Climbing
The great state of Montana boasts 2 national parks, 10 national forests, 12 wilderness areas, and over 16 million acres of public lands to explore. The topography of this great state varies from mountains, canyons, river valleys, forests, grassy plains, badlands, and caverns. Mountaineers can find exciting hikes, multi-day treks, wilderness adventures, and technical rock and ice climbing in Montana. more info
There are three types of mountain climbing. In the easiest, trail climbing, participants merely hike along trails to the top of a particular mountain. The trails generally are not very steep, and the mountains are relatively small. Rock climbing takes place on steeper slopes and larger mountains. Participants generally have to ascend on hands and feet, employing special equipment that may include thick rubber-soled boots or other special shoes, rope, and steel spikes, known as pitons, that are driven into the rock as an aid to climbing. Ice climbing is generally required only on extremely high mountains whose peaks are above the timber line. Equipment used in ice climbing includes the ice axe and attachable boot spikes, known as crampons, that are used on hard ice or snow.
Western Montana is covered with the Rocky Mountains. In the northern part of the state, you will discover Glacier National Park. Glacier alone has over 1,000 miles of trails. In the southern ramparts of the Rockies you will find Yellowstone National Park, and just to the northeast of Yellowstone you will find Montana's tallest mountain, Granite Peak at 12,799 feet. It too has easy routes and even technical routes to the summit. For the real adventurer, many remote areas of the state remain virtually uninvestigated and they're climbing potential unexplored. There is so much climbing, on all levels, to explore and experience in Montana. Recently, several guides for rock climbing and hiking have been published, complete with route descriptions and maps. Guide services are available to lead your Montana climbing and mountaineering adventure.
44FOther pages you might find helpful:
Montana Mountaineering Association
Through affordable classes, the Montana Mountaineering Association strives to share the experience of climbing with as many people as possible.
Summit Post
Research local climbs and mountains from other climber's personal accounts.
