This is navigating through 7 miles of raw wilderness composed of loose skree, giant boulders, and bush walking. Once daylight came we were able to find the way back to our tent. For most of the way there is no trail. The southern peak is 8699 feet, while the northern peak is slightly shorter at 8499. Into the archives. but it can be reached with good rout finding and some easy, short, rock climbing. We arrived back in Helena early Monday evening, both considerably smarter than when we started our adventure the previous Friday. The descent back to Froze to Death took 6 hours! As the highest point in Montana, it’s a peak that’s been on the bucket list for a while. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September. That Tempest Traverse looks sketchy on the photos…long, steep drop! Be prepared for serious boulder hopping for several miles along Avalanche Lake. Is there anyone wanting to team up and hike this please let me know I’m planning on hiking this at the end of Summer 2020. There are a couple of different ways to approach Granite Peak. When the weather opened up in late September, Jeremy Wood and I decided to climb the East Ridge of Granite Peak in the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness of the Custer National Forest. I enjoyed reading about your adventure, and good for you for admitting mistakes. The West Rosebud Trailhead is about 80 miles southwest of Billings. Day one was W. Rosebud trailhead to Mystic Lake, then up "Switchbacks from Hell" and 1/2 way across Froze-To-Death Plateau. There is a small area at the southern tip of Avalanche Lake to overnight, but probably 3 tents, max! No need to get on a plane to experience that family vacation. Rick and I were so focused on the prize that we didn’t pay enough attention to the route down. All approaches to Granite are long and rough, largely off-trail above tree line, which is below 10,000' feet in this area. Granite Peak, with an elevation of 12,803″, is Montana’s highest peak. We reached the start of the traverse at 7 am, and from there it took us 5 hours to reach the summit. When you get up there it will look impossible but if you can make it across the snow bridge safely there is a route you can scramble up to the summit. This summit can be done safely, but requires preparation, experience, and proper gear. As far as the Princess Lake route that is shown, this can be a spectacular trip and, as stated, is much harder in full pack than the plateau route. Sadly, on the way down another party of four experienced a death and another serious casualty during a rock avalanche down the "Chimney", as the first rappel point anchor rock broke loose. Short of … Four of us climbed this Peak over Labor Day weekend. Our group made it out safely, but only after spending the night on the trail due to a late start after helping the wounded as much as we could. From there, we retraced our journey back to Froze to Death Plateau. A Saturday night to remember. Lying deep within the rugged Beartooth Wilderness, it is surely one of the most difficult of the 50 state high points. ( Log Out /  (Extremely frustrating with full packs!) . Keep your eyes out for mountain goats. Granite Peak is your Wisconsin Winter Destination. Mystic Lake Trailhead Directions: I would strongly advise a rope, harness, and possibly some trad gear (we built an anchor to cross the snow bridge). Granite Peak (12,799') is the highest peak in Montana. Web Map Links: Peakfinder Panorama GeoHack Links CalTopo MyTopo Bing Maps Google Maps Open Street Map: Prominence: Key Col Page (Detailed prominence information) Clean Prominence: 4759 ft/1450 m Optimistic Prominence: 4799 ft/1462 m Line Parent: Francs Peak Key Col: Colter Pass 8040 ft/2451 m And if not, what is the camping like nearby? Although the hike from East Rosebud Lake to Froze to Death Plateau was incredibly scenic, we ran out of daylight and ended up camping a 2-3 miles short of where we wanted to – We had hoped to camp near the southern end of the plateau where the Tempest Traverse starts (see link to Photo Tour below). Restaurants, bars, ice skating, indoor water parks and arcades are just minutes away to enhance your vacation with us. Tighten down your pack as you’ll be needing to jump over pretty deep chasms as you proceed. In addition, the Granite Peak trail is one of the few hikes in the Trinity Alps that makes a reasonable day hike, rather than an extending backcountry excursion. Do not underestimate the risks, and I strongly advise staying out of the chimney (directly south of the peak), which is very prone to falling rocks (big and small). There’s nothing like being on top of the highest peak in the state with very little wind and epic views in all directions. ( Log Out /  Rick and I left Helena way too late that Friday morning (7/12/13), and we also stopped in Bozeman to pick up a few things. “Granite Peak is one of the few mountains I’ve climbed multiple times,” Lemke added. A super-restful day on Froze to Death Plateau. All combined, a total of 7 helicopter rescues were performed the next morning, because high winds prevented them from happening that evening. It's also considered by some to be the second most difficult state high point to summit after Denali. A better route from Princess Lake is to follow the light trail from the west side of Princess Lake that follows the drainage from Snowball Lakes, then bear east, staying North of Storm Lake and around the Northern tip of Avalanche Lake, and then south along the eastern shoreline until reaching the approaches to the Granite Peak Saddle. This route is difficult to navigate with a pack between the Mystic Lake trail and Avalanche Lake. Grew up in Harlem (MT), married (Mardi), 4 grown children, retired - taught high school science 37 yrs (Helena High Earth Science 1994-2019), enjoy hiking, peak-bagging, trail-running, snow-shoeing, and kayaking. If you are looking for snow, it is the place to go all the way into April. This is a great story to tell once you are safely back, but I’m sure that Saturday night must have been scary. They sometimes sheared off or rounded the axle, pointing in the same direction. However, by the time we reached the plateau darkness had settled in, and we had no way of navigating back to our tent. As a result, after making the 240-mile drive to the trailhead, we didn’t start hiking until 2 pm. It departs the Stoney Ridge trail just below Red Mountain Meadows (around the 42nd switchback from the wilderness boundary). It's a good idea to bring an ice axe and crampons for this part. Is it narrow? Some also rope up for the ascent. To see my blog, go to bigskywalker.com. I hiked the whole thing in approach shoes and I would not recommend that! Similar experience to Glen. Much of the hike is bouldering make sure you have ankle support if you need it and soled shoes. After hiking out Monday morning we took a dip in East Rosebud Creek, then drove to the Grizzly Bar in Roscoe for a burger before heading back to Helena. Self-inflicted difficulties. Very tiring but one of the best hikes with the best views in Montana!! A nearly-1000-feet-of-elevation-gain-per-mile price. Even with App and GPS, trail seemed to be nonexistent and inconsistent. Camped at Froze to Death, started the ascent at 5:00am. Granite Peak Trail is a 19.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Fishtail, Montana that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. Granite Peak Multifamily is proud to offer professional, innovative property management services to our our customers. Get in touch with our friendly leasing team to learn more about Granite … From here the next 200 feet or so to the top looks impossible. Plenty of parking and there are no fees. But views of pointed Kaleetan Peak, deep blue Crystal Lake, the climber-dotted Tooth, and Mount Rainier dominating the skyline to the south make it all worth it. As we wandered in the general direction of our tent we alternated resting, shivering, and walking around to keep warm. It highlights how easily things can go wrong even for competent and experienced hikers. The head-badge was often crooked and off-center. Granite peak is the highest point in Montana. It was much safer than it looks in some of the photos, which were taken from a distance. The traverse was actually the least sketchy part between the plateau and the summit. The bike was considered unsafe and was returned. Best of all, outdoor adventures are always close at hand in Central Wyoming, which is known for its cowboy culture and rugged natural beauty. Mistake #3: Not paying attention. We came from the West Rosebud and hiked the peak on September 2018. Change ). One that rewards you with countless panoramic views of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The approach hike to the base, no matter which route you take, is an arduous trek. Climbing the scree slope above Avalanche Lake towards a glaciated slope ahead. Top Hikes. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Packed up camp and made it out to the parking lot at 11:00pm. The actual climb is a challenging ascent, rated a class 4 in its upper reaches. On the plateau there is no trail just walk south until you see Granite Peak and head that way. This is a wonderful two day climb through beautiful alpine lakes with lots of mountain goats to see along the way. Eventually we figured out where we were, and were able to scramble up and over to the snow bridge. We napped most of the day, taking breaks to eat, enjoy short walks on the plateau, watch mountain goats, and appreciate the uniqueness of spending a beautiful summer day 11,400 feet above sea level. Many parties choose to take a rope and harness/belay device to rappel the route's 4th and 5th class sections. This is our day hike up Granite Peak in the Beartooth Wilderness of Montana. I can’t express enough how terrible of an experience this “trail” will be. Located in the Beartooth Range in the Northern Rocky Mountains, Granite Peak lives up to it’s name as a large chunk of granite towering over southern Montana. Avoid the urge to head directly to Granite Peak. Granite Peak is situated in the remote wilderness of the Beartooth Mountain Range. Sunday was extremely relaxing. We were both semi-prepared (head-lamps, extra layers, snacks), and fortunately it didn’t get too cold, nor did it rain. Granite Peak is home to: The only High Speed 6-pack Lift in Wisconsin with two additional high speed quads The Most Terrain in Wisconsin - Over 200 acres The Top Vertical in Wisconsin - 700' Drop The standard and "easiest" route, the East Ridge, requires class 4+ to low class 5 climbing. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Located in Wausau - we are proud to partner with some of the best lodging properties located just minutes from the resort. Trail Guide Best Trails & Photos. In addition to long views along Lake Tahoe’s east and south shores, you’ll also see … Emerald Bay, Cascade Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake, Freel Peak, Mount Tallac, and aspects of Desolation Wilderness. From here drive southwest about a mile and then turn left (south) onto West Rosebud Road. Granite Peak Trail [CLOSED] is a 7.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Lewiston, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. There is no trail to the top of granite peak. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Benbow OHV Road: East Fishtail Creek Trail to Island Lake, Quinnebaugh Meadows and Sundance Lake via West Fork of Rock Creek Trail, Kersey Lake Trail to Rock Island Lake Trail, September Morn Lake via West Fork and Lake Fork Trail. There is no trail, so generally follow the huge cairns across the plateau, always keeping Froze-To-Death mountain on your left (south). Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. This formidable mountain is located in the heart of the remote and scenic Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, just north of Yellowstone National Park. The junction is signed. The connector trail is about 1.0 mile in length. Once you pass Froze-To-Death mountain, you will begin to see Granite Peak peaking over the edge of the plateau. Best done in early or late season to avoid the crowds. This is not a trail. Enjoy! The journey included a wonderful variety of challenges, including the traverse, trekking through a snow field, some steep hiking, an intimidating snow bridge, plenty of class 3 scrambling, and even a short stretch of class 4 climbing. Granite Peak under ominous leaden clouds, from the slope of Froze-to-Death plateau (1991-08-26). West Rosebud Trailhead. I have never had a bad hiking experience until trying this. The heat from these later intrusives metamorphosed the granite, fracturing it and making it … Below: This map marks hikes that have been featured on bigskywalker.com so far, including several in Glacier Park – Select full screen to expand, zoom in for more detail, or click on a marker for a link to the post. Thanks, Caroline – I always appreciate your comments. This is an incredible hike! It's hard to describe a trail from here to the top of the plateau because there isn't one. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September. Dan’s excellent driving technique through mud, over rocks and across ditches had Eric howling in delight and Yvonne biting her nails. Mistake #2: No GPS unit. Meanwhile, a totally separate accident left another climber with head injuries when he fell off the snow bridge into a steep ravine. We left town at 7:30 am and by 8:30 were driving in circles in the maze of 4WD trails that are at the base of Granite. Just a 4 1/2 hour drive from Chicago it’s easy to to plan a last minute weekend outing. For this reason, Granite Peak is considered one of the more difficult US state highpoints. Weather changes very quickly so be prepared. Trail is easy until after the lake then the switchbacks start. Turn left here follow the dirt road for 14 miles (West Rosebud Lake Road #17) until you reach the trailhead. Granite Peak Trail is a 19.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Fishtail, Montana that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. Nordic Skating on the Mighty Mo near Helena, Kayaking on the Missouri River north of Helena, Peak-Bagging in the Little Rockies: Mission Peak & Indian Peak, Headquarters Pass to Our Lake Traverse west of Choteau, St. Mary Peak and Trapper Peak in the Bitterroots, Sacajawea – High Point in the Bridger Mountains, East & West St. Marys Peaks on the Flathead Reservation, Ice Cave in the Big Snowies south of Lewistown, Floral Park Traverse in Glacier Park: Logan Pass to Lake McDonald, Hike through the Goat Rocks Wilderness in Washington, Crown Mountain on the Rocky Mountain Front. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It won't be till after you have begun climbing up and away from the lake that you'll get glimpses of Granite. Here’s how the trip played out, one mistake at a time. See this route and plan your own adventure with komoot! It is beautiful though! On Sunday Eric Parsons, Dan Boccia, Yvonne & I climbed the Southwest Ridge Granite Peak (6729′). The highpoint of Montana over an amazing climb. Inspired designs on t-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. As a result, this is one of the most heavily used trails in the Trinity Alps, exceeded only by the Canyon Creek and Granite Lake trails. ture ever; the weekend in July 2013 when my friend (Rick) and I climbed the highest peak in Montana. Granite Peak Ski Resort is a ski area in the Town of Rib Mountain, Marathon County, Wisconsin, south of Wausau. Take the Columbus exit from I-90, and then Montana Highway 78 through Absaroka and turn right (west) toward Fishtail which is about 17 miles from Columbus. Granite Peak lies deep in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana. Our family has been visiting Granite Peak Skiing resort for the past 3 years now and can’t wait to go back. If you want to extend this hike, you can hike past the Maggie’s Peaks to the next fork in the trail and walk back to Eagle Lake. Not recommended for beginners or hikers who fear exposure. Long day, but it was amazing! Be sure once on froze to death you follow the trail and not make it harder by going to the south side of tempest! Made it to the tippy-top at 9:00am. The hike back down to the trailhead is a pounding test of endurance. Left at 10:00am and made it to to Froze to Death plateau at 5:00. Granite Peak: Great Place For Hiking/Skiing - See 288 traveler reviews, 58 candid photos, and great deals for Wausau, WI, at Tripadvisor. “It’s one of the most captivating mountains.” At an elevation of 12,808 feet, Granite Peak is Montana’s highest point and is considered one of the most difficult in the United States to summit because of the long hike to get to its base, a plateau known as Froze to Death. At 12,808, it towers above the majority of other peaks in Montana. Give us a call today to discuss how we can help you to achieve your goals. Wonderful photos! The day hike to the south peak of Maggie’s Peaks is an incredibly worthwhile challenge. The USGS map, Granite Peak, is recommended for the hike across FTD plateau. There is a very narrow snow bridge with a lot of exposure and it doesn't look like there is a route to the top but there is. Jacobgearhart7@icloud.com. Confident that we would be back to our tents well before sunset, we hadn’t brought any sort of GPS tracking device. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips. Things mellow out once on FTD plateau but don't underestimate FTD, stay high and keep an eye on the map. As you follow the trail around this lake you will be amazed at the views. There are two routes from Mystic Lake, the first trailhead breaking off to the Southeast, shortly after the Mystic Lake dam, will take you up numerous switchbacks leading to a 6+ mile hike across froze-to-death plateau leading to the saddle approach. The northern peak has slightly better views of Emerald Bay, but the southern peak is higher and offers better views of Desolation. To give some perspective, the highest point in Glacier National Park is 10,466 feet, over 2,000ft shorter than Granite. The Dam at the end of Mystic Lake and looking down the valley you drove up to get to the trailhead. It is a challenging climb requiring rock and snow mountaineering skills and has a lengthy and strenuous approach. We went so far as to print photos (taken by other climbers) to guide us up the correct route, but the photos were of no help guiding us back down – and we guessed incorrectly. Is it possible to park a motorhome at the trailhead? ( Log Out /  However, the Granite Peak trip was by far my most exciting adventure to date, primarily due to a series of mistakes Rick and I made along the way, and the fact that climbing Granite Peak is simply an awesome experience. Small hike, (3mi) to Mystic lake to camp for the first night. 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