Heavy Runner Mountain. It’s not the summit. It’s the journey.

Original Post Date 8/31/2021

I have always wanted to write a post this summer while sitting at Logan Pass. Today is that day. I’m parked in a PRIME spot at the end of a row with a direct view of Heavy Runner Mtn, the scars still fresh from climbing.

Laptop on my is, ah, well on my lap. Sitting next to the car in my camp chair. The wind picked up a little, blew out the haze, and it has been a perfect day. Guns and Roses is playing on the radio, turned up just enough so everyone can tell how happy I am.

But subtle enough they can focus on how miserable trying to park at the asphalt jungle known as Logan Pass.

I did the mandatory early start from Logan Pass. Didn’t bother with approach pictures as everyone has seen all of that before. Tons of stupid people out early, but the parking lot didn’t fill until 7am which is rare. Must be getting close to fall. Actually, the road will close for the season in about four weeks.

I have pulled Heavy Runner off my hike list this summer at least six times. It’s kind of a shabby little hill at Logan Pass. 1000 feet lower than everything else. AND the approach is very long compare to everything up here (you must traverse 3 sides of Reynolds).

The final sixty feet to the actual summit requires a technical belay on and rappel off. The secondary false summit has a class 4 cliff (aka ‘good’ hand and foot holds, but you are looking at a 1500-foot fall between your legs with nothing to slow your cannon ball fall).

And a class 4 that most people can’t do. Finally, I can’t do it during a workday (too long), so payment would be a coveted and rare full day off.

On the other hand, it’s named after a famous Piegan Chief with a great backstory (well, actually a massacre). Plus it’s the only peak at the pass I haven’t climbed. The route will take me thru a valley known as Edan East by climbers. It has a great central location for views. AND Heavy Runner looks absolutely massive when viewed from the St Mary Valley. This was my LAST work day off. So back on the list to stay.

The walk around the back side of Reynolds (I’ve done it so many times I can’t even call it a hike) never gets old. I love watching the mountains wake up with the sun in the morning. Eden East was new territory. I’ve scoped it for a few minutes and picked my approach route, then started the long traverse to the Heavy Runner Saddle. It was only what I could call enjoyable route finding.

I took my time for this hike. Look, breathe, smile. Trying to stay above the saddle I was shooting for, I jumped from game trails to ledges to scree slopes and then thru tiny alpine fir forests. So short and stunted by the wind I felt like a 5 foot 8 inch giant. I was surprised to be at the saddle in only 45 minutes. But the snowfields had really pulled back after the long hot summer.

Once at the saddle between Reynolds & Heavy Runner, it was just a comfortable hike up the main ridge to the top. Really that simple. Nice goat trails everywhere, views to the left and right to die for. The placement of this mountain really is a little on the unique side. It is a MINOR part of Logan Pass, but a MAJOR part of the views from the St Mary Valley. Plus, it has a very LONG ridgewalk with unobstructive views 360 degrees.

This was a great walk with something new to see with every step. Even for me, and I thought I had seen everything the pass has to offer. I found the false summit and class 4 pitch I had read about. It was more of a narrow chimney. I had to test it.

Kind of just wedged myself in it, tried some hand holds and foot placements. With the exposure and angle of the rock, it just didn’t feel right. And I couldn’t get comfortable with the downclimb placements. But I was only 25 feet to the summit. Felt like Indiana Jones when he had to let go of the Holy Grail. Better to live another day.

My thoughts near the top.

But the summit cap itself was a real joy to walk around. There is no need to be another couple dozen feet in the air on some crumbly rock summit hoping to get down safely. I could totally see leading a fun hiking group up there.

You get miles of great climbing trail to walk, and the fantastic traverse over Eden East (where I spotted a herd of bighorn bed down in on return).

It would be soooooo easy to spend a couple hours enjoying the views. Walking the very broad main spine and circumnavigate the summit cap. You can pick and choose how much exposure you want, and the photo ops are simply legendary. 

At the end of the day, I was very glad I took the time and the effort to do this one. Just because you’re a couple of feet short of the actual summit, that doesn’t affect the experience. You still experience a great place (at least for me) on a phenomenal day. Guess I’m finally enjoying the journey and taking time to look around.

I also put away the iPod last week. I’ve been shutting out Inner Dave for about 200+ hours on the trail this summer and it’s time to make peace. After all, I’ve got to live with him after this is all over. Kind of boring, but it was nice to have a great outing with no drama. Although I do have a pretty good knee ache and a stiff ankle from yesterday. The Snyder drainage was not my friend.