Swan Divide Trail and Morrell Creek

Lolo National Forest, Montana

Cool temps, almost clear skies and I was off to scout for a way up both Matt and Sunday Mountains with a connecting ridge walk. Along the way I passed a small shallow unnamed lake not far from Morrell Falls. The wind was calm at the surface but the few clouds overhead were really moving. Just a few yards from where I took this picture I left the maintained trail.

After about 1/2 mile I came to Morrell Creek, while only a foot deep the water is really clear and refreshing. Also cold enough that it made my teeth tingle when I drank some.

I found the largest section of huckleberries I have even seen. The area they covered would have to be measured in acres, and they were all ripe. Hence the problem with off trail backcountry travel this time of year, I keep getting sidetracked by the bounty of the land. Ended up picking most of a gallon bag full of berries. Some jam and ice cream are in my near future! That the patch is 3 miles from the nearest road and no maintained trails go all the way to them means I have another honey hole to go to each year. That makes 4 great diverse areas of huckleberries for me to pick from now.

I kept hearing falling water down in the valley, and being curious I went down a pretty steep slope to check it out. There were 2 creeks coming together, one had to be Morrell Creek but the other isn't named on any of the maps I have of the area.

Not much sun gets to the bottom so lots of moss and more ferns than I would expect this high up in the mountains..

Found some more Pink Monkeyflower. Lately I am finding them a lot.

By the time I was on my way back to the truck there was no blue left in the sky, just clouds. Along the way I kept trying to get a photo of this Prince's Pine flower. I like this little evergreen herb, it is on my short list of cool plants because it is one of the original components in root beer. Ended up with a picture that I thought was interesting.

On the drive home I saw a herd of elk feeding in a field that had to be 70 or 80 animals. Wish they would be that easy to find when hunting season comes around.