Lappi Lake

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

Clear sky, no wind and temps as warm as they will be till next spring, I thought a last effort to get up to Lappi lake and the unnamed peak behind it were in order. The approach trail up Bass Creek was 5 1/2 miles of bliss. More like a gold carpeted walkway with all the larch needles that have fallen. Except for about a dozen trees that have fallen across the trail from a windstorm last week the trail was in excellent shape.

At about 4 miles in the valley opens up and the first hints of snow up higher were visible. The mountains at the far end of the valley were completely snow covered. The lake I was headed for is just beyond the peak you can see in this photo.

Once I found a safe creek crossing I started up the steep slope up to the lake. The trail has been unmaintained for over 10 years and the amount of blow down and brush growth was pretty incredible. It took me just over 2 hours to go 1 1/2 miles. Unfortunately some of the upper sections were pretty icy. Made for some dicey footing but I did make it to Lappi Lake for a late lunch. There was thin ice all the way across the lake, a sure sign that winter is on its way.

I wanted to summit the little peak but conditions were to slippery as the slope steepened. The peak isn't going anywhere so I can come back for a visit. Trip down was a little quicker than the up, but not by much. Gravity wanted to help me along in the areas with slippery footing! With the storms that are due in this week this lake will be unsafe to get to till next summer. Glad I got one last visit in.