A PEAK 8,634'
THIS HIKE IS FOR THE MOST
SEASONED OF SCRAMBLERS
IF YOU HAVEN'T HIKED
THIS KIND OF TERRAIN FOR DECADES.
DO NOT ATTEMPT
A PEAK 8,634'
EVENT TYPE: Long day hike, backpack & scramble
DISTANCE: Trailhead 2446'. To high camp (approx. 3722')5.9 miles one way. Camp site to A Peak summit approx. 1.3.miles one way
ELEVATION GAIN: 6188 verts
DIFFICULTY: Very Difficult, exposure
MAPS: Kooternai National Forest, Snowshoe Peak topo.
RANGER DISTRICT: Libby R.D. 406.293.7773
SANDERS COUNTY SHERIFF: CALL 911 FIRST or 406.827.3584
DISTANCE: Trailhead 2446'. To high camp (approx. 3722')5.9 miles one way. Camp site to A Peak summit approx. 1.3.miles one way
ELEVATION GAIN: 6188 verts
DIFFICULTY: Very Difficult, exposure
MAPS: Kooternai National Forest, Snowshoe Peak topo.
RANGER DISTRICT: Libby R.D. 406.293.7773
SANDERS COUNTY SHERIFF: CALL 911 FIRST or 406.827.3584
DESCRIPTION:
WE HAVE ADDED THE AREAS SHERIFF’S EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS FOR EACH TRIP WRITE UP UNDER THE RANGER DISTRICT INFO. IF AN EMERGENCY OCURRS, EVALUATE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND CALL ONLY IF NEEDED.
The trail to A Peak is in part the Snowshoe Lake Trail #972, on the North Fork of the Bull River. When you get to Trail #972, Verdun Creek, do not go left, but rather stay on a little used unmarked trail to Snowshoe Lake.
At about 3 miles, you will come to a small waterfall on your right. Continue for about 1.5 miles to a horseshoe bend in the trail among trees with little or no undergrowth. At this bend, you will start climbing up a very steep slope on your left for about .5 of a mile, to an area that the summit ridge starts at.
Refer to the 5th and 6th image below.
Where the rock ridge starts, is where you should camp. There is a small water source near there.
In the morning, hike up the rock ridge line that you see that goes to the summit. Ropes aren't necessary, but you may want to carry a 75' length in case you need it.
Up near the summit, the ridge turns to loose rock. BE EXTRA CAREFUL HERE.
It is my opinion that you should not attempt to scramble over to Snowshoe Peak.
IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS ROUTE.
After summiting A Peak, follow your steps back to your camp.
PLEASE REMEMBER..THIS IS GRIZZLY COUNTRY. USE ALL PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR GROUP.
HANG YOUR FOOD BAG AS HIGH IN A TREE AT LEAST 10+ FEET, AND AT LEAST 5 FEET FROM THE TRUNK.
The trail to A Peak is in part the Snowshoe Lake Trail #972, on the North Fork of the Bull River. When you get to Trail #972, Verdun Creek, do not go left, but rather stay on a little used unmarked trail to Snowshoe Lake.
At about 3 miles, you will come to a small waterfall on your right. Continue for about 1.5 miles to a horseshoe bend in the trail among trees with little or no undergrowth. At this bend, you will start climbing up a very steep slope on your left for about .5 of a mile, to an area that the summit ridge starts at.
Refer to the 5th and 6th image below.
Where the rock ridge starts, is where you should camp. There is a small water source near there.
In the morning, hike up the rock ridge line that you see that goes to the summit. Ropes aren't necessary, but you may want to carry a 75' length in case you need it.
Up near the summit, the ridge turns to loose rock. BE EXTRA CAREFUL HERE.
It is my opinion that you should not attempt to scramble over to Snowshoe Peak.
IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS ROUTE.
After summiting A Peak, follow your steps back to your camp.
PLEASE REMEMBER..THIS IS GRIZZLY COUNTRY. USE ALL PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR GROUP.
HANG YOUR FOOD BAG AS HIGH IN A TREE AT LEAST 10+ FEET, AND AT LEAST 5 FEET FROM THE TRUNK.
DIRECTIONS:
From Sandpoint, drive east on HWY 200, to Hwy 56, or milepost 17.in Montana
Drive up Hwy 56 to just pass the Vista, about 1.5 miles to the South Fork Bull River. If you get to Bull Lake, you've gone about 1.4 miles too far.
The signs may state the North Fork Bull River and the South Fork Bull River.
Head east on the South Fork for about 2 miles and turn left (NE) onto the North Fork Bull River Road #2722, to where the road crosses the North Fork Bull River. Just over the bridge is a small parking area on your right.
Trail #972 starts on the east side of the bridge, and heads North East up the North Fork Bull River.
If you were ever up the North Fork Trail, it is different from years ago. The area NE past the bridge washed out, and has been rerouted.
Before you travel there, call the Ranger Station listed above for more details.
Drive up Hwy 56 to just pass the Vista, about 1.5 miles to the South Fork Bull River. If you get to Bull Lake, you've gone about 1.4 miles too far.
The signs may state the North Fork Bull River and the South Fork Bull River.
Head east on the South Fork for about 2 miles and turn left (NE) onto the North Fork Bull River Road #2722, to where the road crosses the North Fork Bull River. Just over the bridge is a small parking area on your right.
Trail #972 starts on the east side of the bridge, and heads North East up the North Fork Bull River.
If you were ever up the North Fork Trail, it is different from years ago. The area NE past the bridge washed out, and has been rerouted.
Before you travel there, call the Ranger Station listed above for more details.
COOL THINGS CLOSE BY:
Bull Lake, Ross Creek Cedars, Engle Peak, St Paul Lake, Cliff Lake & Rock Peaks, Rock Lake, Snowshoe Lake,Little Ibex Lake, the Kootenai Falls, and Dad Peak.
HAZARDS:
EVERY ASPECT OF THIS HIKE/SCRAMBLE CAN BE DANGEROUS. PLEASE USE EVERY PRECAUTION & DO NOT TAKE ANY RISKS.
YOU WILL BE IN GRIZZLY COUTRY, PLAN AHEAD.
YOU WILL BE IN GRIZZLY COUTRY, PLAN AHEAD.
R & P:
Kaiju Bar & Grill in Libby. Henry's, The Shed, and a cool Rosauers in Libby
PHOTO GALLERY
A PEAK, THE POINT IN THE SHADE ON LEFT.
SNOWSHOE PEAK IS IN THE SUN AT MID TOP RIGHT
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
A PEAK & SNOWSHOE PEAK FROM BELOW PINE RIDGE, C.M.W.
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
A PEAK TOP LEFT OF CENTER & SNOWSHOE PEAK FROM SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN RESORT
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
IBEX PEAK FROM A PEAK
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
ALONG THE SNOW LAKE TRAIL,
THIS CORNER IS WHERE YOU ASCEND TO THE A PEAK RIDGE,
AND A PLACE TO CAMP WITH WATER NEAR BY.
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
THE UPPER CAMP IS BY THE FAR END OF THE SNOW PATCHES
THE RIDGE TO THE LEFT OFF THE SNOW PATCHES IS THE ASCENT ROUTE
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
THE UPPER CAMP AREA
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
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THE LOWER SECTION OF THE ROUTE
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
NEARING THE SUMMIT OF A PEAK 8634'
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
FIRST PEEK OF GRANITE LAKE FROM THE SUMMIT
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
GRANITE LAKE FROM THE SUMMIT
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
