Beehive Peak

Beehive Peak is a 10,740-foot (3,274-metre) summit located in Madison County, Montana, United States.

Beehive Peak
South aspect, from Beehive Basin
Highest point
Elevation	10,740 ft (3,274 m)[1]
Prominence	1,040 ft (320 m)[1]
Parent peak	Gallatin Peak (11,015 ft)[1]
Isolation	2.17 mi (3.49 km)[1]
Coordinates	45°21′14″N 111°24′20″W[2]
Geography
Beehive Peak Location in Montana Show map of Montana Beehive Peak Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Montana
County	Madison County
Protected area	Lee Metcalf Wilderness
Parent range	Rocky Mountains Madison Range Spanish Peaks[2]
Topo map	USGS Lone Mountain
Climbing
Easiest route	class 4 scrambling[1]

Description

Beehive Peak is the second-highest peak in the Spanish Peaks which is a subrange of the Madison Range.^[2] It is situated eight miles (13 km) north-northwest of Big Sky, Montana, and 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Bozeman. The peak is set within the Lee Metcalf Wilderness on land managed by Gallatin National Forest.^[2] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Gallatin River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,000 feet (610 meters) above South Fork Spanish Creek in one mile (1.6 km).

View from summit. (Note plaque)

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Beehive Peak is located in a subarctic climate zone characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers.^[3] Winter temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −30 °F.

Etymology

This mountain's toponym has not been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, so it is not labelled on USGS maps, and will remain unofficial as long as the USGS policy of not adopting new toponyms in designated wilderness areas remains in effect. The peak is named in association with Beehive Lake and Beehive Basin which are both below the peak, and are both officially named.^[4][5]

Climbing

The first recorded ascent of the summit was made in the early 1950s by Dave Wessel.^[6] The summit can be accessed via the class 4 southwest couloir following a 5.5-mile hike and 2,842 feet of elevation gain. There is a plaque on the summit which was placed to remember climber Kit Jones who perished climbing here in 1966.

See also

• Geology of the Rocky Mountains
• Mountains of Madison County, Montana
• Mountains portal