Woods Gulch

Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, Lolo National Forest, Montana

Beautiful bluebird skies and very cold temps greeted me so I stayed closer to home on todays adventure. I could see a distinct snow line in the Rattlesnake Mountains from my front window so off I went to see how deep the snow was up on top. I carried both the Yak Trax and the snowshoes to see which I would need. Should have used snowshoes up on top but the snow wasn't all that deep so I explored by breaking my own trail in just boots and gaiters. Views were worth the effort to see them.

Ridge near Blue Point, Rattlesnake Mountains, MT

The lower trails were clear but a steady climb quickly put me into intermittent snow that finally turned to completely snow covered by the 3 mile mark. After that it was off trail and up on the ridge line.  I followed 6 sets of Elk tracks for a bit, never did see them.  Valley temps were to reach a high of 27, up on top it was a lot colder. My water bottle iced up and the top froze over, never had that happen on a day hike before. Time to rethink my cold weather hydration strategy. Probably have to put it on the inside of my pack again.

Wagon Mountain Summit

Lolo Pass, Lolo National Forest, Montana

With the passage of this weekends storm I dug out the snowshoes and headed for Lolo Pass for the first true snow adventure of the year. I decided after I got to the pass to summit Wagon Mountain as it is the first named mountain on the Montana side of the pass. I had considered trying this route last winter but never got it done. This followed the same route as Lewis and Clark across the Lolo Pass. I think I had it easier than they did.

Officially there was 21 inches of new snow at Lolo Pass, but as I moved higher up the mountain it was drifted much deeper in places. The forest was so much quieter blanketed in snow. I spooked a whitetail doe just after I took this picture.  Followed her tracks for several hundred yards as they she was going up towards the summit, but the tracks were small and really didn't help break much trail for me.

Near the summit of Wagon Mountain

Views back into Idaho 

Even with the overcast skies the views were great. I like looking at distant peaks and trying to figure out how to get to and climb them. Living here I know I will never run out of places to explore.

Being the first snowshoe trip of the year I really was tired by the time I got back to my truck. This was tougher than any 20+ mile day on dry trails I did this year! Can't wait to get back up in the snow later this week. Hope for blue skies.

Kootenai Creek

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

Blue skies seem to have left Western Montana. The storms have not left enough snow yet for good snowshoeing so I headed to a lower elevation trail in the Bitterroots.  A few peeks of sun snuck through the clouds today, the longest was just as I entered the Wilderness area, but thick overcast was the norm.  Fall colors were still vibrant along Kootenai creek while one ponderosa pine near the trail appeared to dance the "twist" in the breeze of approaching weather accompanied by creek produced music.



















Once further up the valley the squalls kept coming. Some were ice pellets, some snow, but most were lightly falling rain. Finally decided to turn around when the valley was completely socked in all the way to the Idaho border and there was enough moisture to make me put the camera away. Put some new gear to the test today and am happy with my choices. The Spot locator worked flawlessly from the narrowest part of the valley while in the trees. This will be great for piece of mind as most of my adventures are solo.

Bass Creek

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

After a week without getting out into the woods I jumped at the chance to get out between two early season storms.  This turned out to be the first winter weather outing of the season for me as temps stayed well below freezing for the entire time.  There were a few footprints in the snow for the first 3 miles, then it was just fresh untracked powder for me to cross.

As I headed west towards the Idaho state line I was watching an approaching storm. By the time I was 5 miles up the valley the storm front had caught me and I was in steadily falling snow. Enough of a storm that I had to pull the ear flaps down on my hat and put on my extra coat but then I was comfortable.









As I crossed over a small tributary of Bass Creek, I was treated to unique ice crystals that had formed on the sides of the flowing water. By the time I got back to this stream crossing on the way down the valley (little more than an hour later) the crystals were completely covered with new fallen snow. I was the only person to see them like this.

Visibility deteriorated pretty fast after the storm arrived so I put my camera back into my pack after this last shot. I continued up the trail until my predetermined turn around time. Then it was back to the trailhead to make sure I got out before it got dark.