Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Montana
Took a trip to check trail conditions and snowpack in the northern Bitterroot mountains. What I found was lots and lots of ice! I saw more icicles today than I saw all last year. I think the few days of warm we had last week allowed melting and then this last cold snap just froze it solid. In some places the ice was over 6 inches thick.
The creeks are all weird ice sculptures along the banks, with more ice bridges than I expected. Crossed the creek on ice in 3 places today. Most of the creek ice was over a foot thick, some of it was closer to 2 feet thick. Took lots of pictures of the strange ice flows as well, just can't post all of them here.
As I got higher in altitude the snow pack got thicker. Up above treelike the mountains are already in full winter coats. With so much ice to cross today I didn't want to get out onto any real steep exposed areas yet. Once things get a bit more stable I have already decided where my first winter summit will be.
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