Brian Jenkins - Aug 4, 2024 1:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2024
Hot, so hot.
No joke about there not being any shade. The lower half to 2/3 of the normal route is a walk through weeds and burned out snags. Started at dawn to try to avoid some of the 90 degree heat and that worked for a bit but I was a sweaty mess by 8 am. Just as I thought this was a crazy idea to do today, down the mountain comes a 75 year old guy running it like it was a jog around the block. I tightened my belt and kept going. Fortunately, shortly after that, I got into some trees and there is a beautiful stream and flowers for a bit. Then it got pleasant and breezy at the top. Great views but only maybe 30 miles. After that the wildfires from Idaho blocked things out. Got down swiftly but that bottom half was still miserable. Never was so glad to sit in car A/C in my life at the trailhead.
droot - Jun 26, 2024 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2024
West ridge by upper Camas lake
Climbed from upper Camas lake. A bit of a bushwhack to get up there to the saddle on the west ridge of Ward
Down by the trail to Ward trailhead. What a slog, I can't imagine going up that way, no shade whatsoever.
mtmtnslayer406 - Feb 24, 2024 11:36 am Date Climbed: Apr 15, 2023
Spring fun!
A good trip up to the summit with snowshoes!
Kruser - Jan 19, 2024 7:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2022
Great workout
Great trail, even better views. Total ass kicker! Car to car in 5 hours.
missoula - May 28, 2022 7:47 am Date Climbed: May 27, 2022
Bitterroot 9ker number 16
A nice hike/snowshoe outing. Put snowshoes on at 6600 feet. Still lots of snow up high.
mikekernan - May 26, 2022 11:59 am Date Climbed: Jan 1, 2022
New Year's Day ski
Started off the new year with a nice ski, car-door-to-car-door up and down Ward. Bluebird day with great views of its neighboring Bitterroots!
Chickenonabun - Jun 21, 2020 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2020
via Camas Lakes
Was an enjoyable route, long section of boulder hopping and scrambling. Went a more straight down route back into the cirque and ended up not saving time because it was steep and loose. This one tired me out pretty good.
ayoncha - Mar 19, 2019 9:04 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2018
Bike & Hike
Biked the first few miles, hiked the rest. Biking back down felt SO GOOD.
Young Royce - Apr 29, 2017 11:21 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2016
Strenuous
Very strenuous one! Especially for the entire thing being trailed to the summit! I'm glad I got to go up there before burned it last season! :/
Wildcat - Feb 14, 2016 10:47 pm Date Climbed: Feb 9, 2016
Great ski day
Had to carry skis for the lower 1.5 miles, but had great views and a calm day up top and good skiing on the way down to make up for the hard work.
apachedino - Jul 13, 2015 1:44 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2015
Larch buds and big skunks
The trail could be a bit steeper down low, nice for bikes I guess. Lots of consolidated snow on top. Nice views, glad I chose to do this on my long drive back to SLC.
MTfred19 - Aug 19, 2014 1:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2014
Southwest ridge from Camas Lakes
It had been a long time since I'd been up Ward Mountain so I decided to head up there again, but this time from a different direction. Camas Lakes are quite beautiful and visiting alpine lakes always helps to make the heat of the summer more tolerable. Plenty o' fish in there, too. From the upper lake it is slightly steep depending on your route up to the ridgeline, and for the rest of the way up the ridge to the summit there is some boulder hoppin' to do, but overall it ain't so bad. And you know about the views. A nice summer day...!
Bob Sihler - Feb 16, 2011 11:45 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2008
Good and bad alike
With thephotohiker, I climbed this peak by the west ridge, and that was a fun scramble. We took the trail down, and it was steep and hot with lots of blowdowns-- not fun at all. I would hate to hike up that trail.
The trail was longer but also less brutal than the bitterroot hiking guidebook describes.
alpinelight - Feb 14, 2010 6:00 pm Date Climbed: Feb 13, 2010
Defeated on snowshoes
Along with friends Erik And Josh, We attempted Ward Mountain by standard east face route. Did not even put snowshoes on till about 6000. Made it over 8000 and found some very nice snow, but ran out of time and legs too. It was wonderful to get that high so early in the year.
Hiked this peak during wildfire season and had to stop frequently to get some oxygen. One of the Bitterroots more demanding standard trail hikes. Lady bugs at the summit were vicious!! Ya... lady bugs can bite!
Brian Jenkins - Aug 4, 2024 1:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2024
Hot, so hot.No joke about there not being any shade. The lower half to 2/3 of the normal route is a walk through weeds and burned out snags. Started at dawn to try to avoid some of the 90 degree heat and that worked for a bit but I was a sweaty mess by 8 am. Just as I thought this was a crazy idea to do today, down the mountain comes a 75 year old guy running it like it was a jog around the block. I tightened my belt and kept going. Fortunately, shortly after that, I got into some trees and there is a beautiful stream and flowers for a bit. Then it got pleasant and breezy at the top. Great views but only maybe 30 miles. After that the wildfires from Idaho blocked things out. Got down swiftly but that bottom half was still miserable. Never was so glad to sit in car A/C in my life at the trailhead.
droot - Jun 26, 2024 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2024
West ridge by upper Camas lakeClimbed from upper Camas lake. A bit of a bushwhack to get up there to the saddle on the west ridge of Ward
Down by the trail to Ward trailhead. What a slog, I can't imagine going up that way, no shade whatsoever.
mtmtnslayer406 - Feb 24, 2024 11:36 am Date Climbed: Apr 15, 2023
Spring fun!A good trip up to the summit with snowshoes!
Kruser - Jan 19, 2024 7:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2022
Great workoutGreat trail, even better views. Total ass kicker! Car to car in 5 hours.
missoula - May 28, 2022 7:47 am Date Climbed: May 27, 2022
Bitterroot 9ker number 16A nice hike/snowshoe outing. Put snowshoes on at 6600 feet. Still lots of snow up high.
mikekernan - May 26, 2022 11:59 am Date Climbed: Jan 1, 2022
New Year's Day skiStarted off the new year with a nice ski, car-door-to-car-door up and down Ward. Bluebird day with great views of its neighboring Bitterroots!
Chickenonabun - Jun 21, 2020 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2020
via Camas LakesWas an enjoyable route, long section of boulder hopping and scrambling. Went a more straight down route back into the cirque and ended up not saving time because it was steep and loose. This one tired me out pretty good.
ayoncha - Mar 19, 2019 9:04 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2018
Bike & HikeBiked the first few miles, hiked the rest. Biking back down felt SO GOOD.
Young Royce - Apr 29, 2017 11:21 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2016
StrenuousVery strenuous one! Especially for the entire thing being trailed to the summit! I'm glad I got to go up there before burned it last season! :/
Wildcat - Feb 14, 2016 10:47 pm Date Climbed: Feb 9, 2016
Great ski dayHad to carry skis for the lower 1.5 miles, but had great views and a calm day up top and good skiing on the way down to make up for the hard work.
apachedino - Jul 13, 2015 1:44 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2015
Larch buds and big skunksThe trail could be a bit steeper down low, nice for bikes I guess. Lots of consolidated snow on top. Nice views, glad I chose to do this on my long drive back to SLC.
MTfred19 - Aug 19, 2014 1:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2014
Southwest ridge from Camas LakesIt had been a long time since I'd been up Ward Mountain so I decided to head up there again, but this time from a different direction. Camas Lakes are quite beautiful and visiting alpine lakes always helps to make the heat of the summer more tolerable. Plenty o' fish in there, too. From the upper lake it is slightly steep depending on your route up to the ridgeline, and for the rest of the way up the ridge to the summit there is some boulder hoppin' to do, but overall it ain't so bad. And you know about the views. A nice summer day...!
MTfred19 - Mar 5, 2011 4:07 pm
Trail up NE ridgeDon't remember the date. September '06?
Bob Sihler - Feb 16, 2011 11:45 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2008
Good and bad alikeWith thephotohiker, I climbed this peak by the west ridge, and that was a fun scramble. We took the trail down, and it was steep and hot with lots of blowdowns-- not fun at all. I would hate to hike up that trail.
Pack Addict - Apr 11, 2010 9:37 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2006
Nice to go in the fallThe south face can be unbearable in the summer, the fall offers some great views of the changing larch trees.
juneauhiker - Feb 26, 2010 6:29 pm
Hot DayThe trail was longer but also less brutal than the bitterroot hiking guidebook describes.
alpinelight - Feb 14, 2010 6:00 pm Date Climbed: Feb 13, 2010
Defeated on snowshoesAlong with friends Erik And Josh, We attempted Ward Mountain by standard east face route. Did not even put snowshoes on till about 6000. Made it over 8000 and found some very nice snow, but ran out of time and legs too. It was wonderful to get that high so early in the year.
montaneer - Sep 13, 2009 11:40 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2007
Smokey JulyHiked this peak during wildfire season and had to stop frequently to get some oxygen. One of the Bitterroots more demanding standard trail hikes. Lady bugs at the summit were vicious!! Ya... lady bugs can bite!
rmick25 - Sep 14, 2009 12:35 am
Re: Smokey Julyevil little creatures they are
Snowy - Jul 31, 2009 2:08 pm
TrailNice views, but a less exciting and fairly strenuous walk to get them. Overall a nice dayhike.