Kakashe and Flattop: Mission Mountains

A few Mission giants, looking north from Flattop: Calowahcan (back), Sheep's Head, and McDonald. 

I was just talking to a friend recently about how this has been one of the nicest fall seasons, in terms of weather, in recent memory. He made the point that he didn't think it had frozen in the Missoula Valley yet, which is unheard of this time of year. The weather has, indeed, been fantastic, and the high country remains open (though I did see snow on Lolo Peak this morning), which is also quite unusual this time of year. And so my mind still wanders to the big peaks on my list that require (at least for me) dry conditions and that I had hoped to climb this year. I must admit that there's a part of me that is looking forward to winter and a hunkering down. I can feel that it's near. Perhaps I'll get in one more challenging one though...

A week or two ago, I climbed Kakashe and Flattop in the Missions. As you come over the pass into St. Ignatius and see the always stunning view of the western front of the Missions, Flattop is the obvious flat topped summit just ahead, and Kakashe is the next peak south along the ridge. To climb them, you go to Mission Reservoir and continue on beyond to the Mission Falls trailhead, or just before it. The goal is to gain the ridge just to the north, which you then follow to the summit. There's a good trail there, but it's the most slowly switch backing trail I've ever seen, so I didn't stay on it long. Once to the top of the ridge, you have to traverse east to the south face of Kakashe, where there is, perhaps, some class 3 climbing, but nothing too difficult. The walk over to Flattop from Kakashe is straightforward, and since it's the higher of the two, you've got to do it if you've reached Kakashe. For my GPS route, click here.

On the map, this looks like it might be a relatively straightforward climb, and it is in terms of the route, but it's a real butt kicker. Jen said I looked green when I got home, but I was just totally spent having had banged it out 'quick'.

On the way up, looking at the final traverse and climb up to Kakashe.

The Garden Wall from Kakashe.

Western views from Kakashe.

South from Kakashe: Sonielem Ridge Highpoint and East and West St. Marrys. 

Flattop and McDonald from Kakashe.

Looking back at Kakashe on the way to Flattop.

Sheep's Head and McDonald from Tlattop.

Sheep's Head and Calowahcan in the back.

On the way down, a view of Mountaineer Peak.

Sonielem Highpoint again, calling to me.

Looking back at, from left to right, Flattop, Kakashe, the Garden Wall, and Sonielem Highpoint. 

Flattop and Kakashe from the Mission Valley.