Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 3:52 pm
I got Friday off work and was going to head to the Flathead and Glacier, but we're closing on a house in Missoula and that meant I had to be in town Friday afternoon. With a free morning, I scooted up the north summit of Lolo Peak.
Missoula below.
Lolo Peak.
North summit Lolo Peak. I skied the looker's left ridge then into the bowl.
Mill Creek and Florence.
The road to the trailhead is in great shape. From the trailhead you hike an hour until you hit snow, and from there coverage is continuous. I found up to 6 inches new on a firm but not unyield crust. Great day.
House business taken care of, we left in the afternoon and drove to Marias Pass on the way to Glacier.
Essex.
On Saturday morning we tried to buy an annual pass to the park but were told we had to go to Apgar to get one! We drove in without paying.
As Mountain Nerd reported, the road is gated at Jackson Glacier overlook. It's a pleasant 20-minute, 2-mile ride to the Piegan Pass trailhead.
Several inches of dry new snow here, and lots of fresh tracks.
I went up Piegan Pass.
Siyeh Mountain.
To the famous overlook. Heavy Runner is the rocky face.
Bishop Cap to the north.
Logan Pass area to the south.
Stellar run down.
Hike around Lake St. Mary in the afternoon.
Rains and snows in the evening and overnight. Up at 5 to low clouds and drizzle. Skies have cleared by 7 and the Portette drops me off at the gate again.
Skies lower and darken. Here's where the plows have gotten to on the east side of Logan Pass.
Tunnel 1.5 miles from the plows: 100 yards long with drifts all the way through and loads of tracks.
I make it to Lunch Creek before really heavy weather sets in. The final push to the pass is blocked by a 30-foot vertical drift with a cornice at the top.
Parting shot of the pass area:
Excellent 3 inches new on a firm crust, pole to the bike, bike to the truck, and home by 8, seeing a grizzly along the way.
Missoula below.
Lolo Peak.
North summit Lolo Peak. I skied the looker's left ridge then into the bowl.
Mill Creek and Florence.
The road to the trailhead is in great shape. From the trailhead you hike an hour until you hit snow, and from there coverage is continuous. I found up to 6 inches new on a firm but not unyield crust. Great day.
House business taken care of, we left in the afternoon and drove to Marias Pass on the way to Glacier.
Essex.
On Saturday morning we tried to buy an annual pass to the park but were told we had to go to Apgar to get one! We drove in without paying.
As Mountain Nerd reported, the road is gated at Jackson Glacier overlook. It's a pleasant 20-minute, 2-mile ride to the Piegan Pass trailhead.
Several inches of dry new snow here, and lots of fresh tracks.
I went up Piegan Pass.
Siyeh Mountain.
To the famous overlook. Heavy Runner is the rocky face.
Bishop Cap to the north.
Logan Pass area to the south.
Stellar run down.
Hike around Lake St. Mary in the afternoon.
Rains and snows in the evening and overnight. Up at 5 to low clouds and drizzle. Skies have cleared by 7 and the Portette drops me off at the gate again.
Skies lower and darken. Here's where the plows have gotten to on the east side of Logan Pass.
Tunnel 1.5 miles from the plows: 100 yards long with drifts all the way through and loads of tracks.
I make it to Lunch Creek before really heavy weather sets in. The final push to the pass is blocked by a 30-foot vertical drift with a cornice at the top.
Parting shot of the pass area:
Excellent 3 inches new on a firm crust, pole to the bike, bike to the truck, and home by 8, seeing a grizzly along the way.