Took the south side from the last saddle on the east ridge, awesome day.
mtmtnslayer406 - Feb 24, 2024 10:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2023
Great Day!
Second time on St. Joe, this time as part of a 28.5 mile traverse that ended at the Kootenai Creek TH!
droot - Jul 5, 2023 10:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2023
Part of the Joe traverse
Looped from Bass Lake down the little St Joe trail, hitting all three (Stormy, St Joe, lil' St Joe) along the ridge. Made for a hard day, lots of class 3, with some decent exposure at times.
Went fast and light, got to the summit in just under three hours. Used the East ridge gully to access the summit, SE gully to exit. Gully has two "moves" that are sketchy 4th class, but otherwise straightforward. Super windy, hot, smoky. Thank goodness for that small creek to have water in it even in September!
I'd convinced myself on a previous hike that the connecting ridge between Little St. Joe and St. Joe looked quick - "probably runnable" is how I put it to my friend. Turns out that smooth section is just a blip on the radar. We took the E Ridge up and had to climb some stout 4th class to avoid the snow-choked gully (no ice axes). The move at the top of the gully definitely got my attention, but it didn't feel unreasonable. We opted to descend the SE ridge before dropping a few hundred feet into a bowl and then climbing back up to the connecting ridge.
lldeboer - Jun 24, 2019 3:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2019
Wonderful and long day. Very glad I read the helpful comments from others on this log beforehand. Not comfortable past class 3, so followed M. Hoyt's rec and dropped down to about 9,000 feet after clearing the connecting ridge. Crossed the NE bowl at that elevation to a nice class 3 path up a gully towards the far end of bowl. This gully climbs up through a goalpost-like set of rock towers at approx N46.60123° W114.25299°, exits right near the summit (will post a picture). Glad I saved majority of my water for the return trip.
Peaker - Jul 31, 2018 7:20 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2018
Saint Joseph
Bypassed the cliffs on the east ridge with the gully on the south face, nice outing overall
Young Royce - Apr 29, 2017 11:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2016
Late day summit
Traversed the skree and class 4(~) scramble to summit on Northeast side, summited about 5PM (its a lot farther from little joe than it looks.) Descended southeast shoulder and back to the car by Dark.
It had been awhile, so - back again 9 years later! Great hike, beautiful day! East ridge from Little St. Joe, but we always cross the southeast bowl to get on the south ridge to the summit. Really nice, and not too tough of a day.
Wildcat - Dec 13, 2014 11:32 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2014
Great
Solo from little St.joe. I climbed west through the lower cliff bands and climbed up the loose sand and rock of the N.E. bowl to the top.
T Sharp - Jul 14, 2014 9:07 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2014
Nice Climb!
Summited with the GMS on a very hot day! Everyone had a great time, and many routes were taken on the summit block, I traversed on steep snow to the light band of granite and had an easy 3rd class scramble to the summit. Some went a 4th class route higher on the traverse, and one fellow took a mid 5th class free solo route from the first deep notch! A long day, but very worthy!
MTfred19 - Mar 5, 2011 3:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2007
SE ridge from Little St. Joe
A very hot, smoky fall day. My buddy Adam and I had talked about doing the ridge traverse after seeing the route from Little St. Joe on a previous hike. Had fun boosting the dogs up through the notch in one of the gendarmes on the east ridge. Adam built a huge cairn on the summit, as he is prone to do. I don't think I brought enough water for myself and the dogs on this extremely hot day!
Nice direct route from a camp near Bass creek. Wish I'd brought skis instead of snowshoes, but this is very steep to get onto the ridge top with skis. Nice weather until top (white-out). From summit, I decended into a great ski drainage to the east of this ridge. A normal winter snow would make this loop route an excellent ski trip.
We did this unroped and it was a bit nerve wracking, especially on the descent. Fortunately we had grippy shoes. I recommend a rope for this route if you don't want to do a short free solo. Good views and some very fun scrambling though. Also there is a rock formation on the ridge between St Joe and Little St Joe that looks like Scrat from the movie Ice Age.
montaneer - Sep 13, 2009 11:46 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2003
Sunrise
A great hike with a good friend. The trail is easy to follow as is most Bitterroot summit hikes. Great weather and awesome Bitterroot views!!
rmick25 - Aug 31, 2009 1:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2003
Night hike
Another great night hike! Doesn't get much better than sunrise over the Bitterroots
alpine climber - Jul 14, 2008 10:56 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2008
12th summit in 6 weeks
Been up here plenty of times for skiing, but this was the first time in the summer. Nothing technical, still a good day out though. The trail seems more steep without skis...
Another nice Bitterroot spring climb. Bluebird day. Good partners.
montanaboy - Nov 8, 2007 12:44 am Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2004
Bass Creek Trail
The longest route possible, a very windy day, a little on the cool side, a touch of a headache. All the things needed to leave a lasting impression by this Bitterroot big boy.
Kruser - Sep 24, 2024 9:14 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2024
Big joeTook the south side from the last saddle on the east ridge, awesome day.
mtmtnslayer406 - Feb 24, 2024 10:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2023
Great Day!Second time on St. Joe, this time as part of a 28.5 mile traverse that ended at the Kootenai Creek TH!
droot - Jul 5, 2023 10:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2023
Part of the Joe traverseLooped from Bass Lake down the little St Joe trail, hitting all three (Stormy, St Joe, lil' St Joe) along the ridge. Made for a hard day, lots of class 3, with some decent exposure at times.
missoula - Sep 5, 2020 4:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2020
number 9/35 bitterroot 9kersWent fast and light, got to the summit in just under three hours. Used the East ridge gully to access the summit, SE gully to exit. Gully has two "moves" that are sketchy 4th class, but otherwise straightforward. Super windy, hot, smoky. Thank goodness for that small creek to have water in it even in September!
larch32 - Jul 11, 2019 5:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2019
Longer day than expected!I'd convinced myself on a previous hike that the connecting ridge between Little St. Joe and St. Joe looked quick - "probably runnable" is how I put it to my friend. Turns out that smooth section is just a blip on the radar. We took the E Ridge up and had to climb some stout 4th class to avoid the snow-choked gully (no ice axes). The move at the top of the gully definitely got my attention, but it didn't feel unreasonable. We opted to descend the SE ridge before dropping a few hundred feet into a bowl and then climbing back up to the connecting ridge.
lldeboer - Jun 24, 2019 3:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2019
East Ridge GullyLittle farther than it looks
C.Dominic - Sep 7, 2018 8:05 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2018
Very enjoyable scrambleWonderful and long day. Very glad I read the helpful comments from others on this log beforehand. Not comfortable past class 3, so followed M. Hoyt's rec and dropped down to about 9,000 feet after clearing the connecting ridge. Crossed the NE bowl at that elevation to a nice class 3 path up a gully towards the far end of bowl. This gully climbs up through a goalpost-like set of rock towers at approx N46.60123° W114.25299°, exits right near the summit (will post a picture). Glad I saved majority of my water for the return trip.
Peaker - Jul 31, 2018 7:20 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2018
Saint JosephBypassed the cliffs on the east ridge with the gully on the south face, nice outing overall
Young Royce - Apr 29, 2017 11:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2016
Late day summitTraversed the skree and class 4(~) scramble to summit on Northeast side, summited about 5PM (its a lot farther from little joe than it looks.) Descended southeast shoulder and back to the car by Dark.
MTfred19 - Sep 26, 2016 12:25 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2016
Big St. JoeIt had been awhile, so - back again 9 years later! Great hike, beautiful day! East ridge from Little St. Joe, but we always cross the southeast bowl to get on the south ridge to the summit. Really nice, and not too tough of a day.
Wildcat - Dec 13, 2014 11:32 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2014
GreatSolo from little St.joe. I climbed west through the lower cliff bands and climbed up the loose sand and rock of the N.E. bowl to the top.
T Sharp - Jul 14, 2014 9:07 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2014
Nice Climb!Summited with the GMS on a very hot day! Everyone had a great time, and many routes were taken on the summit block, I traversed on steep snow to the light band of granite and had an easy 3rd class scramble to the summit. Some went a 4th class route higher on the traverse, and one fellow took a mid 5th class free solo route from the first deep notch! A long day, but very worthy!
MTfred19 - Mar 5, 2011 3:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2007
SE ridge from Little St. JoeA very hot, smoky fall day. My buddy Adam and I had talked about doing the ridge traverse after seeing the route from Little St. Joe on a previous hike. Had fun boosting the dogs up through the notch in one of the gendarmes on the east ridge. Adam built a huge cairn on the summit, as he is prone to do. I don't think I brought enough water for myself and the dogs on this extremely hot day!
highice - Mar 17, 2010 10:54 am
solo winter, se ridgeNice direct route from a camp near Bass creek. Wish I'd brought skis instead of snowshoes, but this is very steep to get onto the ridge top with skis. Nice weather until top (white-out). From summit, I decended into a great ski drainage to the east of this ridge. A normal winter snow would make this loop route an excellent ski trip.
juneauhiker - Feb 26, 2010 6:14 pm
East Ridge GullyWe did this unroped and it was a bit nerve wracking, especially on the descent. Fortunately we had grippy shoes. I recommend a rope for this route if you don't want to do a short free solo. Good views and some very fun scrambling though. Also there is a rock formation on the ridge between St Joe and Little St Joe that looks like Scrat from the movie Ice Age.
montaneer - Sep 13, 2009 11:46 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2003
SunriseA great hike with a good friend. The trail is easy to follow as is most Bitterroot summit hikes. Great weather and awesome Bitterroot views!!
rmick25 - Aug 31, 2009 1:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2003
Night hikeAnother great night hike! Doesn't get much better than sunrise over the Bitterroots
alpine climber - Jul 14, 2008 10:56 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2008
12th summit in 6 weeksBeen up here plenty of times for skiing, but this was the first time in the summer. Nothing technical, still a good day out though. The trail seems more steep without skis...
mtn ear - Apr 18, 2008 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Apr 29, 2006
Nice Spring ClimbAnother nice Bitterroot spring climb. Bluebird day. Good partners.
montanaboy - Nov 8, 2007 12:44 am Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2004
Bass Creek TrailThe longest route possible, a very windy day, a little on the cool side, a touch of a headache. All the things needed to leave a lasting impression by this Bitterroot big boy.