Mountaineers Forums

Gilbert Hoffman's recent Hyalite TR reminded me that I've been meaning to post a Hyalite TR myself. I've been to Hyalite 3 times so far this season. Over Thanksgiving with Jiri Richter, the first week of January with Anita Cech, and the first week of February again with Anita Cech. Conditions have been great all season. With a very straight forward long drive to Bozeman it is a viable 4 or 5 day trip. As a 4 day trip, if you want to burn the candle from both ends, you can squeak out 2.5 - 3 days of actual climbing. And there is enough convient top roping and moderate leads for beginner/intermediates.

Here are some photos from our last trip.

Leading "The Scepter"

Approaching "Cleopatra's Needle"

Starting up "Cleo's" 1st pitch

Starting up "Cleo's" 2nd crux pitch

Further up "Cleo's" crux pitch

Looking out of the "Cleo's" 2nd pitch belay cave at "Twin Falls Left"

Anita in the belay cave

Stepping out on lead from the belay cave

Heading up from the belay cave on a short 3rd pitch

Anita happy somehwere in Hyalite Canyon

Me intently studing a route before beginning the climb

jeffstrt:

With a very straight forward long drive to Bozeman it is a viable 4 or 5 day trip. As a 4 day trip, if you want to burn the candle from both ends, you can squeak out 2.5 - 3 days of actual climbing. And there is enough convient top roping and moderate leads for beginner/intermediates.

I'd have to agree with Jeff. Plenty of WI2 and WI3 leads available. We also were able to set up top ropes on some WI5s and M routes. Our group ranged from one person who was on water ice for only the second time to someone who has been climbing water ice for six years and we had no problems finding routes for people to do. We stuck to two travel days and three days of climbing. We considered starting earlier on one travel day and checking out Missoula ice, but opted not to in the end. Also, in the fat conditions we found some routes to be considerably easier than the ratings in the book. (Although Slim Chance somehow became overhanging in fatter conditions...)