Scrambling up the Razor’s Edge

Packing a bag in the tranquil morning, my eyes peered to the end of the Cut Bank Valley where Razoredge Mountain in Glacier National Park, my objective for the day, stood majestically many miles away.

The only sound to be heard from a quiet Cut Bank trailhead was the wind whistling through Razoredge and the other high peaks overhead. The trail miles passed by hurriedly as the swarms of gnats and mosquitoes in the densely overgrown brush awaited their next easy mark. My feet crunched under the dry red rock angling ever upwards towards Triple Divide Pass. The sweeping views stretched across the lush valley below, contrasted by the prominent summits of Medicine Grizzly Peak, Bad Marriage Mountain, and Flinsch Peak in the distant Two Medicine area. Nearly reaching the pass, the glistening blues of Medicine Grizzly Lake shimmered below the pyramid-like summit of Razoredge Mountain.

The steep snowfield guarding the monolithic peak would be my first hurdle of the day. Crampons and an ice ax allowed me to safely cross the crunchy snow that eventually deposited me below a steep face beneath the north ridge. Steep scrambling in mountain boots through loose bands of yellow rock brought me atop the arching arm of Razoredge’s north ridge. Similar to other Glacier mountains, the ridge seemed impassible from a far, but standing below the series of horizontal cliffbands, an obvious scramble presented itself through the endless rock steps. 

The final uncertainty of the day lie a few hundred feet below the summit ridge, where a steep band of compact limestone guarded any easy ascent upward. Thankfully, an exposed goat trail crossing the steep northeast face guided me around and past the final rocky step.

Casual ridgewalking to reach the final summit-block was joyous as the familiar peaks in every direction stood in reticence, overhead clouds blocking the sun from illuminating their imposing faces. A final scramble to the summit was uncomplicated as a summit register and other artifacts awaited atop the summit cairn. 

From this tremendous viewpoint; St. Mary’s, Two Medicine, and the Nyack Valley all seemed a lifetime away. An hour or more watching the clouds roll onward seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye from atop the lonely summit.

My descent was straightforward as the typical scramble route down the other side of the peak was painless, eventually leading me to the snowfield below. A calming walk across the snowy basin brought me back to the desolate Triple Divide trail and my running shoes. Descending into the evening was relaxing as the peaceful trail miles passed by. 

The trailhead greeted me just as the evening light began highlighting the great peaks my feet stood atop hours before. 

At this point my feet had now stood atop one more of Glacier’s grand summits, resulting in a deep grin to spread across my face.

    Mad Wolf Mountain and Bad Marriage Mountain loom above Cut Bank Creek. Seth Anderson Photo.
 SETH ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY   

    Medicene Grizzly Lake and Mount James tower over the Cut Bank Valley. Seth Anderson Photo.
 SETH ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY