distressbark - Jul 5, 2011 8:28 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2011
fun trail
Spectacular views from the top on a cloudless yet slightly hazy 4th of July. We followed the summit ridge to the south and glissaded down towards McCalla Lake... still plenty of skiing to be had in the south bowl!
mtn ear - Apr 10, 2011 10:51 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2003
Several times...
An easy hike. Have been up here several times since, but on this first occasion I carried my two year old daughter on a beautiful early fall day. Got a great picture of her sitting on the pit toilet that still hangs in our bathroom!
MTfred19 - Mar 5, 2011 3:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2006
Trail up SE ridge
Approximate date. 2nd time on summit. Hiked with my parents to the top on a smoky day during the Gash Creek fires. The ladybugs kept biting us!
bighigaz - Dec 2, 2010 2:11 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2010
Solo Summit
Somehow given my late start I was priveledged to be the first on the trail and the first on the summit. Unless you count my dog, who ran up ahead of me! It was quiet, peaceful, and the last day before the snow came! This was my first Bitterroot summit, and will certainly not be the last! Round-trip time was 3:15, including 30 minutes (maybe a little more...) enjoying the quiet summit. Thanks to my wife for allowing me to escape alone on my birthday... and for "hailing" my return with an amazing birthday dinner! I love you Suzanne.
figurenine - Oct 9, 2010 9:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2010
good climb
All my friends were working so did this one by myself. Made it to the top from the trailhead via the standard route in about 1:20. A few other hikers but not too crowded. I was very intrigued by the heavenly twins but didnt have time to go over there today so I walked over to point 8990 via the ridge to get a better look at the approach, and then back up to the summit of st. mary. great view and nice weather for october!
Trail offers a nice variety of hiking through pine forest and above timberline. The trailhead is 13 miles from highway 93, most of it on gravel surfaced road. I made the roundtrip in 3 hours moving at a good rate due to my late start (not recommended). I started at 4:30 PM, arrived on summit at 6:20 PM, and was back to car by 7:30 PM as the sky grew dark. Overall, very enjoyable experience. I passed a few hikers on their descent early in my ascent, then had the mountain to myself after that.
Been up a few times. It's well worth it just to get a look at the Heavenly Twins. Hopefully next time I'm up here, I'll be continuing on in their direction.
A white out and post holing with too little snow to justify skis made this hike a little tougher than it could have been but good hiking buddies and sandwiches saved the day.
alpinelight - Feb 8, 2010 3:43 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 1992
Classic
Sept 06 1992 Was first, with girlfriend now wife.
June 25 2005 It was a trip to Heavenly twins with friends Josh & Erik. Weather went to
hell so we climbed Saint Mary Peak by the SW ridge.
Hiked up the standard route w/ rmick in the middle of the night. Sunrise hitting the Bitterroot Mtns. was spectacular!! Hanging out in the lookout tower with the spirits, smoke, and good friends was awesome. Made this hike a couple of other times with similar pleasant results.
Michael Hoyt - Sep 8, 2009 6:26 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2010
Lost Count
26may10 - Climbed to the summit on snow again, this time with a couple of friends. They both bemoaned that they didn't have their skis with them. Dang!
23jun09 - Though I've lost count of the number of times I've visited this summit, this was the first time I made the effort to get there while there was still snow on the route.
rmick25 - Aug 31, 2009 1:13 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2004
Sunrise on Saint Mary
Hiked to the top in the middle of the night. Hung out in lookout tower with buddies playing cards until sunrise. Magnificent!
montanachris - Dec 16, 2008 9:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2003
Quintessential Montana
This was one of my first summit hikes. I partially blame (more accurately, thank) St Mary for my addiction to peak bagging!
Drunkcaballo - Oct 15, 2008 12:11 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2001
A Few Years Ago
Hiked up this a few years ago. Beautiful place. I need to go back.
huckleberry - Aug 15, 2008 10:12 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2008
Fun in the sun
Turned out to be a great day on the mountain. Sunny and 70's.
hepcat241 - May 28, 2008 4:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2007
Normal Trail
Not the best day for a hike since it was smokey out, but it was good to get outside just the same. My girlfriend ended up knowing the guy on duty in the fire tower, so we shot the bull for a while up top. The view is supposed to be nice so I'll have to go back at some point.
May 24, 2005: Doug, Kevin and I summited, set off a wet slab on the northeast bowls, then decided to traverse over to the south bowls. Unbelievable day, Kevin did it without snowshoes!
May 8, 2004: Jay, Phil, Mike and I made it to the last switchback before the trailhead - tree down and no chainsaw! This is actually a great place to climb/return because it is steep! Lots of photos on the summit - we were all land surveyors that summer - the "surveyin' jerks trip."
May 9, 2003 Solo trip (with my dog Teewinot) to the summit in crappy weather. First day out on my new Alpine Touring skis. The snow conditions were great, but being by myself, I stuck to the ridgeline and out of the bowls.
June 29, 2002 Weekend backcountry trip with my brother and our dogs. Camped at Upper McCalla Lake on Friday night, climbed the south slope to the summit at sunset and then glissaded back to camp. Saturday we got stuck in the tent all day while the storm tore the tent apart. Sunday we got turns in the south bowl. This was all on alpine skis - we carried our boots in!
July 4, 2000 One of my first real mountain hiking trips. I saw a guy carry his telemark skis all the way to the summit for about 10 turns down to McCalla Lake, which is where I got the idea for subsequent adventures. Great times!
larch32 - Mar 5, 2012 11:37 pm
YehawChilly and new snow.
distressbark - Jul 5, 2011 8:28 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2011
fun trailSpectacular views from the top on a cloudless yet slightly hazy 4th of July. We followed the summit ridge to the south and glissaded down towards McCalla Lake... still plenty of skiing to be had in the south bowl!
mtn ear - Apr 10, 2011 10:51 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2003
Several times...An easy hike. Have been up here several times since, but on this first occasion I carried my two year old daughter on a beautiful early fall day. Got a great picture of her sitting on the pit toilet that still hangs in our bathroom!
MtMtnHiker - Mar 14, 2011 1:02 am
Easy PeakMust hike if you live near the Bitterroot.
MTfred19 - Mar 5, 2011 3:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2006
Trail up SE ridgeApproximate date. 2nd time on summit. Hiked with my parents to the top on a smoky day during the Gash Creek fires. The ladybugs kept biting us!
bighigaz - Dec 2, 2010 2:11 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2010
Solo SummitSomehow given my late start I was priveledged to be the first on the trail and the first on the summit. Unless you count my dog, who ran up ahead of me! It was quiet, peaceful, and the last day before the snow came! This was my first Bitterroot summit, and will certainly not be the last! Round-trip time was 3:15, including 30 minutes (maybe a little more...) enjoying the quiet summit. Thanks to my wife for allowing me to escape alone on my birthday... and for "hailing" my return with an amazing birthday dinner! I love you Suzanne.
figurenine - Oct 9, 2010 9:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2010
good climbAll my friends were working so did this one by myself. Made it to the top from the trailhead via the standard route in about 1:20. A few other hikers but not too crowded. I was very intrigued by the heavenly twins but didnt have time to go over there today so I walked over to point 8990 via the ridge to get a better look at the approach, and then back up to the summit of st. mary. great view and nice weather for october!
tjburr - Sep 23, 2010 6:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2010
Good 4-6 Hour HikeTrail offers a nice variety of hiking through pine forest and above timberline. The trailhead is 13 miles from highway 93, most of it on gravel surfaced road. I made the roundtrip in 3 hours moving at a good rate due to my late start (not recommended). I started at 4:30 PM, arrived on summit at 6:20 PM, and was back to car by 7:30 PM as the sky grew dark. Overall, very enjoyable experience. I passed a few hikers on their descent early in my ascent, then had the mountain to myself after that.
urnotreal - Aug 18, 2010 11:49 pm
Nice trailBeen up a few times. It's well worth it just to get a look at the Heavenly Twins. Hopefully next time I'm up here, I'll be continuing on in their direction.
Pack Addict - Apr 11, 2010 9:21 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2009
Nice Views,I have hiked to Saint Mary's Peak several times, Always enjoy it.
juneauhiker - Feb 26, 2010 6:22 pm
Chilly!A white out and post holing with too little snow to justify skis made this hike a little tougher than it could have been but good hiking buddies and sandwiches saved the day.
alpinelight - Feb 8, 2010 3:43 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 1992
ClassicSept 06 1992 Was first, with girlfriend now wife.
June 25 2005 It was a trip to Heavenly twins with friends Josh & Erik. Weather went to
hell so we climbed Saint Mary Peak by the SW ridge.
montaneer - Sep 13, 2009 11:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2004
Dawn BreakingHiked up the standard route w/ rmick in the middle of the night. Sunrise hitting the Bitterroot Mtns. was spectacular!! Hanging out in the lookout tower with the spirits, smoke, and good friends was awesome. Made this hike a couple of other times with similar pleasant results.
Michael Hoyt - Sep 8, 2009 6:26 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2010
Lost Count26may10 - Climbed to the summit on snow again, this time with a couple of friends. They both bemoaned that they didn't have their skis with them. Dang!
23jun09 - Though I've lost count of the number of times I've visited this summit, this was the first time I made the effort to get there while there was still snow on the route.
rmick25 - Aug 31, 2009 1:13 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2004
Sunrise on Saint MaryHiked to the top in the middle of the night. Hung out in lookout tower with buddies playing cards until sunrise. Magnificent!
montanachris - Dec 16, 2008 9:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2003
Quintessential MontanaThis was one of my first summit hikes. I partially blame (more accurately, thank) St Mary for my addiction to peak bagging!
Drunkcaballo - Oct 15, 2008 12:11 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2001
A Few Years AgoHiked up this a few years ago. Beautiful place. I need to go back.
huckleberry - Aug 15, 2008 10:12 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2008
Fun in the sunTurned out to be a great day on the mountain. Sunny and 70's.
hepcat241 - May 28, 2008 4:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2007
Normal TrailNot the best day for a hike since it was smokey out, but it was good to get outside just the same. My girlfriend ended up knowing the guy on duty in the fire tower, so we shot the bull for a while up top. The view is supposed to be nice so I'll have to go back at some point.
caverpilot - Apr 27, 2008 6:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2000
Ski centralMay 24, 2005: Doug, Kevin and I summited, set off a wet slab on the northeast bowls, then decided to traverse over to the south bowls. Unbelievable day, Kevin did it without snowshoes!
May 8, 2004: Jay, Phil, Mike and I made it to the last switchback before the trailhead - tree down and no chainsaw! This is actually a great place to climb/return because it is steep! Lots of photos on the summit - we were all land surveyors that summer - the "surveyin' jerks trip."
May 9, 2003 Solo trip (with my dog Teewinot) to the summit in crappy weather. First day out on my new Alpine Touring skis. The snow conditions were great, but being by myself, I stuck to the ridgeline and out of the bowls.
June 29, 2002 Weekend backcountry trip with my brother and our dogs. Camped at Upper McCalla Lake on Friday night, climbed the south slope to the summit at sunset and then glissaded back to camp. Saturday we got stuck in the tent all day while the storm tore the tent apart. Sunday we got turns in the south bowl. This was all on alpine skis - we carried our boots in!
July 4, 2000 One of my first real mountain hiking trips. I saw a guy carry his telemark skis all the way to the summit for about 10 turns down to McCalla Lake, which is where I got the idea for subsequent adventures. Great times!