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Buffalo Lakes and Lubec Ridge Climb, June 26, 2020

6/27/2020

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Bushwhacking, Wading in Bogs: The Views Were Worth It!

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It's a strange year, with the east side of Glacier National Park closed for the season, due to COVID-19 worries for the Blackfeet Tribe, so we need to branch out a bit for places to go. So the hike into the Buffalo Lakes and Lubec Ridge fit the bill: it has pretty lakes, wonderful wildflowers and views into our beloved east side of Glacier.

This area lies within the Badger-Two Medicine area, which abuts the Blackfeet Reservation on one side and lies across the Highway from GNP on the other. It's a sacred place for the Blackfeet, who fought to have the mineral right leases rescinded. This summer, the last potential developer gave up his rights.

Of course, the National Forest trails aren't often the same as the park's: signage can be rare, trails more a braided or less traveled and include more bushwhacking and fall down that hasn't been cleared.  This hike was no exception, except we went off-trail on purpose at times. So, yes, it was a day of bushwhacking!

It started off at 6:30 a.m. with three gals from Great Falls meeting Madelon from Eureka, both with a two hour 15 minute drive to the trailhead along Highway 2, tucked into a small pull out. Madelon arrived first; luckily, we met up as there is no cell service in this area.

The trail was fine to begin with. Katie led off the main trail to a field of blue camas for pictures. Then we headed right up the ridge, gaining views in no time.  Then she wanted to take everyone to the shores of the lakes, so we dropped down and had a bit of bushwhacking to get across a creek in the next drainage. The pine trees were in bloom, releasing tons of blossoms when we bumped the branches. Plumes of what looked like smoke erupted every time we hit one.

For a while, we wandered around the west side of the lake, running into two other people at the head.  So far so good.

Then we rounded the second lake, but the going got rougher on the third, with bushwhacking through alders along the side and then going into the marshy bank area. We did see bear and moose tracks and signs in the mud.

Once we rounded this last lake, we were surprised to see a trail leading up the ridge. It was easy going until right before the top. Josy did a great job picking her way and leading to the top, which was very windy.  We lost our balance a time or two, but really enjoyed the flowers: biscuitroot, crazyweed, lupine, larkspur, sticky geranium, lance-leaved stone crop, woolly groundsel, to name a few.

And the views were amazing of the mountains: Summit and Little Dog, Red Crow, Dancing Lady, Calf Robe

The it was back down, with Madelon and Josy scouting the way, this time heading for the east side of the lakes. We did fine until we neared the lake, when we got too low for a bit and got mired in some muck, but once up higher, we were awed by the green rushes in the lakes against the mountains and azure sky, so stunning.

Once we rounded the last lake, Katie took a bad turn through the bushwhack to get back across the stream. Again, we faced alders and pines with their pollen. Then we reached the wide-open area. Katie thought we were home free, but we didn't see the orange trail and gas well signs as we should have, so we headed to the west  The trail started back in the direction of the lakes: more bushwhacking, Katie thought as she figured we were one drainage over before dropping down. Josy, thankfully went ahead, crossing a drainage; however, she didn't find a trail, so we waited while she looked.  Soon, with the wind, we were out of shouting range; we started to worry about getting separated, never a good thing.  And Madelon had a dinner she wished to attend later in the evening so she was aware of her two 'o’clock deadline

Josy, of course, was loath to come back through the brush, hoping to find a way down; We started hollering for her to come back, not sure if she could hear us. We worried some more, but not wanting to bushwhack over ourselves, not sure if we knew where she was anyway, Then we heard a faint voice, but way below us, so we went further down until we could hear Josy better.  We were grateful that we could hear her now! Then there was a place for Josy to more easily move to us through the brush. We all so grateful to have her back with us and thankful that we didn't have to do the bushwhack that she did! And she did it in shorts!  Both she and Madelon, who also wore shorts, will earn their Mountain Mama legs from this trip! After we were back as a group, Madelon said she was so grateful that in normal times she would hug Josy!

Katie figured if we returned to the open area, even if we didn't find the trail, it would be a lot easier going down the grassy open area than bushwhacking through alders and rose bushes. So, we retraced our steps. No one wanted to do any more game trails though bushes today.

When we returned and dropped a bit lower, voila! The trail and the signs appeared.  We hadn't dropped low enough after coming to the opening the first time.  Then it was a hustle down the trail, actually an old road, all the bushwhacking behind us.  Madelon made it back with plenty of time to spare, around 1:30.

Then we went our separate ways. Madelon and the Great Falls gals arrived home at just after 4 p.m. Wonderful day.

​Who went: Madelon, Josy, Susan, Katie


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Sunset Mountain, June 24, 2020

6/24/2020

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Foot-High Chocolate Lily with 13 Flowers; Many Others Speckle Trail

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Who went group one: Jo Ann, Doreen, Gail, Paula P, Sue M
Who went, group two: Katie, Amber, Judy

The weather looked bad, so both groups moved up the hike by a day, from Thursday to Wednesday. Then even Wednesday looked a bit iffy, so the first group decided not to make a sunset trip to Sunset mountain but a morning trip.

The other group ended up canceling as severe damaging thunderstorms and hail were predicted.  Insstead, the weather on Thursdaay morning looked better.

Group one left Great Falls at 8 a.m. on our way to Sunset Mountain; the first hike that no one in our group had ever been on before.  The trail, an unpaved road, is located about one-tenth of a mile down the highway from Rogers Pass parking area. The weather was warm and sunny, but we found a few shady stops.  There were many wildflowers, which Jo Ann identified for the group.

At the top, we lunched in the shade; then proceeded down the trail. Along the way, Jo Ann spotted several Chocolate Lilies and an Early Coralroot. Everyone had a good time. We were back in Great Falls around 2:30 p.m. 
Who went: Gail, Jo Ann, Sue M, Paula P, and Doreen.  


Group two was under a timeline, as Judy had a doctor's appointment at 1 p.m. for a loose crown.  So we left town right at 7 a.m. and hustled up the trail. Somehow, we missed the chocolate lily that Jo Ann told us about: a rare with flower with an even rarer number of blossoms: 13. Usually, this lily might have two or three blossoms on a stalk, so this specimen was highly unusual. Even H. Wayne Phillips, a botanist, couldn't believe this flower.

Both groups passed it by on the way up, but both spotted it on the return. But this wasn't the only amazing flower: the Indian paintbrush was especially bright red, the yellow of the arrowleaf balsamroot almost hurt the eyes.

The other outstanding flowers were valerian, elderberry, buckbrush/ceonothus, arnica, and miner's candle.

As we approached the top and the towers and huts, a work truck wtih three workers approached waving hello.  The walk is on a dirt  access road, used to service the radio, TV and cell towers on top.

On the way down, Judy noticed her sunglasses were missing. She thought she may have dropped them at the top when she took pictures. Amber said she would drive her back up, but hoped the men in the truck wouldn't be coming down as the road is single track.

Even though it wasn't in the evening, Sunset mountain didn't disappoint.

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Willow Creek Falls, June 21, 2020

6/22/2020

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Waterfalls, Flowers, Wildlife Stun Gals on Rocky Mountain Front Hike

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Two groups traveled to Willow Creek Falls. The first group led by Jo Ann and Gail left Great Falls at 7 a.m., and Shelly met them in Augusta. We were delayed a bit by road construction. The second group led by Sara and Viki left Great Falls at 8 a.m., and Viki met them in Augusta. The sky was partly cloudy with temps in the 70s. Perfect hiking weather. 

Upon arrival at the trailhead, the private property owners were exiting the gate and gave us permission to go through, nice that we did not have to climb under the barbed wire fence. Immediately, we were rewarded with a field of wildflowers and took lots of photos. 

When we arrived at the creek, we were pleased that our water shoes were not needed; someone had placed logs for crossing. Wildflower identification (64 flowers) and photography continued the entire hike. Shelly looked for fossils and the elusive heart-shaped rock. At lunch she and Karen spotted fossils on rocks next to where they were sitting. Jo Ann and Karen each removed a tick from their clothing.

Shortly after lunch, on our return, we met the second group. They stopped for lunch; then headed down the trail and arrived at the parking area about five minutes after the first group.

The second group arrived a little late to the trailhead as Sara, who was driving, took a wrong turn at Scoutana and continued on the road to the Gibson Reservoir. After we stopped to talk to some bicyclists, we realized that we had to turn back. It added about an hour to our drive, but now Sara know the way to Willow Creek!

Only three of the 11 hikers had hiked this trail. All were impressed with the stunning mountain scenery, the waterfalls, and the wildflowers.

Who went:
First Group – Jo Ann, Gail, Catherine, Karen, Shelley.
Second Group – Sara, Viki, Cathy K, Bonnie W, Heather, Paula P.

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​WILDFLOWERS WE SAW
Alum Root, Roundleaf 
Anemone, Cut-Leaved, creamy white
Anemone, Cut-Leaved, Pink
Anemone, Cut-Leaved, Yellow
Arrowleaf Balsamroot
Biscuit-Root, Nine-Leaved
Bluebells
Buckbrush/ceanothus
Buckwheat, Suphur
Buckwheat, Wyeth's
Chickweed, Mouse Eared 
Chokecherry
Cinquefoil, Shrubby
Clematis, Purple Virgin's Bower
Collomia, Narrow-leaved/Tiny Trumpet
Daisy, Cutleaf
Dandelion, Mountain
Dandelion, Salsify
Death Camas, Common aka Meadow
Flax, Blue
Gential, Green aka Monument Plant
Geranium, Sticky Pink
Geranium, Sticky White
Groundsel, Wooly
Hound's Tongue (noxious weed)
Indian Paintbrush-Red
Iris, Missouri
Jacob's Ladder
Kinickinick
Larkspur
Lousewort, Parry's
Lupine 
Meadow Rue, female (no males)
Milkvetch, Drummond's
Miner's Candle, Northern
Oregon Grape, Creeping
Parsley, Fern-Leaved Desert
Penstemon, Fuzzy Tongue
Penstemon, Slender Blue
Penstemon, Shining
Phacelia, Silky
Phacelia, Silverleaf 
Prairie Smoke and Old Man Whiskers
Pussytoes, Alpine
Pussytoes, Rosy
Pussytoes, Tall
Pussytoes, Woods
Raspberry
Rockcress, Nuttals
Saxifrage
Serviceberry aka Sarvisberry aka Saskatoon 
Solomon's Seal, False 
Solomon's Seal, Star Flowered False aka Wild Lily of the Valley  
Stonecrop, Lance-Leaved
Stoneseed aka Gromwell aka Lemonweed 
Strawberry
Sugar Bowl
Townsendia, Parry's
Violet, Blue
Violet, Canada
Wallflower
Yarrow
Yellow Owl's Clover
Yellowstone Draba
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Fairview Mountain, June 20, 2020

6/21/2020

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Summer Solstice Climb of Fairview Mountain

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We left Great Falls at 6:30 a.m. taking the back way to Augusta through Fairfield due to road construction out of Simms.
We wanted to get out early due to thunderstorms predicted in the afternoon, and this being early in the year, we knew it would take us longer to do some climbing.

And our legs weren't the only thing that slowed us down: the flowers called us to take a ton of photos. We must have seen over 50 different varieties from the verdant valley flowers including wild iris to high alpine beauties just emerging as the snow melts such as spring beauties, alpine forget-me-nots, glacier lilies and spring beauties.

So, the trail starts in a meadow, crosses a creek (over which, someone had placed logs so we didn't need  our water shoes). and then gets alpine fast. The rocky limestones holds many fossils, especially crinoids; we did find a few as well as what we think is an ancient coral.

Then we hit the series of waterfalls t, called Willow Creek Falls, hat tumble down the rocky cliffs before we head off trial for the climbing portion.

We had a snack at this junction, while Katie and Tom discussed routes. Due to the weather, we decided to take a more direct, but steeper, route so that we could get to the top by 1 p.m., the rule being get off a mountain by 2 p.m. as that is when the electric storms usually gather in the Rockies. So far, we had averaged just over one mph with the fossil hunting and picture taking and the clouds were starting to loom.

On the way to the top, we passed through what looked like a dead white-bark pine forest. In fact, we kept hearing a bird call and Beth said it had black wings; we figured it might be  a Clark's nutcracker. Lots of gorgeous snags to set off our picture shutters again, but sad that the trees died. In this section, Tom picked up four ticks. Then we continued, admiring the three different anemone variety of flowers with Tom pushing on to the 1 p.m. deadline.

And we did make it. It was a tough climb, making for an 8 versus 10-mile day, but we did make it to the top by 1 p.m. We ate our lunch and enjoyed the views for a half hour before heading back down.  The views on top were stupendous, even if we had mounting clouds. We viewed the Scapegoat escarpment, a long circular wall where we will be backpacking to later this summer.

We retraced our steps, back to the waterfalls, through the meadow to the stream crossing and through the final meadow.

We got back to the cars around 4:30 and home by 6:30, with some stopping in Augusta for a bite to eat. Katie and Tom both found a few more ticks when they showered, Yuck.

Who went: Mary, Amber, Beth, Katie (Tom and Gordon guides)

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North Shore Missouri River, June 18, 2020

6/18/2020

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Snake on Trail Gives a Scare at End of Nice Hike along the Missouri with Flowers, Hoodoos

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After three and a half days of rain, Karen, Jo Ann and Katie were aching to get in a short hike, this time to see prairie flowers. We started at the Ryan Dam trailhead but headed west toward Cochrane Dam rather than the usual Morony. We went to the falls overlook and then continued to the Ryan Dam/Great Falls overlook, where some powerlines secure to hoodoos high above the island.

It was interesting to get another vantage point from on high.  On the way going, we marveled at the flowers, the prickly  pear and yucca blooms in particular. On the way back, we took a jump as a rattle snake gave us his warning shake and coiled ready to strike. Boy, did Katie take a leap as she was closest to the little bugger.  He wasn't very big but he gave us a big fright. Luckily, we were steps from the car or we would have been timid on the trail after that.

We saw almost 30 wildflowers on this desert soil, surprising really with how dry it is.

We left at 3 and were back by 6 p,m,
Jo Ann's pix
Katie's pix
Flowers we saw

Yucca
Prickly pear
American vetch
split pod milkvetch
white penstemon
yarrow
prairie roses
Hymonoxys acaulis
bull thistle
butterfly weed
sulphur buckwheat
cushion goldenweed
cushion buckwheat
sulphur buckwheat
American vetch
Scarlet globemallow
bastard toadflax
dalmation toadflax/butter and eggs
dame's rocket
sweet clover
alfafa
Missouri milkvetch
Miners candle
dusty maiden
daisy
blue flax
leafy spurge
​geyer's onion

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Skidway Hill and Kings Hill, June 12, 2020

6/13/2020

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Mountain Climb Turns into Two Peaks; 70+ Flowers;
​Jo Ann Fulfills Dream of Photographing Limestone Columbine aka Jones Columbine

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Jo Ann's Pix
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With a very hot day expected and not many able to go, we ditched the idea of a big climb with no shade to wildflower walks, in search of the elusive limestone or Jones columbine, which only resides on rocky mountain tops.

We were to have two groups: one leisurely wildflower walk group and one group that would split off to climb Grassy Mountain. Instead, we did something in between: we did two wildflower walks, but the mountain climbers convinced the walkers to hike to the top of two small peaks. And we weren't disappointed with the flowers.

We left Great Falls at an early 6:30 a.m. in an attempt to beat the heat, stopping briefly at Memorial Falls for a break. We arrived at Skidway at 8:45 and were on trail just before 9 a.m. Even in the parking area we started to see flowers: Indian paintbrush (red and sulphur) and lupine really showed their faces. But the flowers kept coming. On this portion of our hike, we named over 70, including chocolate lily, fairy slippers and early orchids. We even saw a white clematis or virgin's bower. See our list below.

This hike stays in the trees among lush meadowlands, but we went off trail to tag Skidway Hill, a former ski area for the people of the area including Townsend and White Sulphur Springs. We saw the remnants of the lodge and ski tow and enjoyed the views of the surrounding mountains, including Edith, that largest peak in the Big Belts. Then we took a glance up the mountain at what would have been the climbers path that we will save for a cooler day when more gals can join us.

Then we headed back into the trees and continued our three-mile loop to our cars. We arrived at the cars at 11:30 a.m. After our hike into the Big Belts, we decided to hit another high point, this time in the Little Belts and halfway on our way home: Kings Hill.  Jo Ann is not called "Flower Finder" as her trail name for nothing. She is a member of the Native Plant Society and sure has an eye. It is she who spotted the early coralroot orchid and chocolate lilies when the rest of us would have walked right by them, so when Katie said there was an opportunity to see limestone columbine on Kings Hill, she was up for it, even though it would mean a six-mile day, more hiking than she had done in a year. And it was uphill all the way on our next three-mile adventure.

Before we jumped into our cars for Kings Hill, we said goodbye to Sheila, who decided to stay for some fishing instead of the second hike. We arrived at Kings Hill in about an hour and started up, hitting a bit of snow on the old road and trail. Along the way, Jo Ann and Katie found even more flower varieties than what we had seen at Skidway, marking over 70 flowers in the 80s if you count the white versions), but the real treat was on top: among the rocky outcroppings lay dozens of limestone columbine, their bright violtet-blue heads with yellow centers seeming to smile at us through the wind that was whipping at the top. But it was all worth it. Jo Ann finally was able to photograph this special flower.  

To help her out, Amber played Sherpa, carrying other people's water and running back and forth to get her exercise. We figured she put on an extra mile going to the top and back several times.

We got down around 3 p.m. and were home by 4.  A wonderful day.
Who went: Jo Ann, Karen, Sheila, Amber, Susan, Katie

WILDFLOWERS WE SAW

Alum Root, Roundleaf
Anemone, Cut-Leaved, creamy white
Arnica, Heart-Leaved
Arrowleaf Balsamroot
Baneberry
Biscuit-Root, Cous
Biscuit-Root, Nine-Leaved
Bistort, American
Bittercrest, Alpine
Bluebells
Blue-eyed Mary
Buckbrush/ceanothus
Calypso Orchid aka Fairy Slipper
Chickweed, Mouse Eared
Chocolate Lily
Cinquefoil, Drummond's
Collomia, Narrow-leaved/Tiny Trumpet
Columbine, Jones aka Limestone
Crazyweed, Silky
Currant, Black
Current, Wax
Cushion Goldenweed
Daisy, Cutleaf
Daisy, Showy Fleabane
Dandelion, Mountain
Death Camas, Common aka Meadow
Douglasia
Fern-Leaved Desert Parsley
Forget-Me-Not, Alpine
Forget-Me-Not, Many Flowered Stickseed
Forget-Me-Not, Woods
Geranium, Sticky Pink
Geranium, Sticky White
Groundsel, Arrowleaf
Groundsel, Wooly
Hound's Tongue (noxious weed)
Hymenoxys, Acaulis/Stemless
Indian Paintbrush-Lime color
Indian Paintbrush-Red
Indian Paintbrush-Salmon color
Indian Paintbrush-Pallid (yellow)
Jacob's Ladder
Kittentail, Wyoming
Larkspur
Lupine
Meadow Rue, female
Meadow Rue, male
Milkvetch, Drummond's
Northern Miner's Candle
Orchid, Early Coralroot
Oregon Grape, Creeping
Pasqueflower
Pearly Everlasting
Pennycress, Field
Phacelia, Silverleaf (leaves only)
Phacelia, Threadleaf
Phlox, Cushion
Prairie Smoke
Pussytoes, Woods
Rockcress, Drummond's
Rockcress, Nuttals
Saxifrage, Rusty
Saxifrage, Snowball
Serviceberry aka Sarvisberry aka Saskatoon
Shooting Star
Solomon's Seal, False
Solomon's Seal, Star Flowered False aka Wild Lily of the Valley 
Sorrel, Mountain
Spring Beauty, Pink
Spring Beauty, White
Stonecrop, Lance-Leaved
Stoneseed aka Gromwell aka Lemonweed
Strawberry
Sugar Bowl
Valerian, Sitka
Virgin's Bower/Clematis (purple)
Virgin's Bower/Clematis (white)
Wallflower
Western Sweet Cicely
Woodland Star aka Prairie Star
Yellow Violet
Yellowstone Draba

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Windy Peak, June 9, 2020

6/11/2020

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Gals Buzzed by Military Helicopter on Windy Day on Windy Peak

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Who went:. 
Brenda, Judy, Noreen, Amber and Beth

We parked at Thain Creek campground near the trailhead #454 and walked over to Briggs Creek Trail #431. The two days prior to our adventure, rain soaked the area and we were prepared for lots of mud and stream crossings with high water - we were pleasantly surprised as there was very little mud and the stream crossings were fairly easy to navigate and cross. Before the hike, we determined that everyone would take turns in the line so everyone would lead and experience different perspectives.

We ventured through the lush forest and oohed and aahed at the vibrant and abundant arrowleaf balsamroot - the hillsides were covered. We merged with trail 454 and continued until we reached the base of Windy Peak. We left our packs at the sign and trekked up the hillside to the peak.

​Upon reaching the top, a military helicopter flew right by us - actually a little lower in elevation than we were - it surprised us all. Individual and group photos were taken at the top and we descended down to our packs. It was VERY windy (hmmm...we all know why it is so named) and when we reached our packs, tucked behind some rocks and ate our lunches and enjoyed the beautiful views.

No mammals were spotted but we did observe large single ungulate tracks that we guessed were from a moose. The many crossings towards the end of the trail were conquered by all and we all managed to stay dry. It was a delightful day with many laughs and great memories!



Beth's pix
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Rogers Pass, June 5, 2020

6/9/2020

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Over 40 Flowers Wow Gals on Continental Divide Trail

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Originally two groups planned to hike Rogers Pass on Sunday, June 7, but due to the weather forecast of rain and thunderstorms, the leaders organized the hike for Friday instead. Six members from the two groups were available on Friday: Jo Ann W and Gail, co-leaders; Karen, Heather, Bonnie W, and Sheila. Welcome Sheila to your first GIG hike.

We departed Great Falls at 8 a.m. and were on the trail by 9:30. The weather was perfect, sunshine and temps in 70s. Wildflowers were abundant and showy. (See list of 45 that I recall).

Chocolate Lilies were the star of the day, which we found thanks to Katie’s directions. In the first meadow, Prairie Smoke were abundant. When we reached the ridgeline, the Alpine Forget-Me-Nots, Yellowstone Draba and Douglasia were the highlight. All enjoyed the view of the mountains and the wildflowers as we lunched just below the ridgeline. On our way down the trail, we stopped to enjoy the Chocolate Lilies again.

We expressed gratitude that we live in Montana and for the opportunity to enjoy a refreshing, peaceful day basking in the beauty of the mountains and wildflowers, only an hour from home.    

Who went: Jo Ann, Karen, Heather, Gail, Bonnie W and Sheila

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ROGERS PASS WILDFLOWERS
  • Alpine Forget-Me-Not
  • Alum Root, Roundleaf 
  • Anemone, Cut-Leaved, creamy white
  • Anemone, Cut-Leaved, reddish-pink
  • Arnica, Heart-Leaved
  • Arrowleaf Balsamroot
  • Ballhead Waterleaf
  • Biscuit-Root, Cous
  • Biscuit-Root, Nine-Leaved
  • Bistort
  • Bluebells
  • Blue-eyed Mary
  • Chickweed, Mouse Eared 
  • Chocolate Lily
  • Douglasia
  • False Solomon's Seal
  • Foamflower
  • Geranium, Sticky (leaves only-not yet flowering)
  • Glacier Lily
  • Huckleberry
  • Indian Paintbrush
  • Jacob's Ladder
  • Kinnikinnick
  • Kittentail
  • Larkspur
  • Lupine (leaves only - not yet flowering)
  • Meadow Rue, female
  • Meadow Rue, male
  • Northern Bedstraw
  • Oregon Grape, Creeping
  • Pasqueflower
  • Pearly Everlasting
  • Prairie Smoke
  • Pussytoes
  • Red Twinberry/Utah Honeysuckle
  • Shooting Star
  • Sitka Valerian
  • Springbeauty
  • Sugar Bowl
  • Townsendia, Parry's
  • Virgin's Bower/Clematis
  • Wooly Groundsel
  • Yellow Salsify
  • Yellow Violet
  • Yellowstone Draba
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Windy Peak Loop, June 4, 2020

6/5/2020

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Unnamed Peak, Arrowleaf Balsamroot Wow Gals on Long Hike

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Over nine miles and bushwhacking gave three Giggers a workout on a pretty day that highlighed all the flowers the Highwood Mountains had to offer.

The day started at 7:30 a.m. and took over an hour to travel the very bad road going into Thain Creek area. We parked where the road splits into North Fork Highwood Creek and Thain Creek. Then we took the 411 trail across the road that meets with the trail at the campground.
 
By 9 a.m., we were on trail with our watershoes packed just in case the 13 creek crossing required them, but we discovered bridges, logs or rockhopping sufficed to get across all the streams.

At the beginning of the trail, we had to check the GPS at one junction. We ended up heading in a counterclockwise direction, which was new to Katie.
As we headed up, some of us realized it was early in the season as our legs and lungs took a bit to get adjusted to the uphill climb.  We took adequate stops to get water and admire the 45 flowers we saw along the way.  Nora used her Seek app to help us with a few names, but for the most part, we were familiar with the blooms we saw.

After we reached the first pass, we continued around a small peak and then to another, the largest on the horizon.  Katie thought it was the Windy Peak as it was bigger and we were approaching from a different direction, so we headed up the ridge, Susan in the lead. Going up was pretty easy. On the way, we looked back and spied a man and a dog on the trail. Then he decided to follow us and caught us on top when we were taking off our packs to rest and have our lunch.  Nora discovered the hiker was someone she knew: Dan Levine, so she chatted a bit.  We enjoyed the views of both sides, green hills all around covered in bright yellow arrowleaf balsamroot reflecting in the sun.

After lunch, Katie had the bright idea of going off the far side instead of going back the way we came.  It got us down all right, but not without a lot of bushwhacking through trees, on talus and over junipers. Nora guided us down most of the way down very steep terrain. But no one slipped or got hurt; we were happy to see the trail though.

Then we continued along the ridge, reaching the real Windy Peak  and pass in about a mile. No one really felt like going up another high point, even though it was much easier, 250 feet lower than the peak we climbed.

Then it was down, down, down with most of the creek crossings ahead of us. We enjoyed the different zones of flowers (see list below). We completed the Windy Point loop and threw in a peak, so on the way home, we also went back a different way, completing another loop.
Our day ended at 5 pm. back to Great Falls.

Who went: Susan, Nora, Katie

Flowers we saw
  • Arrowleaf balsamroot
  • Mouse-eared chickweed
  • Woodland star
  • Larkspur
  • Lupine
  • Sugar bowls
  • Dandelions
  • Virgin’s bower/clematis
  • Wyoming kittentails
  • Beardtongue penstemon
  • Rock cress
  • Wild lily of the valley
  • False Solomon seal
  • Bluebells
  • Sticky geraniums
  • Pasque flower
  • Blue violets
  • Yellow violets
  • Canada violets
  • Kinnikkinnik
  • Serviceberry
  • Red twinberry/Utah honeysuckle
  • Narrow-leaved collomia
  • Shooting stars
  • Meadowrue
  • Mountain dandelion
  • Rosy pussytoes
  • Pussytoes
  • Valerian/western tobacco root
  • Arnica
  • Mountain dandelion
  • Cous biscuitroot
  • Nine-leaf biscuitroot
  • Big seed biscuitroot
  • Stoneseed/gromwell
  • Oregon grape
  • Wooly groundsel
  • Fritillary
  • Strawberry
  • Cut-leaf daisy
  • Bistort
  • Sticky tofieldia
  • Death camas
  • Spring beauty
  • Bane berry

Pix
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Rodgers Peak, afternoon, June 1, 2020

6/3/2020

1 Comment

 

Storm Brews But Gals Make it to Top, Welcome New Member

Picture
GiG welcomed Noreen to the group with a quick afternoon trip up Rodgers Peak; and it was quick since the clouds started rolling in.
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We left Great Falls at 1 p.m and were on trail by 2:30 and off the mountain by 5:15 in time to greet the other group going up in the evening. 

On our way up, we saw tons of wildflowers, going from the glacier lily zone to the alpine forgetmenots and douglasia above the treeline.  (See list of flowers we saw).  We faced a bit of blowdown, having to skirt off trail to get around trees.  And we saw many huckleberry blossoms, promising a good crop come August.

As we climbed and got out of the trees, the wind really started whipping us. Some of us peaked over the rocks at the first saddle only to walk back quickly for fear of being blown off the cliff.  This area had the best display of alpine flowers: pink douglasia, blue forgetmenots and yellow cous biscuitroot and yellowstone draba.

As we neared the second pass, we stopped as a big thunderhead was looming over it. Instead, we took a break and ate our dinner, hoping the wind would blow the cloud away, but it didn't. So Katie said that we would head straight up and get to the peak that way instead of going to the pass and going up the less-steep backside as we usually do. Some of the gals thought she was crazy as it was a stiff climb, but once we got going, no one had any problems.

Then on top, with the wind howling, we took a quick picture before descending quickly. A few gals even risked the lightening with sticks in the air. We did want to get down before any thunder storm started. Plus the wind wasn't very pleasant either.

We made it down before even a drop of rain fell or any lightning started.  Then Katie headed up Rogers Pass in hopes of finding chocolate lilies while everyone else headed home. A fun time and Noreen, the newbie, said she would be back hiking with us soon. We hadn't scared her away.

ballhead waterleaf
strawberry
douglasia
douglasia, alpine forgetmenots and yellowstone draba
pasque flower
alpine forgetmenots and yellowstone draba
glacier lily
huckleberry
jacob's ladder
Holly or Oregon grape
larkspur
kinnikkinnik
arnica
western tobaccoroot or valerian
red twinberry or Utah honeysuckle
wild anise
Indian paintbrush
strawberry
Pix
Flowers

alpine forgetmenots
douglasia
wild anise
arnica
sitka valerian
Western tobaccoroot
yellowstone draba
cous biscuitroot
larkspur
Indian paintbrush
glacier lily
chickweed
ballhead waterleaf
strawberries
huckleberries
kinnikkinnik
Pasque flower
shooting stars
Jacob's ladder
Oregon/Holly grape
red twinberry or Utah honeysuckle
spring beauties
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