Spread Mountain and East Spread Mountain Summits

Lolo National Forest, Montana

Warm weather across western Montana this week for a change. I headed up to the high country where it turns out winter is still keeping its grasp on things. But I did start at a lower trailhead to try and keep out of the snow...and it worked for a bit. At least for a mile! I used the Monture Trailhead and almost right away turned onto a little used trail. This sign was on a tree right when I turned off the mainline trail.

Within a mile I was getting into some of the worst blow downs I have ever experienced, and that's where the snow started as well. Odds are this trail has not been maintained for quite some time. Saw lots of elk along the way and antlers are well into the growing season.

Then it was no trail but find your way through the snow. After several hours of slow going I made it to the high point of an unnamed peak that was between me and Spread Mountain. The ridge had quite a dramatic profile thanks to all the snow.

As I transitioned down and around another ridge towards Spread Mountain I got a look at the lake I had planned on spending the night at. I knew that option was out and I would have to find somewhere else to camp.

As I worked up to the summit of Spread Mountain the snow was getting softer and I found myself sinking in past my knees on every 3rd step, slowed me down and sure made me tired. Since I was wearing shorts it soaked my feet and kept my legs cool. Same thing happened on the way to the summit of East Spread Mountain. This doesn't look steep in the picture but it was 36% when I checked it.

50 feet of so from the summit of East Spread there was an outhouse. Only thing I can figure is that at one time there was a fire lookout on the summit and somehow the outhouse remained. It is the only structure up there.

Found what looked like a quick drop off the mountain and a way to get below snowline so I headed down the north side.  Had one "interesting" creek crossing on the way down.

After  a bit over 2 hours I wound up at Camp Lake. Mostly had snow around the edges but I found a dry spot for my bevy. This bird sat in a nearby tree and sang for a long time.

Day 2 started cold. Packed up and headed for Camp Pass and my planned 2 summit day. I saw another unnamed peak and it had a snow free summit area and I was sure it had good views of where I wanted to go today so up I went. Glad I did, because thunderstorms were building fast. When they are that big at 10 in the morning its time to go elsewhere. There was a grouse up at the summit in full mating dance. I have seen lots of grouse over the years but this was the first time I had ever seen this behavior. Poor guy is probably still the only grouse anywhere around but he is sure enthusiastic.

Bears are out...this was really fresh. Not the only scat I saw. All were below the snowline.

Close to where I parked I found this Fairy Slipper. One of my favorite flowers so a good end to 2 days in the hills.

Green and Red Mountain Summits

Bob Marshall Wilderness, Helena National Forest, Montana

Lots of blue overhead and warming temps led me to get up into the southern reaches of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Saw a few Sandhill Cranes on the way to the trailhead. One was nice enough to let me get close with a point and shoot camera.

I used the Alice Creek trailhead and went straight up to Lewis and Clark Pass and the Continental Divide Trail as it crosses the pass. This is the old Buffalo Road that the natives used for centuries to get to the plains for hunting. In a few places you can still see travois marks in the ground.

From the pass I went south and up Green Mountain. One side was all snow fields, but I did find a ridge that I could skirt up to the summit. Views over the plains were nice. I could see Fort Butte which was the first landmark Lewis recognized on the way home. Photos don't do the view justice.

The summit was completely snow free and made a wonderful place for me to take a break and have lunch. Also had some Pasque flowers blooming up top. Later on down low I found a meadow that was covered in hundreds of them all blooming at once. I liked that field a lot.

I followed the CDT for a while and noticed a cairn that was a bit different. First one I have ever seen that was built around a tree! Someone must have had a unique sense of humor to build that. Saw sign that a bear had been following the trail recently. Didn't see the bear but it left a big pile of calling cards for me to see.

On a ridge going up Red Mountain there were lots of flowers in every shade of purple. Although they are really small clumps of flowers, they really smell wonderful. Saw some bees checking them out along with me.

Of course Yoda went with me on this adventure, took his photo on each summit, but up on top of Red Mountain he climbed onto the summit marker.

I looked across the valley and noticed that the hills were keeping their eyes on me, or so it seemed. Maybe the snow on the ground made it more prominent, anyway I thought it was pretty neat.

From the time I turned off the main road till I got back on it 10 hours later I didn't see another person. But when I got back to my vehicle at the end of the day there was a Forest Service truck in the parking area along with my vehicle. Made things seem almost crowded. That's what I like about all the open space around western Montana, you really can go out in the woods and not see anyone else.

Mount Jumbo Summit

Mount Jumbo Recreation Area, Montana

After 2 days in a row of really nice weather I thought the wildflowers should be making a showing on Mount Jumbos grassy sides. The lower slopes were becoming covered in Arrowleaf Balsamroot...

...with some patches of Larkspur mixed in also. Kept stopping my upwards progress to look at all of them!

Working up a bit I came to the marker that many of the nearby mountains have showing where the ancient high water mark was for Glacial Lake Missoula. That would have been one big lake.

Lots of critters out on the mountain, saw the first bluebird of the year, some deer. Surprised a few elk as well. But before long I was at the summit with my hiking buddy Yoda. He wanted his picture taken up on top again.

Looking towards the north and the Rattlesnake Wilderness there is still lots of snow to melt away.

I took a different way down so I could try and get closer to the elk, but they ran off a ways whenever I got within 30 yards. I did run into a big bunch of these white flowers that I think are Prairie Star.