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Snowy-Icy Adventure in Montana early season [ARCHIVE REPORT - no pics]
OK folks another blast from the past - this one coming from the depths. Anaconda Pintler Mountains - western Montana. Kind of a funky range - goes East/West. I had been to this exact spot almost one year earlier to the day.
At that time I had no idea what I was doing. No map. No Google Earth. I was sick of the Bitterroot Mtns and looking for something. Came at the Pintlers from the south. in 2000 I would only reach that Upper Seymour lake. Snow was heavy and it didn't seem wise to even try to trudge up higher.
Its a long approach up this drainage to get to anything.
Fast forward to 2001 snow was on the ground - I was pushing the season - again! But it was noticably not as deep this year
Orange = stopping point in June 2000 - on this big dramatic rock that sticks out into the lake. Red = Kurt Peak
FYI - I would later learn of a MUCH easier approach to this exact area - Storm Lake from the north. Instead of trudging up a boring valley you get right into it!
Action Zone! - The Red Portion here was insane!! You can make out the trail coming up from the lake behind that cloud.
My feet were wet but it was June and i was finally pushing up above treeline in the Pintlers! First part of the ridge was simple enough - but there were these massive snow/ice blocks peeling off the mountain - and for some reason I just would not stop. It was likely very unwise to continue - but dropping along that saddle i was scooching along the rock faces in narrow spaces - massive ice walls to my back. I guess this is likely more TYPE III (?) action? It may not look like much - but given the early season it was F'ing Crazy up there!
So what do you think? Do "archival" trip reports do some good? I would recommend the anaconda/pintlers to anyone in CO - mind you this was like 20 yrs ago but it was empty this weekend!! I mean i was the only car in the parking lot and I didn't see a single person - ever.
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