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The Scepter is a Classic Montana Ice Climb

Watch as Matt Cornell smoothly climbs one of Hyalite's best routes at the grade

Montana is home to some of America’s best early season ice climbing, from fun WI3 lines to test-piece WI6. One of the most classic Montana ice routes is The Scepter, found at Hyalite Canyon’s Mummy Area.

It was first climbed back in 1980 and quickly became one of the must-climb WI5 pitches. While The Scepter can go from thin and wet to chandeliery and steep, by the end of the season it’s often picked out. Watch leading ice and alpine climber Matt Cornell run a solo lap of The Scepter below.

The Mummy Area has several great routes that you can link up with The Sceptre for a full day out, including Mummy Cooler II  WI4 50m, Frigid Aire Left WI4 20m, Frigid Aire Right WI3 25m, The Wand WI4 20m, Crypt Orchid WI3 60m, The Matric WI4 50m, Cave and Gully WI4 5.5 50m, Feeding the Cat WI3+ 35m, Mummy III WI4 40m and Mummy IV WI5+ 80m.

The Scepter WI5

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