"After the first glass, you see things as you wish they were. After the second, you see things as they are not. Finally, you see things as they really are, which is the most horrible thing in the world."
--Oscar Wilde on Absinthe
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MTfred19 - Aug 5, 2013 11:19 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2013
South Fork Bear CreekGot a head start Friday night and hiked up the South Fork a couple miles to about 5400 feet and camped. The trail is in really god shape until that point. The next mile and a half or so, up to 6100 feet, the trail is harder to follow, but it is still there mostly, and kind of a fun little challenge. From there, it is a steep, brushtastic affair that I would not really recommend unless you are into that kind of thing. Straight south and up, a bit over a thousand feet, to the pretty little unnamed lake north of Totem Peak. Not my favorite type of hiking at all but I was able to remain in good spirits! From there a boulder hike for another thousand feet or so up to the Totem Peak ridgeline. I walked past the Totem, but did not even consider climbing it. Wonder if anyone has? Then summited the south peak and rested for a while. Beautiful views on a nice cool August day. Dropped down to Totem Peak Lake and tried fishing for a few minutes but I don't think there are any fish there. I would have liked to have tried longer but the daunting bushwack on the way down was beckoning. So - up and over the saddle and all the way back down the way I came, including packing up my gear and heading out to the trailhead by headlamp. This trip brought me to a place that gave me probably the most remote feeling that I have had in the Bitterroots. Very beautiful up there, but quite a long and difficult route!
Michael Hoyt - Sep 20, 2009 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2009
Tough MountainI followed neither of Tim's listed routes. Rather I followed the Fred Burr Trail for about 7.25 miles then headed north up to Totem Peak's east ridge-crest. The climb was Class 2 and 3 with a few Class 4 spots close to the crest. By staying just south of the ridge-crest I was able to keep the remainder of the climb at Class 2. During the descent I found a route which never went above Class 3 and was mostly Class 2, that is if you don't count the crappy bushwhacking (Class 4 willows) just before rejoining the trail.
All-in-all, I have to rate this as one of the most strenuous 1-day climbs I've done in the Bitterroots given the long on-trail approach, the crappy bushwhacking, and the large amount of elevation gain over the last mile and a half. Total miles for the day, 18.8.
T Sharp - Nov 18, 2006 5:59 am
Mouse Hole CouloirGreat day with Luke. Fun route on moderate terrain.