Mount Sentinel Summit

Pattee Canyon Recreation Area, Lolo National Forest, Montana

Following a rain and snow filled week in western Montana I decided to stay a bit closer to the house for today's adventure. I also wanted to stay below the snow line and look to see what flowers were blooming. So Mount Sentinel via Hellcat Canyon was my choice. Doesn't look like much but there is a 2,000 foot gain to the top.

Not as many flowers blooming yet as I was expecting for this far into spring. But after a long winter each was nice to look at. A few hundred feet from the top in the last stand of pines I located some Pasque Flowers. One of my favorite flowers so I was happy to find them.

Yoda went with me again this week. He had to get his photo taken on the summit. I wish he would smile more in the pictures.

Looking north into the Rattlesnake Wilderness you can see the snow. Looks like the rivers will be flowing strong for most of the summer.

On the way down the south and west side of the mountain I came across lots of Shooting Stars blooming in a grass filled meadow. They were very spread out but there were lots of them.

Trapper Peak Summit

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

Went with the local mountaineering club for a winter conditions climb of Trapper Peak, the highest point in the Bitterroot Mountains. After a week of rain the day was really nice, with the warmest temps of the year in the Bitterroot valley. Had to stop and park about 3 miles short of the normal approach trailhead due to snowdrifts across the one lane forest road. That added 1,200 vertical feet extra to the climb. So straight up we went to the first ridge where we could get views of the Boulder Creek Valley. Just after i took this it was time to go to snowshoes for the remainder of the trip up.

Working along the ridge I finally got a view of Trapper Peak. It isn't as impressive along the approach as the surrounding mountains, but it is big. From where I took this photo I still have 3,000 feet to gain and many miles to go. Have to work over to the right to gain the ridge. But at least the destination was in sight.

Tree line wasn't distinctive as on other summits, kind of just spread out then they were all gone at 9,000 feet or so. This is a tough slope to live on. Wind was really blowing from 8,000 feet on up to the summit, at least 20 mph with gusts at times much higher.

The last 1,000 feet is pretty steep. This was the only pic I got that really shows it. You can see how the wind is sculpting the snow.

Yoda is running around the mountains with me this year so he had to get his picture taken for the summit shot. The wind had blown the top 4 boulders free of snow. I', standing in snow with my snowshoes on while taking this. Had to have Yoda held so he wouldn't blow away.

Views were great this one is to the west...with a bit of Montana and Idaho stretching into the distance.

and here is one to the north. Trapper Creek is at the bottom of the valley. Lots of mountains around here and most of them are not named. Took several pics then headed down. They all came out really good.

I took a different line down the mountain so I could climb the other lower high point. On the way down it gave a pretty neat view of the summit. I like this picture. After I took it I put the camera away and kept on descending. I was able to play around on the way down as I was one of the first to make it to the summit from our group. Actually the 2 of us that got there first were about 30 mins ahead of the next group so once back in the trees and out of the wind we had a long lunch break.

A great long day in the mountains. In some ways it was easier to do this over snow as there was no scree to contend with. Besides snow covered mountains are always pretty to look at.

Bass Creek Valley Snowshoe

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Montana

Started off heading up from the normal Bass Creek trailhead. Found a way over the creek via an ice bridge and headed up the side not normally traveled. No human tracks on this side, a not a whole lot of animal tracks in the snow either.

Blue skies and wonderful views of the crags were mine to enjoy by myself. Didn't see another person till I was almost back at my vehicle. I have been up to the top of this unnamed peak in the summer. Bit beyond my skills for winter with all the ice around.

Over 100 feet of ice, and it won't last much longer. You can see 2 big cracks ion the sheet. It is thicker than it has been the last few years. Wouldn't want to be under it when it collapses!

On the way back to the trailhead I used a different route, lots of untracked snow way up the valley, and this is the smallest I have seen the creek.

Lolo Pass Winter Sports Area Snowshoe

Clearwater National Forest, Idaho

Pretty day for Geri and I to go for a snowshoe trip just on the Idaho side of the MT/ID border. Lots of snow. Started out going up a steep ridge and down the backside on the established winter trail.

Then it was time to blaze our own way so we could look over Glade Creek and the valley where Lewis and Clark camped when they crossed the Bitterroot Mountains.

The only tracks in the meadow were ones that we made. Snow was deep enough that without snowshoes I would sink up to my waist. Geri is looking at the way we have come...and the way back to the car. The far ridge in the background is the one we came over.

One last shot of the creek, from where I about slid down into it, the we headed back to complete a big loop and the end of todays adventure.

Kootenai Valley

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

A really pretty day to end 2016. Brisk 10 degrees at the trailhead when I got started, don't think it ever went up from there all day. Lots of ice on the rocks on the side of the valley with deep snow in the bottom. Had to climb up a bit into the sun to get this photo.

At 5 miles into the canyon there is a nice bench that opens up some views. Snow was upper thigh deep on me at this point. Even though it was a bit past 2pm the sun was blocked by the ridges and temps stayed on the cooler side.

Finally made it to some great views of Bass Peak, and in this area were tracks from some wolves. Critter tracks were all that were in the snow this far back. All the human sign stopped before I got 3 miles up canyon. Always makes me feel that I am the only one to see such a sight, and I enjoy having this piece of the wilderness all to myself. Love to get up the peak in winter conditions but for now the snow is pretty avalanche prone. I do think I can get partway up safely staying in the treeline. Turned back shortly after taking this photo. When I got back to the trailhead the temp had dropped to 2 above. Fortunately I never felt cold all day.

Bass Creek Canyon Unexpected Snowstorm

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

Winter weather was on its way, but wasn't supposed to arrive for another day. At least that was the local weather forecast when I left the house. Only 30 short minutes later and the weather folks were wrong again for it was snowing lightly at the trailhead. With 2 sets of footprints in the fresh snow I started out. For 2 1/2 miles it was easy sailing, then it started snowing harder. The young couple who belonged to the footprints were turning around and on their way back to the trailhead as I pushed up the valley. Now the fresh snow was closer to 4 inches deep. This is the log I normally use to cross the slower water. Wasn't going to risk a slip into the water today.

Views up canyon should have had lots of craggy ridges, today it was only an image of one.

Up a bit further and even the critter tracks were all gone. It was if I was the first to travel through this winter scape. As often as I am up this canyon, this was one of the funnest trips. If I didn't know where the trail was it would have been easy to lose the route.

Just past the 5 mile mark there is a great side crew where i often get a drink. Enough ice and snow almost covered it. Still got something to drink there. Sure was some brisk water!

Close to 7 miles up canyon the snow and wind really picked up. Powder was 8 to 9 inches deep. Winter was trying to make up for the late start. Hard for me to show how hard it was coming down...this is the best I can do.

When i turned around to head back to the trailhead I was surprised to find that in less than a half mile of walking my tracks were starting to fill in already. With 12+ inches expected tomorrow, all signs of my passing today will be gone. Next time I'm up this way it will be on snowshoes.

Blodgett Canyon Black Friday

Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

Wanted to avoid the post thanksgiving holiday crush so off to the woods I went. Saw 9 people on the trail so I didn't avoid all the crowds, but these were manageable. Trail was starting to show a bit of winter, even in the lower reaches of the valley bottom. A bit slick in the rocky sections.

The beaver have been busy along the creek, flooding much of the wide areas in the first few miles of trail. The slower water is iced over and starting to collect some light snowfall.

The south side of the peaks and spires are free of snow. Hard for snow to stick on vertical rock anyhow. Always like this view because I know that soon I will be past where most of the day hikers turn around at.

Ice is even beginning to form along the faster sections of the creek where water splashes up. In 2 weeks the ice will be predominant along the waterways of the Bitterroots. Then I get to see the weird shapes it creates.

Further up the valley as the trail once again enters the trees the trail got a bit more difficult. Two sets of people footprints before me along this section, and one big cat. Not sure if it was a mountain lion or a bobcat, but they did keep me looking around for the owner.

Had to turn back for the truck as the sun started going down. Had some great views of the surrounding cliffs but as the sun disappeared the valley temps really started dropping fast. I think the hiking conditions have made the switch to winter enough that I will have to change what I carry with now. Snowshoes are soon to be in use.