Bertha Peak Scramble on 22-Jul-2026

It was a long , challenging day. But we made it.

We set out from the Bertha Lake trailhead just after 9. And trudged up the lake trail first to Bertha Falls.

And then on to the lake where we stopped for a snack break.
It was fairly easy to find the start of the "easier" (non gully) route up to the peak, initially through vegetation.

And later through "rubble".

Around there (and later) we encountered folk from the Glacier Mountaineering Society who are normally active in Glacier Park, Montana. They had nothing but admiration for Alda (who was on the Anderson trip today). It was a long slog and a lot of vertical, so it was around 2 before we got to the summit.

On the way up we started pretty much on the Open Source (All Trails/Gaia) route but partway up missed a lateral to the left and ended up a little to the right of what is probably a better route. On the way down we were largely on the perhaps optimal route but then missed that lateral and again ended up on a sub-optimal route.

When we finally got down to the lake, Teresa insisted that we take break, doff boots and soak our feet. Inge was having none of that and jumped right in.

to be followed by three more.

It is still a long walk back to the trailhead, we weren't finished until after 6.

Roughly 18 km, about 1200m, over 9 hours.

Many thanks to participants: Teresa, Cathy, Kate, and Inge for joining me, Carl, (C/S),