Peakbagging Montana List of 53 Peaks

Showing Duane Gilliland's first ascent dates for climbed peaks

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List Description

Cedron Jones is perhaps the most prolific peakbagger in the history of Montana, with over 1000 ascents of peaks in the state to his credit over many decades of exploring its huge variety of mountains. In 2011 he wrote a new guidebook, Peakbagging Montana, with climbing information for 53 of the most prominent, interesting, and representative peaks in Montana, based on his intimate knowledge of the subject.

This list, while not based on any objective criteria, has several virtues. It does not contain as many relatively flat peaks and "liners" as the Montana county high point list, it has fewer peaks than the daunting 143 on the 2000-foot prominence list for the state, and it has more geographic diversity than the 11,000-foot peak list, which is inordinately focused on the Beartooths.

There are still many stiff challenges on this list, and only skilled scramblers comfortable on Montana's notoriously crumbly rock will be able to complete it. Under ideal weather and route conditions, no peak on this list will require a rope for peakbaggers comfortable with class 3 terrain with occasional bits of class 4. Still, many peaks require multi-day expeditions and solid wilderness skills. The peaks in Glacier National Park and the Beartooths in particular can be difficult.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Cedron Jones and Chris Cauble of Riverbend Publishing for putting together the list and the Peakbagging Montana book.

Links

Selected Guidebook(s) for this List

  Peakbagging Montana (Jones)

Caution: These books feature many of the peaks on this list, but may not have information on all of them.