Spokane Mountaineers

Publication Year: 1964.

Spokane Mountaineers. Three public film evenings led into 1963’s highly successful climbing school. The culmination of this school was a ceremonial graduation at the summit of Mount Hood, with 29 people in the party. A new club award system recognizes three grades of climbs with distinctive shoulder patches. Climbing this year included many “reverses.” Three valiant attempts on Mount Rainier and Mount Sir Donald failed. Mount St. Helens was climbed not only in July, but also on a warm February day. Mount Macoun above Glacier Circle in the Selkirks was climbed between 6:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. under a full moon. Stimulated by week-end ascents of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan in the northern Cascades, an eager group turned south to climb Mount Shasta, which they accomplished along with the 1700-mile trip drive in four days.

A trip into Washington’s Cashmere Crags via Ingalls Creek succeeded with an ascent of the 7500-foot Turtle by a fourth class route on the south ridge and east face. A new climb for the Club was Trapper Peak (10,131 feet), the highest peak in the Idaho-Montana Bitterroots. In Canada climbs were made in the Bugaboos, and from the summer outing campsite at Glacier, B.C., ascents were made of Mount Tupper, Witch Tower, and Mount Macoun. A four-day foray into the unfrequented Valhalla group whetted interest in Mount Gladsheim and its neighbors.

William C. Fix