North Canyon Peak and Sheer Point, Bitterroot Wilderness

Kevin Joyce with Canyon Peak behind.

One of the parts of my job that I enjoy most is having PhD students. My current student is Kevin Joyce, and we have a lot in common; for one, we're both from Butte, which is a brotherhood of sorts. Kevin is also a great guy and is fun to spend time with. Last weekend, we spent Sunday hiking/climbing North Canyon Peak in the Bitterroots. North Canyon Peak is the little brother of Canyon Peak, one of the classic peak bagging climbs in the Bitterroots, but which is technical, requiring ropes to climb. North Canyon Peak, on the other hand, is straightforward, with only a bit of class 3 climbing at the summit. Michael Hoyt's, Bitterroot Mountain Summits proved an excellent guide along the way. After climbing North Canyon, we walked and scrambled the connecting ridge east to Sheer Point and then continued along the ridge back to where we had left my dog Pudge. All along we talked, about math and many other things. It was an outstanding day -- I hope the first of many peak bagging outings with Kevin.

Looking back down Canyon Creek toward the Bitterroot Valley.

Canyon Peak and Kevin.

Canyon Peak again. The standard route is up the north ridge you see on the skyline.

Kevin coming up to the summit of North Canyon Peak. Canyon Peak is in the background.

On the summit looking south, with Canyon Peak in the background.

On the summit looking north.

Sheer Point from North Canyon. This is where we went next.

The mighty Bitterroots looking west into Idaho.

Kevin walking the ridge down from North Canyon toward Sheer Point.

Kevin near the Sheer Point summit.

Walking the ridge beyond Sheer Point.