On friday a group of us drove up into pine creek. The road was a little snow covered and rutted from just before the camp to the campground. We were able to drive all the way to the camp ground in a Subaru Outback with a little dragging. We climbed at Blue and Green Gully. The ice was in good shape after you got past the huge plates on the surface. The snow up to the climbs was firm enough to walk on with post holing too much. Both of the chutes above the climbs showed signs of recent avalanches but with the lack of sun, cold temps and firm snow we weren't too concerned about them sliding again. We also made our way up to Pine Creek Falls. The bottom pitch was good but the upper one looked as if it had fallen and was reforming. I scrambled around on it a bit but it wouldn't have been possible to top out without getting really wet and climbing over some scary cauliflowered and very wet ice. By the time we returned to the Parking Lot a lot of the new snow had melted making the drive out even better. Happy climbing and until next season.
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Pine Creek Falls
We went up to Pine Creek Falls this morning, and the lower right ice is still in good all the way to its top. The second (higher) pine creek falls is broken out with a major amount of water bursting out the center. Maybe with a couple cold days you could climb up the sides, but I'd say this one is out for the season.
From across the way we could see the blue or green gully, not sure which one, but it looked as if it was in way fat, good for another few weeks.
The road was dry up to about 1/2 mile from the campground, but the ruts were decent enough for my Pathfinder to follow. Be careful the further you go, it turns to a bit of mud and huge roller coaster bumps near the campground.
Blue & Green Gullies
Went up to the Blue and Green gullies yesterday, both are still in but getting wet and will probably be out soon. The snow bridge used to cross the creek will be gone in the next couple days. Still a good climb if you can get out there really soon. The road is fine, any vehicle can make it all the way to the campground and trailhead.
Was climbing green when blue
Was climbing green when blue avalanched. Green had avalanched before we got there.
War Paint - Still in?
I went up and climbed the left Y gully of Black Mountain a few days go, and despite the warm weather in Bozeman, I was incredibly surprised to see ice in the War Paint area. It was from across the valley, but it looks as if there is still some ice up in that area. I would guess that its thin, fragile, and about to fall apart, but if you're feeling adventurous, check it out.
Every couloir on the NW and the E/SE ridges of Black Mountain are corniced, with the exception of the Y gullies. This is a great snow climb, make sure you go early tho as there is evidence of many, many point-releases, some the size of a car wheel.