One of my first climbs and the view made it all worth it! Ascended via the normal route. The grey-sided mountains to the north provide a unique color contrast to most summit views here in Montana. I hope to go back someday soon via the Baker Lake/Gem route.
boisedoc - Aug 31, 2015 12:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2015
last peak of the week
we managed to sneak this in between smoke and some rain showers. Very pretty area. We used the Gem Lake route also described in Cedron Jones Montana Peakbagging book. Very scenic route. The air had cleared enough to see a lot of the Bitterroot peaks. North Trapper looks pretty challenging.
Highpointer1837 - Aug 8, 2015 4:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2013
Standard route
Took the standard route and it was easy and straightforward. Great page.
palblinker - Oct 25, 2014 1:29 am Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2014
Standard Route
First time up. I was kind of disappointed with the approach and then I saw the peak and the view. Absolutely stunning. Definitely plan on a winter summit.
scgrant - Aug 27, 2014 11:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2014
Trapper Peak
Via Baker Lake approach. We had a little trouble finding a good line from Baker Lake to the ridge above. It took a little bushwhacking and scrambling but we finally gained the ridge. Very enjoyable hike the rest of the way to the summit.
jdarr67 - May 2, 2014 6:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2012
South Route
With Alana, Mark and Patti. Loved this peak and the vistas from the summit.
locke456 - Oct 8, 2013 10:50 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2013
Wonderful Summit, Terrible Descent
Route: Trail 133
First thing's first: driving up to the trailhead we found an amazing pull-off about .5 miles before the trailhead proper, where we parked and camped for the night rather than hiking a mile or two in and camping, which had been the original plan. Definitely recommend this as a pre-hike camp spot and the climb itself as a dayhike.
In late June, the snow was really cooperative. That is, there wasn't any until we were on the talus slopes right before the summit, where there was enough snow that we were able to avoid dealing with the boulders entirely and follow old snowshoe prints all the way to the summit. We tagged East Trapper on the way back down, too; definitely do this, it's a surprisingly satisfying little climb and view even after climbing the "main" peak.
Coming back down, we strayed purposely to the left of the established trail, thinking we could descend one of the snow chutes to the lake. Instead, we ended up stuck on cliff ledges for a few hours until the snow had hardened enough for us to climb entirely back out of the chute, traverse back to the main trail, and head home. Dumb decision, but ultimately didn't much dampen the awesomeness of the camping/climbing experience.
Tnarg - Aug 25, 2013 1:59 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2013
Good Times
Climbed with my two brothers-in-law via Baker Lake. The route finding wasn't too bad, we just traveled South from the lake until we found the game/climbers trail up to the ridge crest, then followed the ridge to the summit. The view from the top was outstanding, and we were entertained by a whistling marmot. I'm glad we scrambled from Baker Lake instead of taking the normal trail. Good times!
Couldn't have been a better hike, really smoke due to the wildfires, but we stayed on the top for nearly a 1/2hr and there was absolutely no wind! Definitely should be on every hiker's list in the Bitterroot valley & Missoula!
Peaker - Feb 3, 2013 8:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2012
Standard Trail
A very nice hike with great views but I wish I had taken the Gem Lake Gully route. The trail was a bit crowded.
powderpady - Oct 8, 2012 9:33 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2012
Glorious Fall Day
Warm,amazing weather w/clear, deep blue skies w/some smoke to the West. Moderately steep trail, well used and easy scramble to the Summit. Had views all the way to Austria! No...seriously a real "bird's eye" view across the Bitteroot Mtns. awaits all who venture high. Well worth the effort. Steve fired up his stove on the Summit and cooked a lunch of Ramen&sausage and we shared a cup of Chai tea laced w/honey...how sweet is that @ 10,157 ft.!!! Hiking time from TH-to za Summit-2hrs.45 min.
Nice Views, if i had more time would not have done the standard route.
JLuthanen - Aug 20, 2012 1:15 am Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2012
Smokey
Hiked via the standard route after car camping at the trailhead. Parking lot to summit in 3hrs, steep grade most of the way up (as opposed to standard 10-12% grade, closer to 20%). Big fire in the Selway-Bitteroot wilderness shrouded most long distance views. Summited East Trapper afterwards, and had a snowball fight in mid August - good times
Matt Miller - Jun 22, 2012 9:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2007
One of my best memories from my year in MT
One of the last hikes Leah and I did before leaving beautiful Montana for Colorado. Hiked via the standard route and had the mountain to ourselves. Man, I miss Montana...
distressbark - Oct 4, 2011 8:41 pm Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2011
Gem Lake Gully
Climbed via Gem Lake Gully, descended via Baker Lake Ridge. Fantastic route! Glad we were able to break up what sounds like a rather monotonous trail slog with some fun route finding and scrambling on the Gem Lake Gully Route. Spectacular views from the top... spotted upwards of 10 separate smoke plumes from wildfires in Montana and Idaho.
MTfred19 - Mar 5, 2011 2:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2010
Wildcat - Aug 27, 2016 4:15 pm Date Climbed: May 4, 2016
Gem lake couliorSummitted at 1030 and had Amazing corn skiing all the way from the summit to gem lake, the coulior was really good.
Scott - Nov 19, 2015 1:48 pm
TrapperClimbed after a job interview in Hamilton.
HikesWithDogs - Sep 3, 2015 5:20 pm
One of my first peaksOne of my first climbs and the view made it all worth it! Ascended via the normal route. The grey-sided mountains to the north provide a unique color contrast to most summit views here in Montana. I hope to go back someday soon via the Baker Lake/Gem route.
boisedoc - Aug 31, 2015 12:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2015
last peak of the weekwe managed to sneak this in between smoke and some rain showers. Very pretty area. We used the Gem Lake route also described in Cedron Jones Montana Peakbagging book. Very scenic route. The air had cleared enough to see a lot of the Bitterroot peaks. North Trapper looks pretty challenging.
Highpointer1837 - Aug 8, 2015 4:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2013
Standard routeTook the standard route and it was easy and straightforward. Great page.
palblinker - Oct 25, 2014 1:29 am Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2014
Standard RouteFirst time up. I was kind of disappointed with the approach and then I saw the peak and the view. Absolutely stunning. Definitely plan on a winter summit.
scgrant - Aug 27, 2014 11:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2014
Trapper PeakVia Baker Lake approach. We had a little trouble finding a good line from Baker Lake to the ridge above. It took a little bushwhacking and scrambling but we finally gained the ridge. Very enjoyable hike the rest of the way to the summit.
jdarr67 - May 2, 2014 6:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2012
South RouteWith Alana, Mark and Patti. Loved this peak and the vistas from the summit.
locke456 - Oct 8, 2013 10:50 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2013
Wonderful Summit, Terrible DescentRoute: Trail 133
First thing's first: driving up to the trailhead we found an amazing pull-off about .5 miles before the trailhead proper, where we parked and camped for the night rather than hiking a mile or two in and camping, which had been the original plan. Definitely recommend this as a pre-hike camp spot and the climb itself as a dayhike.
In late June, the snow was really cooperative. That is, there wasn't any until we were on the talus slopes right before the summit, where there was enough snow that we were able to avoid dealing with the boulders entirely and follow old snowshoe prints all the way to the summit. We tagged East Trapper on the way back down, too; definitely do this, it's a surprisingly satisfying little climb and view even after climbing the "main" peak.
Coming back down, we strayed purposely to the left of the established trail, thinking we could descend one of the snow chutes to the lake. Instead, we ended up stuck on cliff ledges for a few hours until the snow had hardened enough for us to climb entirely back out of the chute, traverse back to the main trail, and head home. Dumb decision, but ultimately didn't much dampen the awesomeness of the camping/climbing experience.
Tnarg - Aug 25, 2013 1:59 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2013
Good TimesClimbed with my two brothers-in-law via Baker Lake. The route finding wasn't too bad, we just traveled South from the lake until we found the game/climbers trail up to the ridge crest, then followed the ridge to the summit. The view from the top was outstanding, and we were entertained by a whistling marmot. I'm glad we scrambled from Baker Lake instead of taking the normal trail. Good times!
AMontanan - May 8, 2013 10:28 pm
Smokey, but BeautifulCouldn't have been a better hike, really smoke due to the wildfires, but we stayed on the top for nearly a 1/2hr and there was absolutely no wind! Definitely should be on every hiker's list in the Bitterroot valley & Missoula!
Peaker - Feb 3, 2013 8:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2012
Standard TrailA very nice hike with great views but I wish I had taken the Gem Lake Gully route. The trail was a bit crowded.
awhite28 - Dec 25, 2012 1:54 pm
TrapperRock glacier!
powderpady - Oct 8, 2012 9:33 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2012
Glorious Fall DayWarm,amazing weather w/clear, deep blue skies w/some smoke to the West. Moderately steep trail, well used and easy scramble to the Summit. Had views all the way to Austria! No...seriously a real "bird's eye" view across the Bitteroot Mtns. awaits all who venture high. Well worth the effort. Steve fired up his stove on the Summit and cooked a lunch of Ramen&sausage and we shared a cup of Chai tea laced w/honey...how sweet is that @ 10,157 ft.!!! Hiking time from TH-to za Summit-2hrs.45 min.
BrianChase - Aug 27, 2012 2:54 pm
Mellow hikeNice Views, if i had more time would not have done the standard route.
JLuthanen - Aug 20, 2012 1:15 am Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2012
SmokeyHiked via the standard route after car camping at the trailhead. Parking lot to summit in 3hrs, steep grade most of the way up (as opposed to standard 10-12% grade, closer to 20%). Big fire in the Selway-Bitteroot wilderness shrouded most long distance views. Summited East Trapper afterwards, and had a snowball fight in mid August - good times
Matt Miller - Jun 22, 2012 9:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2007
One of my best memories from my year in MTOne of the last hikes Leah and I did before leaving beautiful Montana for Colorado. Hiked via the standard route and had the mountain to ourselves. Man, I miss Montana...
larch32 - Mar 5, 2012 11:38 pm
Fall color.Beautiful hike.
distressbark - Oct 4, 2011 8:41 pm Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2011
Gem Lake GullyClimbed via Gem Lake Gully, descended via Baker Lake Ridge. Fantastic route! Glad we were able to break up what sounds like a rather monotonous trail slog with some fun route finding and scrambling on the Gem Lake Gully Route. Spectacular views from the top... spotted upwards of 10 separate smoke plumes from wildfires in Montana and Idaho.
MTfred19 - Mar 5, 2011 2:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2010
Trail up east ridge2nd time up the standard route.