Seven Giggers made a four-mile round trip hike up Trout Creek Canyon in search of the rare Kelseya uniflora, which grows on limestone cliffs in eight counties in Montana, four counties in northwestern Wyoming and two counties in south-central Idaho. The plant was first discovered along the Missouri River northeast of Helena in 1888 by Francis Duncan Kelsey, one of Montana’s first resident botanists.

From the beginning of the trail, we observed many mats of tiny blue-green rosettes on the cliffs but few flowers. About two miles in, we found one mat with flowers in the beginning stage of blooming. Along the trail, we stopped at each of the ten stations and read from the Forest Service brochure which discussed erosion, vegetation, limestone formations, birds and other wildlife, flooding, Microclimates and caves. This was the first time Sheila, Debra, Randi, and Noreen had been on this hike.

Since we were all Covid vaccinated, we were happy to hike without social distancing, to ride together again and to stop for lunch at the York Bar.  Due to prior commitments, Sheila and Noreen did not lunch with us. The burgers did not disappoint.  

We left Great Falls at 8 a.m. and returned around 4 p.m. Who went: Jo Ann, Gail, Kuntz, Sheila, Debra, Randi, and Noreen. 

Three of us headed out to do a snowshoe to Sunset mountain on Rogers Pass but it was a bust. First, the crosswinds were so strong, the drivers had to slow way down as we were tossed around on the highway. Second, the snow was intermittent drifts, with the drifts being very icy. After we walked up the trail partway, we decided to continue down the road and go to Flesher pass in hopes of finding better snow, which we did.

Even though the snow was better, it was very thin with bare spots at times. However, the wind was gone! We went from a gray day with 30-40 mph gusts to a slight breeze under blue skies.  The views into the Seeley Swan area, the Rocky Mountain Front, the Adeles as well as the Holter lake area were fantastic as we snowshoed on top of the Continental Divide Trail, amazed at how lucky we were to have this experience.

Instead of following the official trail, we stayed high along the top ridge as it had better snow. We saw many tracks from voles (field mice) to fox, maybe coyote, lynx or bobcat, birds (we suspect magpies), squirrels, snowshoe hares and deer.

We only went 2.5 miles as the snow was a bit too thin to continue without going up another steep hill. By the time we arrived back at the cars, we didn't want to leave the warm sun and blue sky. We ate lunch at the liftgates of our cars before heading back to face the awful crosswinds on the other side of Rogers Pass.

We left Great Falls at 8 a.m.. and arrived back in town around 1:30.
​Who went: Viki, Katie, Suzie