Mount Sentinel South Summit via Pengelly Ridge

Mount Sentinel Trail System, Missoula Parks, Montana

Temps in the 40's and light wind got Geri and I out for a quick afternoon hike. The trailhead is only 4 miles from the front door so it is an easy last moment decision to go. By going up Pengelly ridge we stayed on the south facing ridge line where the snow is gone except up near the summit and assured ourselves of the greatest uphill (1700 feet gain in under 2 miles) in the shortest time. Views of the Bitterroot crags were nice from up on top.

Lee Creek Interpretive Trail

Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

With more fresh snow on the ground and still more in the weekend forecast Geri and I stayed pretty close to home and snowshoed in the Lee Creek Campground area. About halfway up the interpretive trail we did a little ridge top exploration. Snow was heavy with water content and very icy in places. Although snowshoes were needed today, there is enough melting happening on the south side that soon it will be back to a hiking trail.

In some places for short stretches it already is. I was lazy and we left the snowshoes on for these few places but traveled really carefully so we wouldn't damage them.

Off Trail in the Kootenai Drainage

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

No wind and some blue poking through the clouds changed my plans and off to the Bitterroot Wilderness I went. Following Saturday's trailhead check it was back to Kootenia Creek for my starting point. Saw 2 climbers heading to set routes in the canyon as I started, but then I was on my own for the rest of the trip. After several crossings back and forth on ice bridges (one of them made a bit of a cracking sound that really got my attention) I wandered up the slopes to see what I could find.

I made it most of the way to the lakes, but exploration of the valley took more time than just following the trail. Lots of snow remains throughout the Bitterroots, may be few weeks before its camping time at the heads of the valleys. The burned areas from the 2009 fire really look different when there is snow on the ground, so many of the trees have fallen that they make cross country travel a bit more difficult. Lots of wilderness area to get growing again. I look forward to watching the changes as the years go by.

Kootenai Creek

Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

Geri and I went out on a trailhead check from the Rattlesnake south down the Bitterroot valley. Lots of snow, and I do mean lots. Can't put the snowshoes away for a while yet. When we got to the Kootenai Creek trailhead it was in the best condition. Out of the truck and up the trail we went. Packed snow and icy, but doable with the right equipment.

The south facing cliffs where the climbers play on the vertical were snow free, in the sun and getting lots of use. Temps were in the high 30's and low 40's so nice conditions. At least 7 of the routes had climbers on them. Climbers were young and having a good time.

Kootenai creek was flowing really well but still lots of ice and snow. Made for some great looking conditions. Have to go back in the next week and see how far I can get up the valley. Nice to see sun today, especially when they are forecasting snow for tomorrow.

Lolo Pass Snowshoe (last for the this season?)

Lolo Pass Winter Recreation Area, Clearwater National Forest, Idaho

One quick short snowshoe trip as we crossed back over Lolo Pass on our way back from lunch at the Lochsa Lodge. Less than a week to go till spring arrives but still some light snow falling on us in the mountains. Geri and I followed the snowshoe trail to the top of the ridge where the wind had a bite to it and then headed down towards Glade Creek. The snow was really crusty and trails were blown over.  Made us really pay attention to the snowpack as we headed down the steeper parts of the slope. By now the creek should be wide and the snow soft enough to keep us out of the middle of the meadow. So much snow is on the ground that we were walking over most of the creek and it was still a challenge to find spots of open water. Hard to tell from the photos but there is still about 10 feet of snow in the meadow when looking down into the water. A few gusts came along that made for interesting low blowing snow waves.

Lolo Pass Area Snowshoe

Lolo Pass Recreation Area, Clearwater National Forest, Idaho

Warmer temps across western Montana had snow melting in my front yard but a few miles away at  Lolo Pass it was snowing lightly, adding to the great mass of snow already on the ground. The avalanche danger is posted so high area wide that Geri and I wanted to stay on terrain that we are familiar with and felt safe on.

Starting at the Lolo Pass parking lot and up Pack Ridge then looped around in the forested areas. Along the top of one ridge I know a marker that is 12 feet above the ground…but only foot of it was left sticking out of the snowpack. We came over the ridge in the distance and then ended up working down toward the valley on the right. It is hard work breaking trail in untracked snow but saves a trip to the gym.

We wandered around for almost 3 hours before it was time for some hot chocolate. A class of 7th graders was having lots of fun sledding a small hill by the ranger station. I liked seeing the schools get the kids outside. They also went either snowshoeing or x-country skiing. Bet some kids slept good tonight. I like this pic with some of the snowshoes lined up by the parking lot. The went all the way around the corner of the snowbank and lined the inside area. How about the snow load on that roof!