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!