Powell County High Point Trip Report

Mount Powell (10,168 ft)

Date: July 18, 2003
Author: Tim Worth

Approach was from the Dempsey Creek valley. Southwest of Deerlodge I found Dempsey Ceek Road (Road 11 on Delorme) and located a Forest Service access road (Road 32 which turns into FS 670). It is 7.7 miles from the start of the access road to a small parking lot, with a 4WD road continuing up the valley. Ditched the passenger car at 6300 feet. Hiked about 4.5 miles up the valley, passing Bohn Lake, then Lower Elliot Lake. Proceeded to bushwhack up to the southeast end of Upper Elliot Lake, then went directly east up some very steep boulders and broken cliffs to about 9000 feet where I gained the plateau. From here its a grunt up 1100 feet to the top. There was a metal register box and USGS BM "Powell 1905". Some serious drop-offs to the east towards Deer Lodge Mountain.

To avoid down-climbing the steep section near Upper Elliot Lake, I went south-southwest down the expansive, gradually sloping plateau towards spot elevation 8708. Then I went directly into the Dempsey Creek valley (brushy and miserable) and ended up near spot elevation 7256. Finally I returned to the car and Deer Lodge to chow down in a most gluttonous fashion.