Reynolds – Views forever. Summit time. No worries.
I’ve been up Mt. Reynolds several times over the last two seasons. Since we are still in June and early summer (and Logan Pass opened just two weeks ago), I thought I would hang my ice axe and crampons and see if I could find a snow route that might still be clinging onto the back side in the shade. Spoiler: No.
I didn’t climb anything from Logan Pass last summer. So, I wasn’t sure about the timing to get a parking spot. There is light now at 5 a.m., so that was as good time as any to get out of bed—just a quick bite to eat and on the road by 5:15.
It was a speedy 23 miles. Only one other car on the road. They were doing 15 mph and, I’m sure, looking for animals but pulled right over. So much better than the nearly two-hour commitment when living and working from the West side.
The parking lot at the Pass isn’t filling until 8 a.m. (currently, that will change in July/August). But all the same, I still get a little pissed when I see the camper vans up here.
Windows all fogged up. People are still asleep in them. I wish the NPS had the staff to knock on a few windows and kick them out. One person’s idea of #VanLife should not grant them camping gratis wherever they decide to put the transmission in park.
It looks to be a wonderfully calm morning. Little to no wind. A few cars roll in here and there as I start to gear up for a nice little AM stretch.
It should just be a couple of hours up and I’ll have the rest of the day to do whatever I do with a half day off. Reynolds is such an iconic glaciated horn, and so central to the Park I just need to get the first climb in my pocket for the summer.
Mt Clements was looking a little sheepish this early in the morning. Literally. A couple of mountain sheep were hanging out. Feeding in the meadows covered with snow until a couple of weeks ago.
Other than getting the stink eye from Mr. Alpha Buck Don’t Look At My Woman, they seem pretty chill for all of the people that crowd this boardwalk every day. In addition to wishing the last of that winter coat would just fall off and be done.
As expected, there were still some serious snow patches over the climber’s trail en route to the base of the mountain. Nothing steep or so hard that it required hardware. But it did make for some beautiful early-morning pictures.
I always love it when the sun is coming up behind the Garden Wall and in this case, just burning through a few clouds in the back of Mt Piegan, Matahpi, and Going to the Sun. The glorious St Mary Valley is off to the far right.
Reynolds is warming up for the day, framed in quaint sub-alpine firs. Being carved on four sides, I’m picking one on the back to climb today. Hoping for some snow to tackle. But those hopes were fading quickly the closer I got.
The first 1,000 feet of gain is along a grand traverse that provides outstanding views of Bearhat Mtn. I can retrace my climbing route from that last time. But the cliff breaks I needed then were still clogged with snow. This one might be on the list again if I have a half day I need to burn up.
Now that I can be in the parking lot in about a half hour, peaks at the Pass are suddenly not such a chore to get at.
Before the ascent, check out the Sperry Glacier Complex and the beginning of the cross-country route to get there. That is the Dragon’s Tail to the far right—another 20-mile day to put on my list.
If I can ever quell my fears of the bears that like to hang out in Floral Park. It seems like everyone but me has forgotten that fatal mauling there back in 2017. Or the several slip-and-fall deaths over the last decade.
There are many, many braided trails and endless rock cairns that have been cut into and laid upon the side of Reynolds over the years. Each by a climber that ‘knows the way.’
I pick one that gives quick access to the fun class three cliffs on the lower reaches of the summit. While reducing the march through the talus field on the southwest flank.
After 1000 feet of gain in the traverse from the parking lot, and the subsequent 1000 feet slogging up the scree field, the final 500 might appear a little daunting to most. Especially those who do not have experience scrambling the loose sedimentary rock that Glacier is famous for. There is a pretty straightforward route through this final band of cliffs.
Now, there is one little pinch point. All you need to do is take this scree ledge out to the edge and get up the next little break in the cliffs immediately to the right. Of course, dealing with exposure is more of a personal thing. Something not really taught, just dealt with.
After that, there is a little corner you’ll need to wiggle around. True, when those cliffy steps are peppered with tiny bits of loose rock, It can be unnerving.
But once you find your legs, it is all in good fun. The critical part is remembering to save enough confidence for the return. Staring down fear a second time in reverse isn’t for everyone.
But with a little effort can come great reward. The final summit walk was pleasant and open. It feels like walking up to the house of an old friend I haven’t seen for a while and giving the doorbell a firm but happy ring.
There was more haze than I would have preferred, but the weather was moving all around me that morning. Off to the East and the St Mary Valley, I was hearing thunderclaps. But it was warm (50s), and there was no wind, so whatever was out there moved slowly. I had a few hours before anything could come close enough to worry about.
People are so disappointed when they come to Glacier Park and only get little peeks and glimpses of dirty snowfields. Glaciers that have run their course are so uninspiring.
I just want to tell them there is so much for the taking if they can train their body to walk 3.14 miles and gain 2543 feet. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. Just start the personal journey and see where you end up. Anything is better than just seeing the Park from the pavement.
But don’t just trust the pictures. Take my word for it.
The view looking back at Clements and Oberlin is always inspiring. Especially when you see how they overshadow the Parking Lot From Hell (aka Logan Pass). I’m so glad the NPS decided not to expand the lot when it was repaved many years ago. I think every season, we get one step closer to access on the Sun Road shuttle-only.
The Blackfoot Glacier Complex just doesn’t get the attention or recognition that it should. Sure, not as visible when on the blacktop. But I love this area and want to do some exploring in it.
From Mt Logan on the far left to the shoulder of Mt Jackson on the far right, there is still a lot of wild country in that basin for the taking. And bears. Lots and lots of bears. Which can kill you.
I remember when I hiked halfway thru that basin while hiking to Sperry Glacier from Lake McDonald Lodge. A long day with a LOT of gain (almost 5k), but step for step, those last couple of miles are hands down some of the best and most beautiful hiking within the entire Park.
I decided since the day is still young and storms are staying at bay, to change my descent to the ridge that takes me out to Point Allen.
You will remember that for Point Allen, I am in the USGS process to get it officially named. It’s not a complex process, but it does take a while. And I have a while, and then some, left in what I consider a relatively successful and charmed life (at least at this moment in time).
The view back is always spectacular. I also see my route over to Heavy Runner from last year is still choked with snow. That was such a fun climb; I just might have to pencil it in for late August.
But I have dawdled too long. I spent a lot of time up on the summit of Reynolds. I goofed around a lot on Point Allen. Now the temp is coming up and that thunder is getting closer—time to make my way five miles back to the parking lot.
Hidden Lake is still closed to bear activity. It will probably be for half the summer like last year. But there are a couple of high points on Mt. Cannon that might be worth revisiting. If I find enough half-day stuff, I might be able to make an entire day up there.
On the return, I see a family of mountain goats. A mom, a newborn kid, and a year-old sibling. And some stupid tourist must have seen some climbers take off on the climber’s trail and followed them.
Then, like the tourists they are, these people get entirely too close to the foraging goats.
I held back about 100 yards as they were feeding around the climber’s trail. No hurries. The couple came up to me and said how scared they were. But not as bad as when they got next to the buffalo in Yellowstone. Yeah, whatever.
They were ten feet from me and kept talking. I kept quiet and didn’t respond. I just waited for the goats to clear. At one point, the lady said, ‘You aren’t very friendly.’ I smiled.
As with any tour of mine, you’d find I’m one of the friendliest people you will ever meet. I’m just tired of enabling morons. I responded, “Next time don’t stand on their food supply” and went on my way.
But I did so some quick vids from afar.
Approaching the Pass, I get a wonderful sky backdrop against the Garden Wall. All the little sub-alpine firs make me smile. As they struggle to get all of their growth for the year done in just a few short weeks. Then the long long winter sleep once again.
A sea of Glacier Lilies in the alpine meadows in front of Mt Oberlin. All fresh from the newly melted snow. These little minions have maybe another four weeks tops to live. The cycle of life is pretty short up here at 6664+ feet.
And there you go. It was a nice little half-day with enough left to do a load of laundry. And maybe a little hammock time on the covered deck of the cabin if I play my cards right.
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