Anyone been up Granite Peak, lately?

[leora]

If you have, could you give a quick run down of the conditions (and when they were like that?). We're expecting to go in via Mystic Lake and Froze to Death plateau. Any snow, anywhere, anymore?

 

leora

[dougd]

Have you checked with these guys?

 

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/custergallatin/specialplaces/?cid=stelprd3825895

 

Mid August worked for us back in 2011 but this year... You're in for a treat IMO. Still pretty wild out there.

 

d

[leora]

Thanks - I did contact a couple of ranger stations, and finally got the following information from the ranger station in Red Lodge (and I wound up calling the Beartooth Mountain Guides, and the fellow I talked to was most helpful. Furthermore, our bid for the summit was successful):

 

Because we don’t generally have rangers up that high, I rely on two of our outfitters for up-to-date info. Both outfitters have agreed to answer questions from the public, regardless of if people hire their services or not. They are probably the best people to ask because they are up on the mountain more often than we are and have the professional expertise to say if conditions are safe or not. I’d recommend calling them for current conditions.

 

Beartooth Mountain Guides; Red Lodge: 406-446-1407

Jackson Hole Mountain Guides; Jackson, WY: 307-733-4979

 

---------------

leora

[Bronco]

Nice! How about some photos?

[Ascension]

Any beta on going up the SW Couloir route from Cooke City? I'm heading out there in two weeks and was wondering if I have to carry an ice ax and microspikes on approach.

Edited July 29, 2015 by Ascension

[mthorman]

I went up the SW Couloir last year. We summited on July 30, 2014. We brought 1 pair of crampons between 2 of us and an ice ax a piece. There was a section about 50 feet long in the couloir that had snow but I scrambled around it without much trouble. On the way down we came down the snow because we felt it would be easier than down-climbing the steep 4th class rock to the sides. This year is drier (from what I have heard) and you will be a couple weeks later than we were last year. If you are pretty comfortable scrambling rock I would leave the ice ax and microspikes at home. Good luck, it is a beautiful area!

[zia]

I went up Granite on 29 July 2015 via the SW couloir. No ice axe nor traction was needed. A helmet is a must due to loose rock in the steep narrow couloir though. There was some thin ice in places due to seeping. Two ropes are anchored in the couloir too. Be careful pulling on the ropes, when I did it to the lower rope I dislodged a boulder which almost took me out. The route on Granite and the approach is marked with cairns. Lots of scree/talus, rock hopping and scrambling.

 

Cairns provide a guide for much of the route especially since a trail is mostly nonexistent from Lone Elk lake on. Beyond Lady of the Lakes there are no route markers/signs but a trail is obvious to Lone Elk lake. Cell phone (Verizon) was spotty although I did get service on the summit if I held my phone high. Expect to hop a lot of rocks especially after Rough lake.