Chapman Peak

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Glacier National Park, MT
- Additional Parents
- Continental Divide Peaks-- Montana
Chapman Peak

Page Type:	Mountain/Rock
Lat/Lon:	48.97751°N / 114.04793°W
Activities:	Hiking, Mountaineering
Season:	Summer, Fall
Elevation:	9406 ft / 2867 m
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Overview

If the chief measure of a mountain’s worth were the number of lakes visible from its summit, Chapman would unquestionably rank among Glacier’s finest. Certainly one of the most scrambler-friendly peaks among its peers in the splendid but daunting northwest boundary region of the park, Chapman most notably commands vertiginous birds-eye views of Lake Cameron’s gem-like neighbors, Nooney, Wurdeman, and Carcajou; elsewhere in view along the climb are Bowman, Francis, and Upper Waterton Lakes, among countless other unnamed but no less spectacular ponds on both sides of the international border just north of the summit ridge.

Bowman Lake from the West Face of Chapman

Bowman Lake as seen on the ascent, with Numa Ridge to its R. and Thunderbird Mtn in the L. foreground

Chapman’s peak-gazing opportunities are similarly remarkable in all directions: Custer and Thunderbird loom large in the foreground, while the behemoth Cleveland hovers not far away. With good visibility, expect to pick out some of the more conspicuous profiles in the Many Glacier and Logan Pass-area skylines.
Some discouragingly slippery talus and a curiously fecund population of flies at the summit are the small price you pay for it all.

Looking north from the summit into Waterton. From left, Lakes Cameron, Nooney, and Carcajou

Cleveland, distant Chief, and Upper Waterton Lake to the north

Following the ridge to Olson Mtn (R) and Campbell Mtn (L) down to Upper Waterton Lake. From the farther distant right, Cleveland, Chief, and Goat Haunt, among many others

Getting There

The Sentinel (snow-covered in the right foreground). One of many fine over-the-shoulder views during the climb

Chapman is inaccessible as a day hike; by trail, it is about 17 miles from the Kintla Lake trailhead, 14 miles from the Bowman Lake trailhead, and 16 miles from Waterton townsite. Fortunately, there are many pleasant diversions along the way: Boulder Pass and Hole-in-the-Wall are deservedly two of the most sought-after destinations in the park, and the strings of lakes on all sides of Chapman make for additional desirable backcountry camping sites. The Brown Pass campsite is the most logical place to begin and end a day on Chapman and offers a fine, post-climb sunset view of the mountain.

The Boulder Pass and Hole-in-the-Wall Areas from the Brown Pass Trail

A view from the trail near Brown Pass. From the upper left, Boulder Peak, the Boulder Pass area, and the outer edge of the Hole-in-the-Wall cirque

From the summit, north across the border into Waterton. From L., Mts. Carthew (in partial shadow), Alderson (the tallest) and Richards

The Route

Chapman's summit ridge, with Cleveland in view to the far L.

Edwards includes two routes: a north face route--which poses the technical challenge of glacial crossing and the bureaucratic challenge of off-trail border crossing—and a far more readily accessible west slope route. To his sparse but adequate west slope route description I offer some supplementary detail:

From roughly the juncture of the Boulder Pass trail with the entrance to the Brown Pass campsite, scramble up any one of the several drainages that scour the mountain’s southwestern face. About two-thirds of the way up the mountain you will encounter a band of cliffs (class 3, although quite rotten in some places); work your way through them until you reach the final ridge and enjoy a scenic final stroll to the summit cairn on the easily discernible highpoint. From trail to summit you gain about 2,900 ft.

For a somewhat gentler way home, continue westward from the summit (in the direction of towering Custer) until the ridge descends abruptly into a very pleasant meadow. From there it’s a straightforward descent back to the trail. (N.B. If you are camping at Brown Pass, you may want to keep an eye out for the seasonal streams that materialize along the lower portions of this route, as it’s a surprisingly long and rather less scenic hike to the water source at the campsite.)

A grand staircase up Chapman

Thunderbird Mountain and Glacier across the valley from Chapman. Beyond and to the right (in the haze), Mt. Carter

Chapman's western slope seen from Brown Pass, with several promising drainages visible

Precautions

Pack enough water to last the entire climb; once you leave the streambeds near the base of the mountain, you are unlikely to encounter more than the occasional trickle of snowmelt, and sun exposure is maximal along the entire route.

Observe all the usual bear-country precautions.

Red Tape

Porcupine Ridge, en route back to Goat Haunt

Porcupine Ridge and its double visible on the haul out to Goat Haunt

A fee applies for entry into Glacier National Park, and advance permits are required for all overnight camping in the backcountry. If you plan to backpack into or out of Waterton Lakes National Park via Goat Haunt, additional procedures apply for backcountry border crossing; you will also need to pay a separate entry fee for the Canadian park. If you wish to spare yourself the 8 miles of trees from Goat Haunt to the Waterton townsite, carry some extra cash for the ferry.