"Got tight last night on absinthe and did knife tricks. Great success shooting the knife into the piano. The woodworms are so bad and eat hell out of all furniture that you can always claim the woodworms did it."
--Ernest Hemingway
© 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. All Rights Reserved.
missoula - Oct 1, 2024 9:05 am Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2024
highly recommendedInstantly one of my favorite climbs in the missions. A perfect fall day. Tons of bear scat along the trail towards Ridell lakes, which had a lot of downfall over it. Straightforward fourth class climbing down into the "notch," and back up. Spooked a very rotund black bear on the way out. https://youtu.be/HyS44EjXyf4?si=6e96ybD5V69DlDbF
mikekernan - May 26, 2022 11:41 am Date Climbed: Apr 4, 2022
Skiing the West CouloirNot ideal conditions, but managed to climb and ski the West Couloir after earlier in the week asking for a 'personal day' off from work! One of the most amazing backcountry ski lines near Missoula, it's always a treat to crest that initial ridge and get your first view of Gray Wolf.
lapotka - Aug 12, 2018 11:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2018
12 hours of awesomegreat climb, some downfall on the trail to Ridell lakes, its steep and slow going but well worth it
MTfred19 - Sep 17, 2015 4:27 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2015
Gray Wolf TraverseUp the south couloir - down the northeast ridge. What a great day! Perfect weather, fun route!
MTfred19 - Aug 12, 2014 12:06 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2014
Back AgainOne of the best! A classic!
larch32 - Mar 6, 2012 9:14 pm
Perfect DayA nice cool October day in the Missions.
Cetraria - Dec 27, 2011 3:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
NE RidgeWith Dave Prather~
Hiked from the trailhead past Twin Lakes. Paintbrush, heather and dogtooth violets were blooming in the Scenic Lakes Basin. Beauitful smooth rock, snow pockets, and incredible views of the Missions and the Rattlesnake Wilderness from the ridge.
MTfred19 - Mar 5, 2011 4:31 pm Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2010
NE ridge from Scenic LakesCalled in sick and took off up the hill to Riddell Lakes and then on to Scenic Lakes. I actually left my dogs at home this time which is very rare, but necessary once arriving at the notch on the northeast ridge. I found there to be just one or two fairly easy climbing moves getting out of the notch and then easy scrambling to the top. Another excellent Mission Mountains summit!
mtclimber - Jul 24, 2010 5:55 pm
it's calling again...Climbed the south couloir years ago. Plan on trying the NE ridge this summer.
pyerger - Jul 28, 2009 4:46 pm
grey wolfClimbed a couple of times. Great climb
mhimber - Sep 10, 2008 1:58 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2008
lord of the missionsi felt not unlike frodo baggins in the fellowship of T Sharp, thephotohiker, and saintgrizzly questing to mordor on this amazing mountain. fun cliff work. dramatic skies. no orc encounters.
Michael Hoyt - Aug 11, 2008 12:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2008
A Good Day in the MissionsVernon (saintgrizzly) invited me and Meleah (mhimber), another local SPer, along while he and Tim (T Sharp) did a recon of the NE Ridge Route for their lead of a rather large group the following weekend.
The weather was perfect when we began, but soon looked threatening and continued that way all day. Fortunately for us bad weather never materialized allowing us to complete the route.
I especially enjoyed working the easy cliff-bands and rock up the nice long ridge, followed by the "real fun" on both sides of the notch, which was truly a blast. I agree, this is one mountain that climbers should visit if given the chance.
NoSubas - Feb 24, 2008 11:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2003
One of my favorites!First time I climbed was by the south couloir. Steep snow to the false summit, hairy descent. I've since climbed the south again, the east couloir, and the one I am most proud of from the No Fish Lake side, the West Couloir in May 2004 with Seth Q. This was excellent snow/ice climbing for 2000 feet! Probably my favorite peak of all I have climbed. I have descended the NE ridge, the south couloir, and the east couloir.
aintlifegrand - Mar 23, 2007 6:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2004
From st mary lakeThis route was a fun 4 th class scrample, Im not sure if it is the same route everyone here is talking about, we came from E St Mary peak to the base of the couliour by no fish lake? I think that is the name of the lake, anyways. This side looks like an awesome winter climb.
fieldbio - Sep 13, 2006 3:46 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2006
Awesome peak!Also my B-day climb! We took the NE ridge - there were a couple of sketchy moves and airy ledges...
Fred Spicker - Sep 11, 2006 8:21 am
East Ridge / Upper North FaceClimbed August 26, 1968 with Bill Bishop. This was the first recorded ascent of the peak for two years. I understand that the mountain gets more attention now.
From near the notch at the base of the NE Ridge, we traversed on to the North Face and climbed its upper part to the summit.
Saintgrizzly - Sep 11, 2006 5:00 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2006
This mountain rocks...!Climbed the NE Ridge, which is approached via the Scenic Lakes Basin, and this mountain immediately goes to the top of my "favorite climbs" list! I did it (a day late, but it doesn't matter) to celebrate my 60th (AAAARGH!) birthday, and it couldn't have been better. Great climbing partner in fellow SPer Tim Sharp (Thanks, Tim!), weather made to order, ripe huckleberries coming and going (now THAT is trail time well spent!), and...me-oh-my, oh what a mountain! Gray Wolf, to me, is one of the great ones.
T Sharp - Sep 10, 2006 5:29 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2006
Great DayA really fun climb with saintgrizzly. Beautiful cloudless day, and not too hot! Wonderful peak with two interesting steps up out of a very steep notch.