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Views from the Summits:
Cataract Mountain
This is a view of Cataract Mountain from Pollock Mountain to the west. Notice the trail heading for Piegan Pass in the lower right corner of the photo. (We are facing east.) The gray colored rock looks somewhat like a "cataract" in an eye, thus the name Cataract Mountain.
Cataract Mountain (elevation 8,180 feet) is located just to the east of Piegan Pass, and provides great views of both Mount Siyeh and Mount Gould. Its north face is an incredible 1,900 foot vertical wall, which falls abruptly of it's summit ridge. This mountain was literally cut right down the middle by glaciation during the last ice-age 10,000 years ago.
What is very unique about this mountain is that it's just a simple scramble up from Piegan Pass, and it doesn't take long at all to reach the summit. Therefore, this is one of those extremely rare situations where hikers who's in shape enough to reach the pass, may consider simply scrambling up the west ridge and summit a peak in Glacier National Park! There is absolutely no technical skills required, and the views are great. (Note: this website is not intended to be a "climbers guide", and is not responsible for your decisions or actions. Climbing any mountain has its inherent risks, and we are not responsible for your safety. YOU are fully responsible for your decisions and actions, and no one else.)
Cataract Mountain (left) as seen from the Piegan Pass Trail. Mount Gould (right) looms in the distance.
Here's another view of Cataract Mountain (right). Pollock Mountain is to the left, and Piegan Pass is in between these two mountains.
Views from the Summit
Mount Gould towers over Cataract Mountain to the west.
Shannon takes in a view of Mount Wilbur on our way up to the summit of Altyn Peak. She is dwarfed by the overwhelming size of Wilbur.
This is a view to the southeast. Just above David is Matahpi Peak, and Going-to-the-Sun Mountain is to the far right. The ridge to the left is the west ridge of Mount Siyeh.
Cataract Mountain provides unique views of Mount Gould and beyond, such as Grinnell Mountain, located just to the right of Gould. Note the valley far below us.
A good view of the Garden Wall from the west ridge of Cataract Mountain.
The great Mount Siyeh towers over us to the east.
This is a view to the north. The small lake far below us in the distance is Grinnell Lake.
Shannon walking back to Piegan Pass to the west. The wall to the left of Mount Gould is part of the Garden Wall. Beyond it is where the Highline Trail is located.
Matahpi Peak is to the right, and the iconic Mount Siyeh is to the left. We are facing east.
Cataract Mountain is a short scramble from Piegan Pass, and hikers who would like to experience a summit in Glacier may consider this rare opportunity.
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