Fast journey.
After I climbed Nice Northern on a cloudy summer time day in 2014, I used to be super-impressed by the number of circumstances alongside the 2-mile ridge to the summit – principally good path, with some scrambling, a pair brief class 3 climbs, and a good quantity of publicity. I hoped to do it once more with buddies, however particularly needed to climb it with my adventurous daughter Amy. I’m again to instructing in Hays in a pair weeks (8/13/22), so once we discovered that she had Monday off (8/1/22) we determined to go for it. I drove over to spend Sunday evening together with her in Missoula, then we left her home at 5:30 am Monday, made the 145-mile drive to the trailhead, and began mountaineering at 8:30 am.
Piece of cake?
Nice Northern Mountain is a good looking peak located between Hungry Horse Reservoir and the southwestern fringe of Glacier Park. It’s a dusty 16-mile drive on a corrugated gravel street from Freeway #2 to the trailhead. From there, it’s simply 4 miles to the summit with the final 2.5 miles alongside a spectacular ridge that gives unbelievable views of Glacier Park and Hungry Horse Reservoir. So, you’re pondering “signal me up,” proper? . . . Not so quick. The opposite necessary element is that you’ll be ascending virtually 5,000 ft over these 4 miles, with half of that (2,500 ft) coming within the first 1.5 miles – one of many steepest stretches of path you’ll discover anyplace!
Obtained knees?
For those who can deal with the brutal first 1.5 miles, the slope turns into extra affordable for the ultimate 2.5 miles, plus you’ll be rewarded by wonderful views the remainder of the way in which. The path is usually discernable, however you’ll should make a number of decisions (climber trails) and should do some scrambling and climbing to navigate each the false summit and the precise one. Remember that you’re going to should stroll down these final steep 1.5 miles of path on drained legs – for me (by far) essentially the most difficult a part of the day. I’ve wholesome knees, however my quads have been spent by the point we reached the automobile. Don’t try when you’ve got knee points, and if you happen to go, be sure that your boots have loads of area to maintain your toes comfortable – and trim these nails earlier than you begin! (Photograph Tour)
Picked a winner.
Regardless of the warmth wave that inundated a lot of Montana and the massive Elmo 2 Hearth on the southwestern edge Flathead Lake (40 miles SSW of us), we loved snug temperatures and clear skies, and there was simply sufficient breeze to maintain the bugs away. Regardless of the depressing last 1.5 miles all the way down to the trailhead, it was a terrific day! We acquired again to the automobile at 3:45 pm.
