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We are considering a trip to two Montana ultraprominence peaks during Labor Day weekend: Crazy and McDonald Peaks. From a brief look on the route descriptions on summitpost, the combined elevation gain is 10-11k. Very roughly the drive from Denver area would be 9h to the Crazy Peak TH and from there another 4h to the McDonald TH. We would leave mid-afternoon on Friday and comeback either wickedly late on Monday night or early Tuesday morning. If you have interest in long road trips and climbing remote peaks, give us a PM and we can figure out logistics and more closely examine the routes.

Any fresh beta on these peaks would also be appreciated.
Cheers, Doug and Arthur "Spiderman" Harris

McDonald Peak on 8/22/12....

If it wasn't for my exam Tuesday morning, I would SO go on this trip! Ah, well...

Regarding McDonald, are you sure there's legal access from whatever route you're doing? I think I've heard they shut down access every year after July 15 for some length of time because of the grizz.

Regarding McDonald, are you sure there's legal access from whatever route you're doing?

This is correct.

I don't think any of the routes have legal access access this time of year. The entire area around the peak is closed I believe.

Unless things have changed (haven't been there since the 1990's), you can still climb the other peaks in the range outside the immediate vicinity of McDonald.

I would really like to climb these peaks at some point, but have plans for Labor Day weekend.
If you do not end up going, or try McDonald when legal, please post here again.

Thanks for the information about the status of McDonald. We will have to schedule a trip next summer. Anybody game for a Crazy-McDonald-Cleveland trip next July?

Maybe we should try to hit some of the Utah Ultras instead this Labor Day.

Cheers,
Doug and Arthur