Despite high wind warnings, possibilities of ticks and snake, 11 GiG members braved the elements and headed out for a loop hike along the shores of Holter Lake. Actually, the high wind warning was for the afternoon in the Holter/Helena area, but the winds had picked up to 30 mph plus in Great Falls the night before, so some ladies dropped thinking the winds were also on the other side of the canyon as well.  We had 10  people on the waitlist, so we were able to fit more in last minute, so all was good.

We left Great Falls at 8 a.m. bucking winds until Cascade. We were surprised at the number of disabled cars along the shoulder of the highway: four, plus one had a deer right by it (very sad). Then we came to a truck being taken out of the median area by a tow truck, so five disabled vehicles.  The deer was just a precursor as we happened upon two deer herds crossing the road on the way into Holter.

After a bathroom stop at Craig's fishing access by the bridge, we made it to Juniper Bay, meeting Viki from Fairfield there.  We were on trail around 9:35.  We divided into our two groups, one led by Katie and Camille and one by Viki and Sheila. The wind was negligible and the temperature in the 60s, so we were stripping layers immediately.  

The views were super: we saw the back side of Sleeping Giant (Beartooth Mountain) to the west across Holter Lake and Sacajawea peak to the south

When we got to the place on trail between two hills, one 500 feet higher than the other, we re-divided into groups: those going up the smaller led by Camille and Katie and those going up the larger with Suzie. We planned to meet in the Log Gulch picnic area after. As we watched the climbers ascend, Kuntz notices a small herd of deer not far from them that wandered under some trees, the other gals unaware.

The first group made it to the picnic area 30 minutes earlier than the others, so we finished out lunches in the sheltered area and then decided to lake just as the others were coming down the trail, so we all went to the lake.

After the second group finished lunches, we started on the loop portion of the trail that hugs the lake, producing even better views. Also, by the lake, we saw our first spring wildflowers: douglasia, storks bill and dandelions; we also saw some bluebirds, but we didn't see any bighorn sheep, a bit of a disappointment. We finished the hike by 12:50 and arrived home by 2 p.m. bucking strong winds from Tower Rock on.

​We were all so glad that we got out of the wind for most of the day.

​ Who went: Camille, KuntZ, Debra, Roni, Paula, Josy, Sheila, Viki, Noreen, Suzie, Katie

The second trip, we did face winds even though not as much wind was predicted! But it was warm enough and sheltered about half the time that the breeze didn't ruin our time. 
Deer were all over on this trip as well, both in the fields and along the road on the way in.

We followed Wayne's group with his Wayne's Wednesday Walks group. A few times he told us about the flora, pointing out an early-blooming cous biscuitroot, explaining how it was an important food for bears and native peoples.

Besides deer, we saw no other wildlife except a dead vole (meadow mouse) on the trail and ants swarming their hill. No sheep on this trip either. We did learn about rubber rabbit bushes and woolly mullein, sometimes called lamb's ears.

The views were super, and this time, just three days later and unlike the experience of the the other group, the lake was entirely free of ice with several boats out and fishermen along the shore.

We ate lunch in the picnic shelter at Log Gulch. Then we said bye to Gail as she walked the road while the rest reclimbed the ridge and took the 2.25 mile loop while she walked just over a mile on the road.
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We finished by 2:20; home by 3:30. 
Who went: Doreen, Gail, Maria, Jo Ann, Katie

Getting up at 6 a.m. is worth it when the snow geese number in the 20,000 and you catch them as they rise with the sun. Besides, this drive was pretty, but a bit scary, as it included a full moon but deep patches of fog that reduced visibility but gave a halo to the moon glow.

After two trips out to Freezout management area mostly unsuccessful, we finally hit it. The birds weren't hanging out on the main lake as they normally do, but instead were mostly on the northern ponds, 1-4.  The swans were spread out over most of the ponds and Freezeout Lake; however, they don't rise all at once like the snow geese.

We did have a bit of a problem finding parking for three cars, but we were able to squeeze in one pull out and then walk about a quarter mile back to Pond Two. It as worth it as we bundled up against the cold.

The pictures speak for them selves.

Hiking in winter? We sure have been this year as it has been unseasonably warm except for two weeks. So this time, we headed toward Helena at 8 a.m. After a stop at the Mountain View Coop, we arrived at the trailhead at 10 a.m.

We welcomed Denise W from Sunburst on her first hike with us after many canceled hikes before we connected. She drove all the way from Sunburst to meet us at 8 a.m. We were impressed.

We had planned to meet Mary N from Missoula, but she canceled due to not trusting her two new knees enough to handle the hike; this left those wanting a slower pace to go at the faster pace of our mixed group. But everyone did great. We all made it to the high point with the fabulous views. It is a bit of a hump getting to the top, especially at the start of the hiking season.

We did see the beginnings of bitterroot coming up, so this might be a great place to come the first part of June to see our state flower in bloom.

The trail had quite a bit of snow and ice in sections, but we managed to maneuver around or cross gingerly so no one fell even without putting on our yaktrax. On the way back, the ice had softened and snow melted, making for a very muddy trail. Some thought the mud was slipperier than the ice. Our cars were caked with mud as we drove out on the dirt road.

All in all, it was a nice five-mile hike on a sunny day.

We arrived home around 3:30.
Who went: Denise W, Gail, Jo Ann, Susan, Kuntzie, Maria, Doreen, Katie

We hadn't been to Teton Pass area yet this year, so it was time: the weather looked great, the roads not too bad, so we headed out at 7:30 a.m. for a 3-4 mile snowshoe trek from the Teton Pass ski resort to Waldron Creek and out.

It was a bit cold with a breeze when we started out but quickly warmed up. The snow, however, was pretty crusty for the most part from melting a day or two before and didn't soften much as the day wore on. In a few places under the trees we did have some heavy powder, but at least we weren't breaking though the crust.

Since we didn't have to break trail, we made record time to Waldron Creek.  Sheila and Kuntzie decided to take a bit of a break while, Susan, Randi and Katie continued another quarter mile down the trail toward the bowl to get a bit better views.  We soon ran out of broken trail, so we returned to KuntZ and Sheila. Then we backtracked to the road, meeting Katie's husband Tom along the way. We also saw some very distinct cat tracks, probably a bobcat or smaller mountain lion. It must have been chasing all the snowshoe hares as the area around the creek was full of their tracks.

Along the way, we had a few falls, but nothing too dramatic. And Sheila has a famous quote on our home page now. When we took pictures of her, she said, "Does my hair look okay?" as if it would, wearing hats and getting battered in the breeze, haha.

Tom had driven the car down the road, so we were all able to put our snowshoes in the back, so we didn't have to carry them up the road about a mile back to the ski resort. The road was a bit icy in spots so we had to watch our step. As we approached the resort, a dog came at us, growling and barking, the hair on his back raised, but he settled down. Katie thought she might have to use her bear spray for a minute!

Then a family with food presented a better alternative for the black lab mix and he wandered away; as he did so, Tom pulled up in the car.

We got our lunches out and ate on the porch of the lodge except Randi and Sheila who decided to get back to GF, while Kuntz went in to order a Caesar salad wrap, homemade clam chowder and hand-cut French fries that she shared with everyone. They were delicious.

Meanwhile, Katie ran into many friends/acquaintances there: Gene Sentz, Susan Hildebrand, Hal Harper among others. It was fun to visit with people since the pandemic put a damper on socializing.

We arrived home by 3:30.

Who went: Randi, Kuntz, Susan, Sheila, Katie

We had so much fun hiking to Falls Creek Falls that we repeated the trip two days later so that more could go on this fun winter snowshoe or hike.

It did turn out to be a hike, although a few wore yaktrax for the icy parts, particularly the beginning quarter mile that is uphill (and downhill on the way back).  Otherwise, there was little snow, but plenty of water and mud to avoid along the way.

The falls didn't disappoint, with frozen springs along the cliffs as well. And no ticks yet! KuntZ lost her ear muffs but the Friday group found them! But the big find of the day was stromatolites!
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We left Great Falls at 8:30 on day and 7:30 the other, so some could get back early. We arrived home by 3:30 the first trip, then by 2:15 and 3 p.m. the second group.

Who went: 1st group:  Katie, Randi, Kuntzie, Carol, Doreen, June; 2nd group: Katie, Shelley, Gail, Jo Ann, Deb; 3rd group: Beth, Carol, Roni, Deb, Judy, Brenda, Kalah

The Powerline always is a surprise for first-timers, and for KuntZ, it was quite a shock to see the seemingly straight up path she needed to snowshoe to get back to the cars.

The day started out with us meeting Kalah at the top of Kings Hill. Some had intentions of doing the double powerline, a much tougher hike, while some planned to take the traditional route. Neither worked out.

We completed the usual trip down to O'Brien Park area, where a few had a snack before taking on the dreaded uphill of the Powerline. At this point, KuntZ realized that she really was going to have to climb up it.  A few snowmobiles passed by, Katie joked that KuntZ should stick out her thunb now and not lose her chance for a ride to the top, but she instead resorted to another tactic. She pretended her children were at the top and were in dire need of water. They needed their mother to climb up quickly to rescue them from dehydration! And it worked. She made it up fairly quickly.  Some of the other gals forewent the snack and headed up first to take their snack on top.

Once we were all together again, Katie and Kuntz said they were going back to the cars and not tackling the second Powerline.  Kalah said the second one was across the highway, but Katie was sure it wasn't. She was certain she had two hills to climb when she had skied it years ago.  But Kalah was right: the second one was across the highway. Anyway, we all stayed together, with some planning to walk the berm along the highway from the plows back to the cars and others planning the double powerline. Along this way, we had very icy snow and uneven from the plows. We also had to weave in and out of trees. Susan lost a snow basket too. By the time we arrived back at the cars, the wind picked up and everyone decided to try the second powerline another day.

We left Great Falls at 8 a.m. and were back around 2 p.m.

​Who went: Susan, Beth, Kalah, Sara, KuntZ, Carol, Viki, Amber, Roni, Katie