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Small mountains near Missoula MT?
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I'm Connor and I just bought my first pair of mountaineering boots, I'm new to the sport and I'm looking for some small mountains near Missoula Montana to practice basic snow travel skills and self arresting. I don't have a partner or anyone to go with. Any recommendations to start? |
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I'd look for a local guiding company that offers an intro into mountaineering course then take that |
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If you are just trying to get into the snow for some practice, any mountain road nearby would probably work well, I would check out Marshall Mountain? If you're trying to actually get in the alpine, I think Lolo Peak is about your closest bet? Maybe Trapper Peak down by Hamilton, or something else in the bitterroots. The Missions/Glacier area has a lot more. Maybe check out Grey Wolf, that's pretty close. Those are not necessarly small mountains though. Heading East towards Bozeman has a ton of stuff too. Each has their own dangers, so definitely do your research regardless. Have fun! |
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Do not boot up Marshall. The ski community will crucify you. The gate to Lolo Peak is closed so you would be looking at ~8 miles of road walking before getting to the trailhead. Join The Rocky Mountaineers (the local mountaineering club) for a few days of instruction before heading out on your own. Take an avy course too. Until then stay out of Glacier. Once spring gets here do some mellow stuff in the Missions. |
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If you just want to hike around in your boots - Mission Falls, East Saint Mary’s (below treeline) blodgett canyon, mill creek. These are pretty impressive and safe options. Anywhere in the missions will require a tribal rec pass. You wont really get proper conditions for practice on self arrest until spring. Cold powder snow and low angles are just not really going to teach you anything. You want packed corn, steep slope, and a safe large apron. Basically anything you would glissade is somewhere you could simulate a very slow slide for self arrest. There are for sure winter conditions that could require self arrest but to get into those environments you should have a partner, maybe some rope, and avy training. |
Cole Lawrencewrote: East side of the Missions is public land... Good advice on conditions to practice self arrest noted above. Ski areas in the spring would be perfect after they close. Lost Trail, Snowbowl... Is Marshall open again? First place I downhill skied in the 70's. We used to hike from any of the popular trailheads in the Bitterroots. Go for a stroll up Bass Creek, or Blodgett, etc. Rattlesnake has some terrain that would work. Actually...literally 360 degrees around Missoula would have options. The Trailhead folks would have some options I'm sure.  |
Brian in SLCwrote: Back when graphic design was beautiful |
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For all future commenters: Connor is a younger, very strong + very kind, crusher. Him and his family contribute a lot to the greater Missoula community. Keep that in mind. Dallin’s advice to join the Rocky Mountaineer is good. I’d also look into Montana mountaineering Association junior mountaineering team for the future. Michael Moore might be willing to take you in. Some of the older staff at Freestone might have his contact information. I think even just a trip up to hyalite to walk around in the hills with a trekking pole would be pretty fun. Good luck, Connor! A lot of the stuff around here is pretty deep and skis can be useful. Send me a private message if you need some help. |
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https://bozemanicefest.com/2023-clinics/beginner-ice-mzh9d Also, this class at the Bozeman ice Fest sounds right up your alley |
