Mount Ascension, June 2, 2019

Our group of five headed to Helena for a hike to Mount Ascension in the Prickly Pear Land Trust area. We had our South Hills Trail Map and made use of it because there are so many trails that are social trails and trails that intersected. If you want to use your phone for navigation there is an app that has the South Hills Trail System on it. There are over 70 miles of single-track trails and old two-track roads that are in the Helena area and are managed with the cooperation of the Prickly Pear Land Trust, the Helena National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management.

The start of our hike was from the Beattie St. Trailhead and then on to Prickly Pear, Meatloaf, Easy Rider and then on to the Mt. Ascension Loop trail and our goal of the Mount Ascension summit of 5282 feet. We encountered trail runners and hikers as and well-behaved dogs along our way as we headed down different trails such as Pail Rider to return to our car. 

A stop at Basecamp to check out some gear proved fruitful with shoes, water bottles and other accessories that were enticing. We then proceeded to the Windbag for lunch, and wandered in a few shops along Last Chance Gulch and returned home.

Who went: Amber, Susan, Linda, Gail, Anita and Christi

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