Trapper Peak – Highest Summit in the Bitterroot Mountains
Trapper Peak, sitting at 10,157 feet, is the highest of the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana. This summit is probably the most well-known mountain in the Bitterroot Mountains, if for no other reason, simply because it has the highest summit.
Dominating Darby, Montana, Trapper Peak is accessed via the West Fork of Bitterroot River, and, in our case, the Baker Lake trailhead. Now, get ready to an ascent as the first section to Baker Point is steep and rocky, but it does level out somewhat until you reach Baker Lake.
Brilliant sun before the heat hitBaker Vista – only 300 feet up, 3000 left to goLupine and beargrassThe beargrass bloom this year is epicApproaching Baker lakeBaker Creek flowing in sheets over graniteMost unique stream crossingBaker Creek leaving the well-named Baker LakeBaker Lake with the “false” summit of Trapper PeakBaker Lake afternoon
Baker Ridge to just below the summit
Just before the lake turn left and cross the creek. There is a steep use trail up the slopes to the ridgetop. From there go west, mostly cross-country in a fairly open forest. Eventually, you will find a faint user trail that leads up to a saddle between the “true” and eastern peak. The trail goes past a small peak of 9928 feet then crosses talus slopes to the top.
Looking up the steep, steep gullyLarch colors even in JulyMade the ridge above the Baker Lake GullyThe start of a series of snow fieldsLooking down our BIG mistake of 2 years agoAlpine Larch (Larix lyallii) on the flanks of Trapper PeakThe living and dead alpine larchFrom snow and ice into streams, and eventually oceans
Pink mountain heather (Phyllodoce empetriformes) in full bloomA swath of moonscape in the lower alpine
The Peak
Jeff crossing yet another snow fieldThe saddle between the false summit (right) and the true summit (left)That is only the false peak…relaxAgility and grace…reallyAlways taking a break, even on top of the Bitteroot Mountain’s highest peakChilling on top of Trapper PeakThe jagged network of peaks, ridges, and deep canyons that are the Bitterroot Mountains from Trapper Peak
