CLIMBING ADVENTURE SERIES

GLACIER'S GIANT - CLIMBING MOUNT CLEVELAND

Part 2

Mount Cleveland is located in the north central portion of Glacier National Park. Standing 10,466 feet in height it is Glacier highest summit. The views from the summit are outstanding.

 

But first. Bushwhacking sucks! No really ... it sucks. Sometimes there is no advance and there is no retreat. Hanging suspended on dense vegetation is not a great way to spend an afternoon in the park. But that was our current position.

 

Frustration was followed by short-lived elation, as we would locate what seemed to be a good elk trail only to have it obliterated by another thicket of alder. This scenario continued until we broke out of the thicket into the Camp Creek drainage.

 

We followed the north fork to a beautiful waterfall that if it were closer to a road would surely get overrun with visitors. Perhaps some things are better left for those who travel off trail.

 

Above the falls we entered the great basin below the west face of Cleveland. It was near this place that six young mountaineers perished in an avalanche in 1969 after their ill-fated winter ascent of Cleveland. This was a stark reminder of the danger and consequences of a misstep or underestimation of the mountain or weather conditions.

 

Even on our climb around the waterfall we were confronted with the possibility that a slip could result in a climb-ending fall. Up here there are no second chances. This area is a long way from

civilization and rescue.

 

Above the waterfall the entire west face opened before us.  Snowmelt forms a stream that plunges over a high waterfall in the center of this grand cirque. Our eyes could only begin to take in the grand majesty of this place. Then we turned around. Peaks were everywhere!

 

We found what looked like the location of the back county campsite used by climbers and pitched our tents.  We spent the rest of the day in camp enjoying the spectacular evening and watched the sun set to the west.


Join me next time and read about our ascent of Mount Cleveland and the crazy people we met along the way.