Middle Kootenai Lake

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Montana

The last week of summer started today, although the morning temp was 37 when I started out, it warmed right up and was a beautiful cloud free day in the mountains, but colors are changing and fall is showing itself already.

Saw lots of wildlife throughout the day. Started with a group of wild turkeys right at the trailhead. Then it was deer, rabbits, squirrels and lots of different birds. One of the grouse exploded into flight right at my feet, got my heard rate up some.

Lots of mushrooms out, none that I could identify, many of them looked gooey.

Eventually I made it up to the lake, it was a bit further than I had figured. When i got back to the truck found that my exploration to the head of Kootenai Creek made for almost 22 miles today. Have to go back and camp up at the lake so I have time and energy to climb some of the unnamed high points around the valley. Besides the ridge is the state border with Idaho and I might find more of the border markers.