief Mountain for the first time many years ago and knew I had to come back and climb it. There was a lot of debris from mudslides, large boulders and scree that had fallen from the mountain over time. We had perfect weather and great views on this day.
2009 - w/ Anders Olson, Tyler Trudeau, George Handuc and Ely Behrhorst.
2010 - w/ Meghan McCarthy, Jacob Oftedahl, Tyler Haasch, Kent Lockman and Cory Mark.
2011 - w/ Heidi Sauerland, Rachel Heiken, Julie Nelson, Nate Huff and Ruel Golding
2012 - w/ Xenja Poljakowa, Joshua Terry and Erik Lokensgard
1st 3 times via Lee Ridge/Gable Pass, 4th time via Humble Oil Road. (Blackfoot Land Use Permit required).
Climbed this peak with Sean, Xenja, and Erik. It was my first climb back after becoming very sick for the first few weeks at Many. We bought permits at Duck Lake and took the route beginning at the conclusion of the Humble Oil Road. Great route, the downsides were getting over my illness, climbing with a broken hand, and seeing a kid almost die on the huge scree field. Thanks for the assist on the Class IV moves, Sean!
FlatheadNative - Oct 11, 2012 12:49 am Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2012
Chief in a robe of snow
Summited in winter conditions with 6 others climbers. Incredible bluebird day with 6 to 16 inches of snow on the level with even more in the boulder fields.
RoryKuykendall - Oct 22, 2011 2:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2011
Lee Ridge Approach
Great climb with great people. Another beautiful day in Glacier. It was my first time on Lee Ridge and I was stunned by the spectacular views in all directions.
sanfordstone - Sep 14, 2011 1:21 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2005
Augusts
August 27, 2005 for Howard Hillhouse Stone
again in 2011, for Chris Street
Waterton - Aug 13, 2011 9:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2010
Family climb
Climbed with my brother and his son, my older sister, her husband and two boys, and my younger sister.
Grew up with the North face staring at us every day. It was grand to see the view from up there.
We climbed Chief with a Blackfeet Tribal member - it was a wonderful day!!
FlatheadNative - Jul 12, 2010 12:10 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2010
Awesome!
I was proviledged to climb with a Blackfoot tribal member. The connection the tribe has with this mountain is incredible. We started from the northeast through the north scree fields and finally to the saddle between Ninaki and Chief. From there we joined the Southwest Slope Route.
EarMountain - May 25, 2010 3:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2010
Chief Mountain- 2nd Climb
2010 with Laurel, Ron and other GMS members. Lightning shortened the summit stay.
2003 with Bill, John, April, Bud, Martin via Lee Ridge approach. Smoky skies prevented good views.
distressbark - Sep 28, 2009 1:13 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2009
Lee Ridge approach
long, fantastic approach from Lee Ridge Trail (trailhead is 1/2 mile south of Belly River Customs). found climber's trail south of Gable Pass and took it to large talus field south of Ninaki Papoose and The Squaw. tedious traverse around the two, but after that, a well-worn trail can be followed up the west scree slopes of Chief. found notch in north ridge described by Gordon Edwards, and followed another great trail from there. sketchiest part of the climb was up the actual summit block; group tried a couple different ways up, but never found anything easier than class III/class IV. amazing summit. astounding views of the entire park to the south and west. truly a privilege to be up there.
Kyle Van Vleet - Jul 25, 2023 3:57 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2023
ThankfulFantastic climb in a very special place
Jim_The_Kid7 - Oct 19, 2022 4:52 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2021
Chief Mtn.Fun Climb
GlacierCountry - Aug 31, 2022 9:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2021
ThankfulWith John Bird, Cherie Show, Andrew Schnell, Jesse Jarosz, and 2 others. Nice to be part of the group's ceremonial honoring of the mountain on the summit. A fun scramble.
missoula - Aug 27, 2021 7:25 am Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2021
Glacier Classic FinaleClimbed on the last day of the 2021 Rocky Mountaineer Glacier Classic. Weather finally let up and allowed us passage up to the windy summit.
Wheelbarrow - Jan 21, 2017 12:34 am Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2015
Best Summer of my LifeHiking through the "devastation zone" was a real treat as I was treated to the biggest rocks I've ever seen. And that ridge walk though.
We followed the West Slope route as outlined by Edwards in his book.
Dansmlgnp - Mar 19, 2016 8:07 pm
Chief and familySummer 2015 with Sean, Xenja, and Daniel D. Hiked into Otatso Creek and up Gable pass from Slide lake. Also went up Papoose, and Ninaki before heading up Chief. Great day and a great start to the 2015 season.
awhite28 - Jul 16, 2014 5:33 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2014
Oil RoadWe took the Humble Oil Road up and then the patchy trail around the mountain to the saddle where the southwest slope route starts. I'm not sure why that trail isn't mentioned on this page but it's definitely the way to go! A morning rainstorm took a lot of the smoke out of the air. We weren't sure if Chief was going to let us go (it said no last year) but the skies cleared and we got the go-ahead!
Pewma - Oct 15, 2013 1:02 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2011
The ChiefI climbed this mountain when I was working at Glacier in 2011 and it immediately became one of my favorites. I especially loved the Bison Skull and the moose and deer antlers on top as well as all the offerings
mountaingazelle - Sep 18, 2013 5:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2013
ChiefI saw Chief Mountain for the first time many years ago and knew I had to come back and climb it. There was a lot of debris from mudslides, large boulders and scree that had fallen from the mountain over time. We had perfect weather and great views on this day.
TwaMontana - Jul 30, 2013 5:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2013
Wonderful DayFun walk, awful scramble up the talus, fun climb.
ManyGlacierMountaineer - Feb 24, 2013 6:46 pm
THE CHIEF2009 - w/ Anders Olson, Tyler Trudeau, George Handuc and Ely Behrhorst.
2010 - w/ Meghan McCarthy, Jacob Oftedahl, Tyler Haasch, Kent Lockman and Cory Mark.
2011 - w/ Heidi Sauerland, Rachel Heiken, Julie Nelson, Nate Huff and Ruel Golding
2012 - w/ Xenja Poljakowa, Joshua Terry and Erik Lokensgard
1st 3 times via Lee Ridge/Gable Pass, 4th time via Humble Oil Road. (Blackfoot Land Use Permit required).
WOLFrising - Jan 2, 2013 2:43 am
The Climb that heals allSummer 2012
Climbed this peak with Sean, Xenja, and Erik. It was my first climb back after becoming very sick for the first few weeks at Many. We bought permits at Duck Lake and took the route beginning at the conclusion of the Humble Oil Road. Great route, the downsides were getting over my illness, climbing with a broken hand, and seeing a kid almost die on the huge scree field. Thanks for the assist on the Class IV moves, Sean!
FlatheadNative - Oct 11, 2012 12:49 am Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2012
Chief in a robe of snowSummited in winter conditions with 6 others climbers. Incredible bluebird day with 6 to 16 inches of snow on the level with even more in the boulder fields.
RoryKuykendall - Oct 22, 2011 2:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2011
Lee Ridge ApproachGreat climb with great people. Another beautiful day in Glacier. It was my first time on Lee Ridge and I was stunned by the spectacular views in all directions.
sanfordstone - Sep 14, 2011 1:21 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2005
AugustsAugust 27, 2005 for Howard Hillhouse Stone
again in 2011, for Chris Street
Waterton - Aug 13, 2011 9:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2010
Family climbClimbed with my brother and his son, my older sister, her husband and two boys, and my younger sister.
Grew up with the North face staring at us every day. It was grand to see the view from up there.
dacom - Aug 28, 2010 5:28 pm
Great dayWe climbed Chief with a Blackfeet Tribal member - it was a wonderful day!!
FlatheadNative - Jul 12, 2010 12:10 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2010
Awesome!I was proviledged to climb with a Blackfoot tribal member. The connection the tribe has with this mountain is incredible. We started from the northeast through the north scree fields and finally to the saddle between Ninaki and Chief. From there we joined the Southwest Slope Route.
EarMountain - May 25, 2010 3:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2010
Chief Mountain- 2nd Climb2010 with Laurel, Ron and other GMS members. Lightning shortened the summit stay.
2003 with Bill, John, April, Bud, Martin via Lee Ridge approach. Smoky skies prevented good views.
distressbark - Sep 28, 2009 1:13 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2009
Lee Ridge approachlong, fantastic approach from Lee Ridge Trail (trailhead is 1/2 mile south of Belly River Customs). found climber's trail south of Gable Pass and took it to large talus field south of Ninaki Papoose and The Squaw. tedious traverse around the two, but after that, a well-worn trail can be followed up the west scree slopes of Chief. found notch in north ridge described by Gordon Edwards, and followed another great trail from there. sketchiest part of the climb was up the actual summit block; group tried a couple different ways up, but never found anything easier than class III/class IV. amazing summit. astounding views of the entire park to the south and west. truly a privilege to be up there.