Ravine Trailhead to Stuart Peak Trail

Rattlesnake Wilderness, Lolo National Forest, Montana

After shoveling off the driveway I headed for the Rattlesnake Wilderness just north of Missoula. Entering the area via Grant Creek and the Ravine trailhead I avoided other people. Didn't see anyone else all day long. Everything was snow covered right from the truck, and it just kept getting deeper the higher up the mountain I went. Lowering gray skies and intermittent snow were appreciated today as they were accompanying warmer temps (hey the 20's felt good after some of the past weeks temps). Warm enough that I had to watch out to not work up too much sweat on the steady climb. This picture was the best long distance view I had all day.

 Working my way north and higher up on Stuart Peak the snow got pretty deep and some of the downed trees make me work a bit harder to find my way through. I didn't see any people tracks, but there were lots of fresh deer, elk and rabbit, as well as one good area of mountain lion tracks. Often I follow critter tracks, but decided not to follow the mountain lion tracks. With so much untracked snow on the ground it made me feel like the first to ever see the area. For any early winter travelers here it had to be much like today was.