Clearwater County Highpoint Trip Report
Rhodes Peak (7,930 feet)
Date: August 18, 2008
Author: Adam Helman
This effort is part of a
larger journey
collecting Montana and Idaho county highpoints in August 2008.
Forest road FR569 starts near Logical MM (mile marker) 162 on US Route 12;
in turn 12 miles from Lolo Pass at the Idaho/Montana boundary.
There are fully 27 dirt miles to the top of Blacklead Mountain starting from this point;
much being narrow with steep drop-offs; allow two hours one-way.
It is NOT an enjoyable experience; and I consider this round-trip drive
a major "negative" of doing this county highpoint.
The final 0.9 mile (beyond the obvious saddle) is not passenger car suitable.
High clearance mandatory and it is rocky.
Four wheeled vehicles are no longer allowed to park at the saddle north of Blacklead Mountain.
One must park (as I did) atop the summit, so making for an extra one mile hiking round-trip.
The total elevation gain is 3,200 feet from the carpark atop Blacklead Mountain:
* 6,500 to 7,400 feet on ascent;
* 7,000 to 7,900 feet on ascent; (these total 1,800 feet)
* 7,000 to 7,400 feet on descent;
* 6,500 to 7,350 feet on descent; (these total 1,250 feet)
* 2 x 75 feet along the trail (150 feet).
A prescribed burn was in-progress, and I was just barely allowed to be there
since at the saddle the road was blocked westbound but open eastbound (towards Blacklead Mountain).
I arrived about 6 p.m. and was able to enjoy supper well before sundown since
the smoke of the burn, only perhaps 1 1/2 air miles distant, largely hid the sun -
turning it a fascinating orange and even red at times. This cooled the area
to an extent that eating hot food was not problematic. That written, I believe
that I enjoyed a cold meal anyway.
On return from the summit, and as I rounded the saddle just south of Williams Peak,
I saw a helicopter land right next to my vehicle. This was alarming, and I began to conjure
fantastic thoughts of what was wrong.
- Was the Forest closed this morning (on account of a real fire threat),
and I was being cited $5,000 for being there?
- Was the Forest closed and I was going to receive an escort out so that
my vehicle exhaust would not be problematic?
- Was the Forest closed and my vehicle was going to be airlifted out?
- Was the Forest closed and I'd be informed that my vehicle must remain
until the all-clear is issued? I could not imagine spending perhaps
the entire winter without my pickup truck.... who would reimburse me?
Well, I really rushed back to Blacklead Mountain despite the day's heat. On arrival I found
the summit to be a staging area for firefighters to discuss the prescribed burn
and make contingency plans. No worries - even talked to the chief describing my
reasons for being there.
Some WGS84 coordinates -
Blacklead Mountain (46.63974° N, 114.85104° W) at 7,353 feet
begin trail at saddle (46.64632° N, 114.84789° W) at 7,108 feet
saddle south of Williams Peak (46.65240° N, 114.80154° W) at 7,424 feet
saddle immediately south of Rhodes Peak (46.66869° N, 114.78134° W) at 7,329 feet
Car to summit consumed 3 hours 11 minutes.
Saddle trailhead to summit consumed 2 hours 59 minutes.
Summit to car consumed 2 hours 58 minutes.
Car to car consumed 6 hours 37 minutes,
with the actual travel time 2 hours 45 minutes
for both the ascent and descent.