Cha-paa-qn summit

Lolo National Forest, Montana

The first day of summer and almost cloudless blue sky. Time for a trip up one of the many summits on the Missoula skyline. I headed for a mountain with many names, most of them confusing because the state required the elimination of squaw from any place names in the state because it is a derogatory name. The mountain was known as Sleeping Woman for a time before the Forest Service and the Salish tribe settled on Cha-paa-qn. It means treeless or shining peak in the native Salish language.

The approach trail is in good shape, although it climbs quickly through the trees. It is well maintained and makes a good approach trail. I enjoy the walk through the trees although I have heard others complain because there is no view.

Anywhere from 2 1/2 to 3 miles in you have to get off the trail and just go up. Just as I left the trail this doe walked up to me. Then she just kept on feeding along.

This was the way up I chose. I followed this rock pile because I heard pika warning coming from it. I only had one fleeting glimpse of one pika, but there were lots of warning calls coming from different areas in the rocks.

These are the last trees on the way to the summit. Then it's a rock scramble to the top.

Views from up on top are wonderful. Many different ranges depending on which way you look. The snow line is climbing up the peaks quickly. Looks like the Bitterroot range has the most snow left.

I found the USGS survey marker from 1935. I was surprised it hasn't been changed out yet with the new name for the peak.

I came down the east ridge to take advantage of the snow that was left. A little standup foot skiing made part of the trip go quickly and was fun to boot. Looking back up towards the summit the sky was a deep blue. Angle of the sun must have been just right to make such a contrast with the snow and rock. Eventually I did have to come down the rocks to the tree line. I mostly shortcutted through the forest to get back to the trailhead. It is always more interesting, and I never know what I will see.