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.