Bitterroot National Forest, Montana
Weatherman is forecasting record highs in Missoula. To escape the heat it's off to the upper reaches of the Bitterroot Range. Starting from the Bear Creek Overlook trailhead (just a wide spot at the end of a rough single lane forest road) the trail goes immediately up. This is just south of the burned areas from the Gash Creek fire of 2006. The trail goes for 2 1/2 miles through Lodgepole then Whitebark Pine forests with no indication of the wonderful views coming soon..
Once at the viewpoint I was rewarded with views of 3 valleys with creeks rushing in them as well as a different view of many of the area peaks I have climbed. All of the view was in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness because I was standing on the wilderness boundary.
Looking off to the northwest I saw an unnamed highpoint that I could climb from where I was at. Only 900 vertical feet higher and just under 2 miles away it seemed like a good choice to continue my days adventure. Eventually I managed to stand on both of the high points in the center of this picture.
On the way there I skirted the edge of the 2006 Gash Creek fire burn area where an old wilderness boundary sign that was a little worse for wear was on a fire killed tree. Not many get to see this sign unless they venture off the beaten path.
The last of the route was up a steep talus field. Stopped a few times to catch my breath and take a drink but still made good time going up the slope. The sky was an amazing shade of blue today.
Very few flowers growing in the burned area. I expected a lot more. Found a small patch of these cream colored flowers. I looked in my flower ID book and can't place them yet. So for now I have classified them as pretty flowers.
Along the ridge line there were lots of outcrops to explore. Most had rather long drops on the canyon side of them. This is but one that I scrambled up on so I could see the view...
…and this is what the view looked like from on it. It was worth the effort.
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