Saint Mary's Peak

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

A nice short day hike with a steady climb that only gains a bit over 3,000 feet in close to 4 miles. At a mile and a half or so there is a short spur to a spring. This time of year the water is slow and best left for the dogs who will be with their owners on the way up the trail. You could filter the water but I am so spoiled by all the clear water sources around the local mountains that I don't carry a filter most of the time.

Much of the trail looks like this. Whitebark Pines for the most part, showing the stress of the beetles and other diseases. Still a beautiful trail with the views and colors of the trees. Even a lot of the dead trees look pretty cool. Wouldn't notice the transition from multi-use forest to wilderness if it wasn't for the sign telling me when i was in the wilderness area.

Out of the white bark pines and the fire lookout is clearly seen. It is manned by volunteers who are up for 2 weeks at a time.Like many of the volunteer towers in the area, most are retired USFS who just want to keep on doing something in the wilds.

As the trail climbs over the last 1/4 mile it is on a rocky bare shoulder of the peak. The wind was blowing strong along this section.

Once up on top I located the benchmark. Noticed it is off by about 20 feet in the new official elevation.

Views were a bit limited by the smoke from the 4 fires to the west. The closer in crags are still pretty clear but looking into Idaho gets really fuzzy.

Had a snack and started down. While I had the route up all to myself, I met at least a dozen while on my way back to the trailhead. A few of whom I doubt ever made it to the top.

Highland Trail from Logan Pass to The Loop

Glacier National Park, Montana

The Highline Trail from Logan Pass is one of the more popular hikes in Glacier, but it is a bit over 12 miles one way to the Granite Park Chalet and then down to "The Loop" on the Going To The Sun Road. Geri and I got an early start as a cold front was forecast later in the day with wind and rain. First part was behind the Garden Wall so no sun at first.

Looking back towards the Logan Pass area there was a good view of Mount Oberlin (front) and Mount Reynolds (back with clouds). Views like this stayed with us all day!

After getting past the first section with some steep exposure Geri was pretty happy with her progress.

This is looking down from the trail to the road below. Pretty much a drop right down to the road. A fall here would really hurt.

After a few miles we found the sun. Had to share it with a Pika that was just off the trail a few feet. I was happy to see this little guy. I can always find bears, these little guys are often heard but not seen a lot.

The clouds started showing themselves as we got closer to the Granite Park Chalet. They brought a great breeze along as well. It was appreciated cause there isn't any place to get out of the sun along the trail.

Once only the playground of the wealthy, the chalet is still in use for anyone who pre books a night far, far in advance. Bit more rustic than it was in bygone years. It has a place in Montana folklore because of the event almost 50 years ago known as "The Night of the Grizzly" Sure has a pretty view from a great vantage point. Even looks good just as it sits there.

Got really warm in the last few miles. This bridge marks the end of the trail (well a 100 yards from the end anyhow). Got to eat some huckleberries and raspberries that were growing near the trail, saw some great views and Geri finally hiked the Highland Trail. Something we have talked about doing together for over 20 years.

Holland Peak Summit

Flathead National Forest, Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, Montana

An early start to my day with a pan to make it to the top of Holland Peak, the highest summit in the Swan Mountains. The morning was cloudless as I got off the established trail and started up the Rumble creek drainage. This was the first time I was using my new GPS and it has a grade % feature. Most of the time when I checked it the grade was between 34% and 42%. It was steep and stayed steep.

Found an area that had quite a few Yellow Columbine. I sure like these flowers. The mountain in the far left background is where I was headed.

After slow steady climbing that was averaging a 1,000 feet up every mile the final ridge was all that was left. Pretty steep exposure on both sides but the rock is pretty grippy when dry. There is about 200 yards that really made me take my time both ways because a fall would be something that would be really bad. A few clouds were beginning to build out to the west but the weather was still perfect for my summit bid.

Up on the summit I found the USGS marker and it looks a little beat up. Of course life is hard weather wise most of the year up here, plus I'm sure folks have tried to pry it loose a time on two. Checked the GPS up on top and found it was only 5.3 miles and I had climbed over 5,300 feet. Slowest 5 miles I have covered this year at a bit over 4 hours from the trailhead to the top. I really enjoyed my lunch while on the summit. I knew the down was going to be just as challenging as the up had been.

Not often I'm on a summit with others, but there were two guys on top when I got there. So I was able to get a photo with me in it.

This is the view back the way I had just descended from the lower lake. One of the most physically demanding day climbs I have done in years. Would be better to camp at the upper lake and do some fishing then summit the next day. I saw some good sized trout in both the lakes.