Granite Peak (Montana)
Granite Peak is often considered the second most difficult state high point to climb after Denali in Alaska, due to technical climbing, poor weather, and route finding. Granite Peak's first ascent was made by Elers Koch, James C. Whitham, and R.T. Ferguson on August 29, 1923, after several failed attempts by others. It was the last of the state high points to be climbed. Today, climbers typically spend two or three days ascending the peak, stopping over on the Froze-to-Death Plateau, although some climbers choose to ascend the peak in a single day. Another route that has gained popularity in recent years is the Southwest Couloir route, a non-technical route from the south starting near Cooke City; climbers generally take two days to complete it.
Climate
| Climate data for Granite Peak 45.1650 N, 109.8158 W, Elevation: 12,192 ft (3,716 m) (1991–2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 17.8 (−7.9) |
16.9 (−8.4) |
21.7 (−5.7) |
27.2 (−2.7) |
36.5 (2.5) |
46.3 (7.9) |
56.6 (13.7) |
56.0 (13.3) |
47.1 (8.4) |
34.2 (1.2) |
23.0 (−5.0) |
17.0 (−8.3) |
33.4 (0.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 8.5 (−13.1) |
6.8 (−14.0) |
10.9 (−11.7) |
15.6 (−9.1) |
24.4 (−4.2) |
33.5 (0.8) |
42.5 (5.8) |
42.0 (5.6) |
33.9 (1.1) |
22.8 (−5.1) |
13.8 (−10.1) |
8.1 (−13.3) |
21.9 (−5.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −0.8 (−18.2) |
−3.4 (−19.7) |
0.2 (−17.7) |
4.0 (−15.6) |
12.2 (−11.0) |
20.7 (−6.3) |
28.4 (−2.0) |
27.9 (−2.3) |
20.7 (−6.3) |
11.5 (−11.4) |
4.6 (−15.2) |
−0.9 (−18.3) |
10.4 (−12.0) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 6.87 (174) |
6.61 (168) |
6.59 (167) |
6.24 (158) |
5.44 (138) |
4.55 (116) |
3.23 (82) |
2.68 (68) |
2.88 (73) |
4.53 (115) |
6.52 (166) |
7.50 (191) |
63.64 (1,616) |
| Source: PRISM Climate Group | |||||||||||||
