Split the Uprights

Split the Uprights – the Flathead Valley’s longest route (outside Glacier)! All bolts!

S.T.U. is well-bolted, well-scrubbed, and is a great/safe lead if you’re trying to push your grade a little higher off the ground than you’re used to in NWMT.

The route begins to go into the shade at 10:30 and goes into full shade by 1.

Pitch it out, combine pitches, or, with a 70, a lot of alpine draws, and about 30 ft. of easy simuling, do it as one mega pitch. (An 80 may reach without any simul climbing.)

P1, 5.7: Follow bolts up the slab ramp to a good ledge, 90 ft., eight bolts.

P2, 10.a: A sustained pitch up the steep face, 75 ft., 11 bolts. 

P3, two options: 

Right Post, 10.a/b: Climb up and right through progressively harder climbing and short, well-protected crux sequences; finish on a mellow slab ramp to the apex of the wall, 70 ft., 11 bolts. Several alpine draws can be helpful on this pitch but aren't necessary.

Left Post, 10.b: A slightly shorter, but more sustained variation. Clip the first three bolts of Right Post and then follow bolts left over the bulge to a good ledge 15 ft. below the top of the wall, 55 ft., nine bolts. Several alpine draws can be helpful on this pitch but aren't necessary.

Three 30m rappels will get you back to the ground.

Up the hill through the talus, there's a decent trail through the upper-half of the talus and up to the wall.

Draws (several alpines recommended), 60m rope (Note: A 70m is required for Birthday Crack if you're planning to do both routes), all pitches have equalized chains (the anchors are set up to belay directly off the chains, cord is not necessary).