Bass Lake Backpack

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Montana

Summer starts in 48 hours, storm of the last few days is gone, and the mountains are calling. Geri and the grandkids took me down the Bitterroot valley to the Bass Lake trailhead. We started with a 3 mile hike up Bass Creek with everyone. Moving water is always an attraction and the kids were having tons of fun. Grandpa was enjoying things as well. Caught a snake for the kids to feel and we al;so found a baby bird that was out of it's nest. Walked them back to the car and grabbed my pack for a quick overnighter.

 Headed back up the same creek to camp somewhere along the south end of Bass Lake for the night and hopefully to get up the summit of Stormy Joe, but at 9003 feet I knew that was going to be iffy with this years snowpack. The snow line looked high as I went up the valley and by the time I was getting near 6,000 feet of elevation I was feeling pretty good about my chances of getting to summit.

But then I got to the final climb below the lake and it was a snow traverse. Steep enough that I was wishing I had brought the ice ax. Crested over the lake and saw lots of ice on the water and my camp plans put me right at the bottom of the snowfield across the lake. Not what I was expecting at all. Wind coming off the snow was cold so I decided I was not staying at Bass Lake for the night. Maybe in a month or so when it melts out.

Back down the canyon I went and after about 1 1/2 miles and I located a primo spot at the edge of some trees and near enough to the creek that I could listen to the running water all night long. Set up the tent in case mosquitoes got to be a problem, a few came out to play but not bad at all. The best camp spot I have found all year. Good enough that I will use it again.

Woke up with a few clouds and some light rain and thunder as I headed back down to the trailhead. Did lots of side hill exploring and found a good line to get me up one of the unnamed peaks along the mid part of the drainage. Made it to the trailhead just as Geri and the kids were getting there to pick me up so we did another short hike and went for Root Beer Floats in Lolo on the way home.