Hill County Highpoint Trip Report
Date: June 29, 2006
Author: anonymous
This effort was part of a larger journey
collecting Idaho, Montana, and Washington county highpoints in late June and early July 2006.
I would not be denied this summit, one with over 4,000 feet of prominence,
because some Indians consider it to be sacred:
It is also "sacred" to me as a county highpoint!!
A previous highpointer, one B.P, chose to climb from the west.
With views of Baldy Mountain from several angles, I decided that climbing the eastern slopes,
and especially the prominent, northeast ridge, would offer a lower mean gradient.
Thus, coming from Havre and at this
road junction,
I traveled left (southeast) in search of a good starting point
for dawn the next morning. I located an obscure road leading south from the main road at this
road junction;
and parked my vehicle at an abandoned campsite about 50 yards down the road before it
became impassible by vehicle due to mud.
Walk the 4WD road until just east of the base of the northeast ridge.
Depart the road for the ridge
approximately here.
Climb the northeast ridge. Immediately before the summit are brightly colored cloths
adorning the conifers - the trappings of an Indian campsite.
The true summit is bare of trees. For an extended visit consider hunkering down
in the nearby trees just 100 yards east - I did.