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Trapper Peak, MT conditions?

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12 years 8 months ago #209932 by Schenk
Trapper Peak, MT conditions? was created by Schenk
Has anyone been up to and seen, or heard about, conditions on Trapper Peak in the Bitterroots?
Or a shop over that way who might know about recent conditions?
Contemplating a trip over there this weekend if the NE couloir is still in (maybe even if it isn't!).
Thanks all.

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12 years 8 months ago #209953 by Schenk
Replied by Schenk on topic Re: Trapper Peak, MT conditions?
Bump...no Montanans out there?
I promise not to poach your lines (I am a Native Montanan anyways...)

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12 years 8 months ago #209995 by ryanb
Replied by ryanb on topic Re: Trapper Peak, MT conditions?
We hiked up to baker lake saturday afternoon (the usual approach for skiing trapper?) and it looked like there was lots of cover above there. Took our skis up saint mary's sunday and there was no snow at the summit but we were able to travers to a bowl with a ~800 foot run so no complaints.

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12 years 8 months ago - 12 years 8 months ago #210006 by Schenk
Replied by Schenk on topic Re: Trapper Peak, MT conditions?
We probably saw your tracks and your packs at Baker lake in the afternoon.
We went up to the summit on Saturday to check out the NE couloir. The couloir seemed to be in OK shape but the entrance was too boney (rocks) and the snow was toooo slushy for us. Also, we weren't certain of the best route to traverse back around to Baker lake and the snow was too soft to make climbing back up the couloir very attractive (we didn't feel like  post holing back up). 
We came up with many not-so-creative rationalizations for not skiing, but mostly we were chicken to drop into the couloir without having been there before and the prospect of a slog back up.
We ran into a couple guys heading up on Sunday to ski it in the early morning. Hope they had a good run! They were locals but I didn't pump them for beta on the return route...my mistake.
Anyway, this is one for next year, but about a month earlier!

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12 years 8 months ago #210011 by ryanb
Replied by ryanb on topic Re: Trapper Peak, MT conditions?
Wait where you the guys camped out at that overlook thing? We were in a honda and stopped to take a picture. We were actually up there scouting rock climbing possibilities but the snow up high convinced us to try ski the next day. It is a low snow year for the Bitterroots but there were definitely some skiable fields west of saint mary's in the heavenly twins area if you are still around (pic www.flickr.com/photos/ryanbressler/90071...et-72157634047039135 )

I haven't skied trapper yet (we just moved out here last fall) but a couple of locals have some bitterroot beta online:

www.backcountryfocus.com/
mt-adventures.blogspot.com/

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12 years 8 months ago - 12 years 8 months ago #210018 by Schenk
Replied by Schenk on topic Re: Trapper Peak, MT conditions?
eeeeee..Yup, that was us.
Nice camp, incredible views for a roadside camp.
You folks were very polite...we were actually a bit surprised when you got out and let us know what you were doing. I hope we didn't act to standoff-ish.
In reality there is another spot for a second group to camp so you were totally good man!

yes, amazing amount of rock in the Bitteroot and so much is climbable. That is rugged country though and many approaches will be harder than the climb itself!
I am sure you have checked out all the canyons further north (Blodgett, Mill, Kootenai, etc...).

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