Fred Burr Resevoir

For whatever reason, this will not post at the end instead
of the beginning. So, here are the stats, before anything else.

I was planning on hiking in the rain today, but when I woke up, we had several inches of snow. Erg. Well, I took my time getting ready, eating breakfast, etc., as to make sure the roads down the Bitterroot weren't dangerous. They were still a bit slushy as I headed down after 10:00 AM, but I made it there fine. As I drove down, it seemed like there was less and less snow than I had seen in Missoula, so I was getting hopeful. That was a touch too soon. Driving up Bear Creek Rd., there was more snow. Then, taking a left onto Red Crow Rd., there was even more. Apparently, it turns into Fred Burr Rd., but you'd never know. This is where the snow started getting a little deep. Thankfully, my Jeep sits high enough I didn't have any problems, but I still worry about driving mountain roads in the snow. 

As I got out of my Jeep, I realized I was going to be doing a lot of trudging today. It didn't bother me too much, as I was full of energy. The only thing that worried me at this point was whether or not I was going to be able to make out the trail. This was fresh snow, and not another soul to help lead the way. Also, I had read that some of it stays on the service road, but some of it goes off, and you have to keep aware. 

Off I went, and it was probably about half way there that I started thinking about my muscles. The amount of resistance the snow gave me wasn't such a big deal, until you're doing it for a couple hours. I kept thinking, "Boy, they're going to have a few words for me tomorrow!"  

I read that the hike was 9.7 miles round trip. My navigation app tells me it was more like 9.1. Not a huge hike, and not a ton of elevation gain, but, as I mentioned before, a much bigger work out than I had imagined. And by the way my dog is acting, you'd think I made her run a marathon! She's OUT! 

I'm excited to do this hike in the summer. Not because it's anything more wonderful than the next, but because I want to try to get to Fred Burr Lake. It's going to be more like a twenty mile hike up into a canyon, with a big elevation gain at the end, and the cool thing is it ends just shy of the Idaho border. I just want to be able to say, "I walked to Idaho."

These were helpful, until they stopped. If I didn't have my
navigation app, I would have started walking in the wrong
direction.  Fortunately, that would have put me back on the
right trail, just a longer way to get there. 

Snow was a little deeper than
anticipated

A bridge for cars, I believe, but don't take it, just keep going straight.

Perfectly packed snowball

Take this trail. I wasn't sure why
at first, as you just end up on the
same service road. I assumed it was
because it went through private property.

Tiny waterfall

That mountain in the middle....Idaho/Montana border

As you can see, the "resevoir" is but a stream at this point in the fall

Can you see the cabin? This is where the sign has you go up off the
service road. I didn't see it on the way up. It's right on the creek.
If you know who owns it, and if they want to sell it, I'M IN!

Goat Mountain

First of all, I'll just tell you how to get there, then I'll tell the story of this hike, and you can decide after that if you'd ever want to try it.

South of Hamilton, 3.5 miles, take a right onto Roaring Lion Rd. About 2.5 miles in you come to this sign (shortly after the road becomes a dirt road):

You'll take a right here and there is a circle with a few parking spaces. At this sign you'll start the short bit down and over the bridge that spans Roaring Lion Creek.

Now take the left trail straight up:

Not this one (which goes along the creek):

Now for the nitty gritty. This is a "short" hike. It was only 1.31 miles to the top, or the spot where I stopped, because the ridge line would have been too dangerous after that. The kicker is, it was the STEEPEST hike, thus far, that I've ever taken. A "normal" steep hike, if you've read anything I've written, sends you up 1000 feet of elevation per mile. I've been on quite a few of those. This one, at just 1.3 miles gains you 1660 feet of elevation. It was straight up, the whole way, no breaks. I definitely walked the slowest I've ever walked, and took a lot more breaks than I normally do. I gave myself the OK, though, because I haven't done a lot of summit hikes, as in years past, and so wasn't in the same shape. It was a very hot day, on top of that, and the amount of water pouring out of me was epic. At one point, I squatted down, to get my heartbeat back to normal, and when I stood up, got dizzy enough to sit right back down in the dirt and take a proper break. Ugh, I'd hate to faint up on a mountain with no one around...that could be a big oopsie! 

I made it to the top, my dog plopped down in the shade, and I took my normal pictures. Unfortunately, it has gotten a bit smokey from the fires on the West Coast. I'm glad they aren't right near us, but getting the smoke doesn't make it that much more enjoyable. The jaunt down was quick and fairly easy so I decided to walk along the creek for a way. As I walked, I thought I'd message a friend who lives in Hamilton, to see about a quick visit. As I started writing, and proof reading, I realized I had written a bunch of gibberish. Oh, no! I was incredibly scared as to what was going on! I couldn't figure out the words I was really trying to say, or if I had spelled anything right! I calmed down, drank more water, and finally got it out right. Whatever happened had passed. I went straight back to my Jeep, got in and drove to the first Town Pump and got a cold drink. After getting home, I googled "heat stroke," as I was worried this was a possibility, and sure enough, the confusion, profuse sweating, and raging headache were all symptoms. Upon reflection, I probably should have gone straight to the ER, but like I said, it passed quickly. I'm writing this just a few hours after getting home, so you be the judge....am I making sense? I hope so! 

All in all, I think if you want to do this hike, it's worthy of your time. However, do not attempt it on one of the hottest days of the summer! A side note; this whole area was burned two years ago (again) and there is zero shade. Nary a live tree even existed, so just be aware of that. 

Sheafman Point, still the most hated hike I've ever taken!

Looking down at my feet, being careful, I walked right into
 this limb! :P

Goat Mountain as you drive up to it

What my feet and ankles looked like, after walking through a
burned forest. I was actually wearing my trail runners, so was
surprised that my toes were black, as well

Kootenai Creek To Middle Fork Lake

Kootenai Creek is another one of those popular hikes that has lots and lots of people at the first two miles. I, in fact, was one of those people for the past 20 plus years, going only maybe up to three miles in, several of those times with one kid or another in my backpack, while making another one or two learn to "enjoy" the fun of hiking. It wasn't till this year, as my hikes have become longer, that I even thought about going all the way to the lakes beyond. 

There are four lakes to be reached, and I had an open mind at the start of it, knowing it would be about nine miles to the first one. I started the familiar three miles with my dog on a leash, so as not to annoy hikers with her exuberant personality. She is so sure everyone wants to play with her, she forgets that not all humans are dog people. Once I was sure we were beyond the usual traffic, Xena was free to roam, which makes us both happy. I no longer have to be pulled on, and she can jump in the creek or chase chipmunks to her heart's content. 

The hike is a straight forward creek hike, not too much elevation gain, which makes it fairly easy. Here was my problem with this one; I'm not sure it is always like this, or if the high amounts of rain we got this spring made it this way, but the underbrush, regularly concealing the trail, was hellacious. For the last six miles, I was regularly walking through brush, which was sometimes thorny, but mostly it felt like my legs were getting 50 lashes for doing something naughty. I would definitely recommend wearing a light pair of pants, instead of the short shorts I was sporting, just to spare your skin the agony. The scrapes weren't bad enough to scar, but it took a week to even consider wearing a skirt to work again.

Around mile 8, I started switch backing up, still trying to keep an eye on where the trail was going. By mile 9, I was wondering why I didn't have any glimpse or hint of a lake around. I kept going, but was becoming a bit unenchanted with this whole day. I came upon a sign that directed me to either South Kootenai Lake, or North Kootenai Lake. Neither of which, at this point, I was aiming for. It had become a long day, and I wanted to hit the first lake...one of the Middle Forks Lakes. Hmm, which trail to take? I wasn't quite sure, and the trail was a bit different than what my navigation app was telling me. But using intuition, and an educated guess, I went towards South Kootenai Lake. 

After another creek crossing (which I was loving, by the way. I knew this wasn't a steep hike, and when there's water, Chacos are a must. I never even considered jumping on a log to cross, or hop-scotching over rocks....just waded right in. My dirty little digits were refreshed every time!) I started up a hill to a large, flat rock area. Looking around, I thought, "This is silly. Why am I hell bent on getting to a lake, anyway?" I checked my navigation app, and wondered why I couldn't see a lake by now. After a moment of contemplation, I decided to push forward for a little longer, knowing I would be disappointed with myself if I didn't meet my original goal. It only took maybe ten yards before I saw it.....a LAKE! I was THRILLED! Off we went, down to the little lake, and after a bit of playing and taking pictures, back up we went. 

Now, I regularly just follow my dog, especially on the way back. She has a nose that has directed me in the right direction when I've gotten a bit off course every time. Little did I know, she was off to South Kootenai Lake. It took a moment, and some questioning on my part, to realize we were suddenly on the wrong large, flat rock area. I was thinking, "I really don't need any extra exercise today!"  So I called Xena back to me, back tracked for a bit, and found the proper trail. I was not looking forward to banging through all that brush on the way back, but knew it had to be done, and just about started back at a run. If I could have seen where my feet were, I would have. 

Now, even on a less favorite hike like this one, I still love being out in the woods and seeing the beauty of a new place in Montana. I apologize if there was complaining in this write up, I'd much rather have been getting scraped and bruised out in the wilderness, than have to be at home any day of the week! So, enjoy some pictures, and adventure on!

These rocky areas echo the creek so it sounds like you have a
creek on both sides of you

Xena finally getting some much needed water

Weird shaped berry!

Huckleberries! Albeit, unripe at this point

Last creek crossing

Not sure why I feel the need to prove I was actually here

More berries

The stats

The end stats

Bass Lake

The Bass Creek Trail is rather popular, with hikers and horses, so it's easy to find just between Florence and Stevensville. I'm not sure how many people end up going all the way to the lake, as I was the only one there on this day. I passed several people in the first two miles or so, but that was it on the way up. I had read that the lake was anywhere from 7.5 miles up, to 10 miles up. I felt like the most believable one I read was 9 miles, so that's what I was prepared for. 

This is a pretty gentle elevation gain for the first three miles, then there was about a mile of steep, rocky trail. Then it went back to gentle, then the last mile a little steeper and rocky again, but not too terrible. When you come to an open meadow, about two miles from the lake, you can see a waterfall in the distance. This is coming straight from the lake, and I always enjoy seeing my destination in the near future, although, I didn't actually know it at the time. When taking a full day to hike, I start thinking about how long it's going to take to get back, and I was wishing for a little less than 9 miles. Imagine my surprise when I got to the lake at 7.76 miles in. It is like getting a present in the middle of the week, for no reason at all! I was a little more ecstatic than I probably should have been! And, aside from cresting the top of a mountain and seeing glorious mountains as far as the eye can see, getting to a cool, clear lake, surrounded by mountains, is just about the next most beautiful thing, ever!

I spent a little time here, splashing in the water, letting my dog play in the water (she likes wading, not swimming) and checking out some of the campsites. I felt like I could've walked all the way to the other end of the lake, but like I said, I was happy it was only 7.76 miles in. It was a hot day, and after dunking my shirt in, and putting that nice, cool garment back on my body, we were ready to turn back. On the way down, I met up with a couple hanging out where I had had to take my shoes off to cross the creek. He asked about the meadow, as that was as far as they had gone. I told them it was only another, maybe two miles, and how beautiful it was. He seemed bummed at first, then decided it would be another day he'd have to get there. His girl looked exchausted, and none too excited to try it again! And as I took my shoes off to cross the creek, he pointed out the logs just a bit down, where you can cross. Oh, well, too late, and I'm a little clumsy on the logs, so this was just as good!

So, although I'm a bit sad about not getting to very many new peaks this year, I've decided the mountain lake hikes are pretty rewarding. Also, my dog gets ridiculously hot, so staying along a creek the whole way, she tells me, is just right for her!

Looking up towards Little St. Joe

St. Joseph peeking through the trees

Creek crossing

Snow capped mountains are just the shizzle

Proving I'm actually here and not just stealing pictures. My vanity takes a great
hit when hiking!

Xena, in her happy place

The scenery on the way back isn't too ugly, either

I didn't download the navigation app before I was out
of cell range, so this is what I saw

The final specs, after getting back in cell range