Tumbledown ridge rambling

Upper Tumbledown creek.

Leah and I were able to get out together for a day of running and scrambling during a perfect Labor day trip to the Taylor Fork drainage in the Southern Madisons.  Aside from an abundant population of grumpy grizzlies, I absolutely love this corner of Montana.  We were up at a reasonably early hour, and left a frosty trailhead at 8 am.  The goal was to get on the ridge crest at the Northern edge of the drainage, take it to Koch peak, and cruise the rim of the drainage until we ran out of time.  It was a beautiful morning, and the climb to peak 10,829 was pretty painless aside from a bone chillingly cold ford of Taylor Fork.  It was pretty cool to climb a new peak and get a better look at the wild Indian and No man ridges.  The descent and subsequent climb to the Notch on Koch were fast and fun.

Leah approaching.  Not warmed up yet.

Leah heading for the North ridge of Koch.

The notch took us almost an hour, but we found a way through the loose downclimb into the notch, and then found a chossy but doable 4th class exit.  It was smooth sailing from the ridge crest to the summit.  I was afraid of the next steep ridgeline section, so we took the standard descent down the grassy Southeast face to a small lake in the headwaters before pushing back up to the crest. We then forged a marginal line up the West ridge of peak 10,666, and worked out way down the long and surprisingly slippery descent.

Out of the Notch and relieved.

Leah climbing back to the crest in front of Koch peak.

Heading home.

We were definitely out of time, and made quick work of the exit trail.  What a perfect early fall day.  And a fun zone.  I still need to get back and ski some of the unnamed peaks near Koch with a stable spring snowpack.  Aside from a quick up and back trail run to the Cinnamon mountain lookout, the rest of the weekend was spent relaxing with family and friends.