Lee Ridge

Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

The storms and avalanche warnings are over so I headed to see what the forest looked like with all the fresh snow. Started at the Lee Creek campground turnoff where I could park, then headed right up the to the top of Lee Ridge. Stayed in the trees in case the snow was still unstable on the more open hillsides, I don't need to get caught in an avalanche of my own making. This side of the ridge is where all the snow was getting dumped from the 50+ mile per hour winds on Saturday. Trees had wind driven snow up and down there length. Made the whole forest look really different. It also made it a bit of a chore to work my way through them. Snow was coming off the trees and getting all over me. Made some weird footing for the snowshoes as well.

The Larches had snow stuck to them from the bases to the treetops. I wonder how long the snow will stay on the trees.

 When I got to places that had borne the brunt of the wind all the trees were snow free. Plenty still on the ground but the trees were just green. Made for a weird transition on the mountain. I don't think I have ever seen such an extreme transition like this before. Makes each trip to the high country different, even when going to a place I have been before. I will have to go back in a few weeks to see how things have changed.