Golden Valley County High Point Trip Report
Big Snowy Benchmark (46 deg 45.085 min N, 109 deg 18.823 min W) - datum WGS84
USGS elevation 8,640+ ft (GPS elevation 8,654 ft)
Date: July 11, 2001
Author: Jerry Brekhus
We parked where a jeep trail leaves Red Hill Road about 27 miles from the Fergus County Courthouse,
Lewistown. With a 4x4, adventurous drivers may choose to proceed on the jeep trail until rocks are
encountered that cannot be cleared or vehicle travel becomes slower than hiking.
We hiked on the jeep trail for 6.5 miles to Big Snowy Mountain as marked by Big Snowy benchmark. This
mountain is officially named Old Baldy on the quad map. The summit area is a treeless plateau with a visible
knoll at the benchmark and highest point. On our way we circled a few hundred yards to the south and
came up the ridge line to assure crossing the Golden Valley highpoint. On a nearly level part of the ridge
line and at the edge where the terrain drops steeply to Half Moon Pass, there is a cairn which seems to
represent the Golden Valley high point (perhaps placed there by Bob Packard?). It is less than 100 yards
along the crest from the summit to the county line.
With a hand level, I judged Greathouse Peak to be higher, but very close to the same elevation as
Big Snowy (Old Baldy).
Trip Statistics: Hiking time 6.25 hours; round trip distance 13 miles; (Avocet watch) elevation gain 3,030 ft