If I can be of help, Ron, please let me know! If you plan to hike into the high country don’t plan to do it too early in the year. July or August is usually the best because of the snow conditions up high.
I like “Back down the trail” for the sense it gives of what the experience there is like – the view, the trail, the sky. But “Due North” reminded me of the excitement I felt when a dozen of us sailed from Kauai, headed for Alaska. Our course was, in fact, “due north”. That heading always has resonated for me more than any other direction.
East and Northeast especially…….do you mind letting me know where this is…other than mount Baldy…I think I’ve mentioned before that my son is in Missoula…I’m ready to make some adventuring plans, but need advice..you can email me at zannyro@yahoo.com…..if you’d rather not..no problem:)
I will send you an email with more complete directions, but this roadless area is about 80 miles northwest of Missoula and about 10 miles north of the small town of Plains.
That lake would still be pretty cold! There is a very small window for taking a dip there because it will start turning colder again toward the end of September.
It seemed to me that the clouds were reflections of the landscape, in a rather abstract way. What a sense of the infinite it must create while standing there, looking out across those mountains. Love that trail image. Very enticing.
Spending any amount of time on mountain tops like this one do indeed give you a new perspective of the world in which we live. Because I have lived here for some time and spent lots of time in these mountains, from the tops of them I see many other peaks, old friends from over the years and I have great memories of visiting them too. It’s the world I love and the places in which I love to be.
It really is! I wish it were just a little more difficult to get to, but whoever goes up there does it with some effort and they tend to respect the place.
Looks like you hit the perfect day for your ascent. To me, spending time on the top of a mountain, by oneself, is one of the most awe inspiring ways to spend time. There is so much to take in. Sometimes its overwhelming. I especially liked the lunch room shot. Always one of my favorite stops on one of these kind of wanders. Talk about a table with a view. It doesn’t get much better. Thanks for taking us along.
It looks so nice and cool–which would be welcome right now (we have been mostly in the 90-100 degree range the past few weeks). The little lake nestled in the valley is so pretty. What a site to come upon!
It’s cooler up there than in the valley. The rule of thumb is that on a sunny day (and all other factors stay constant) temperature decreases by 5.4 degrees per thousand feet of altitude increase. The top of that mountain is 5000 feet higher than the valley and so it would be about 25 degrees cooler at the top.
There are lots of those “lunch rooms” around here. I dined in another today with a view looking out over the Nine Mile valley. Don’t even have to reserve a seat!
Hi Montucky, I sure am enjoying your pictures of the forest, mountain peaks, trails, oh that snow, and of course, the pretty small lake. Beauty and unspoiled! Have a super great coming week!
Oh, to always have a lunch room with such a view!!
I love the view of a scree and boulder fields, but don’t relish the thought of walking/hopping across them. And the alpine lake…very pretty…as is the rest of it. Thank you. 🙂
The rocks are not pleasant to walk on. Every time when I come back down I mentally celebrate feeling real dirt under my boots again. (And good tough boots are the salvation of that trail!)
I sure do Tammy. It’s part of the love affair I’ve had with this wild country for 70 years now. Nearly all of my wanderings are in our National Forests. I often wonder how many folks in America today really realize what treasures these forests are!
I want to visit there! I think I’ll make plans for next spring when I get vacation again. Until then thanks for the pictures.
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Comment by Ron Mangels — July 14, 2012 @ 9:18 am
If I can be of help, Ron, please let me know! If you plan to hike into the high country don’t plan to do it too early in the year. July or August is usually the best because of the snow conditions up high.
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Comment by montucky — July 14, 2012 @ 3:35 pm
thanks for the beautiful pic’s again.i really like your lunch room.
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Comment by Jeff Price — July 14, 2012 @ 9:29 am
Couldn’t really ask for a better one!
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Comment by montucky — July 14, 2012 @ 3:36 pm
I like “Back down the trail” for the sense it gives of what the experience there is like – the view, the trail, the sky. But “Due North” reminded me of the excitement I felt when a dozen of us sailed from Kauai, headed for Alaska. Our course was, in fact, “due north”. That heading always has resonated for me more than any other direction.
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Comment by shoreacres — July 14, 2012 @ 9:38 am
North” is a favorite of mine too because from where I live there is so much great, wild country in that direction.
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Comment by montucky — July 14, 2012 @ 3:38 pm
I can’t think of any words good enough to describe these shots, but I gotta tell ya one thing… I LOVE YOUR LUNCH ROOM!!! =)
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Comment by Tricia — July 14, 2012 @ 9:46 am
I think a lot of folks would love to have lunch there too!
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Comment by montucky — July 14, 2012 @ 3:40 pm
Those clouds couldn’t be prettier.Do you run into many people up there? And have you ever spent the night up top?
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Comment by sandy — July 14, 2012 @ 9:47 am
In probably two dozen trips there I’ve encountered people twice. I have not spent the night on that peak but I have on others.
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Comment by montucky — July 14, 2012 @ 3:42 pm
Just divine… The trails, vista, trees… And of course the lunchroom!!! ♥ You have easier lunchrooms than we do, that’s for sure.
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Comment by FeyGirl — July 14, 2012 @ 10:01 am
Yes, it’s an all around great place to visit and each time it’s different.
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Comment by montucky — July 14, 2012 @ 3:43 pm
East and Northeast especially…….do you mind letting me know where this is…other than mount Baldy…I think I’ve mentioned before that my son is in Missoula…I’m ready to make some adventuring plans, but need advice..you can email me at zannyro@yahoo.com…..if you’d rather not..no problem:)
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Comment by zannyro — July 14, 2012 @ 10:11 am
I will send you an email with more complete directions, but this roadless area is about 80 miles northwest of Missoula and about 10 miles north of the small town of Plains.
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Comment by montucky — July 14, 2012 @ 3:49 pm
I like that little pond. It would be tempting to take a dip but for the ice!
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Comment by jomegat — July 14, 2012 @ 11:15 am
That lake would still be pretty cold! There is a very small window for taking a dip there because it will start turning colder again toward the end of September.
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Comment by montucky — July 14, 2012 @ 3:44 pm
Great lunch room, beats where I have lunch weekdays 🙂 I bet food tastes extra good once you get up there, too.
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Comment by Candace — July 14, 2012 @ 2:49 pm
Yes, your appetite is enhanced for a whole number of reasons!
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Comment by montucky — July 14, 2012 @ 3:45 pm
It seemed to me that the clouds were reflections of the landscape, in a rather abstract way. What a sense of the infinite it must create while standing there, looking out across those mountains. Love that trail image. Very enticing.
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Comment by Teresa Evangeline — July 14, 2012 @ 3:59 pm
Spending any amount of time on mountain tops like this one do indeed give you a new perspective of the world in which we live. Because I have lived here for some time and spent lots of time in these mountains, from the tops of them I see many other peaks, old friends from over the years and I have great memories of visiting them too. It’s the world I love and the places in which I love to be.
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Comment by montucky — July 14, 2012 @ 4:26 pm
The words “awe inspiring” really fit this beautiful place. I’m glad that it’s hard to get to.
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Comment by New Hampshire Gardener — July 14, 2012 @ 6:43 pm
It really is! I wish it were just a little more difficult to get to, but whoever goes up there does it with some effort and they tend to respect the place.
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Comment by montucky — July 14, 2012 @ 7:48 pm
What magnificent scenery, Montucky! Absolutely beautiful!
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Comment by Watching Seasons — July 14, 2012 @ 8:11 pm
That’s a place I return to year after year. I’ve never been disappointed.
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Comment by montucky — July 14, 2012 @ 10:17 pm
Looks like you hit the perfect day for your ascent. To me, spending time on the top of a mountain, by oneself, is one of the most awe inspiring ways to spend time. There is so much to take in. Sometimes its overwhelming. I especially liked the lunch room shot. Always one of my favorite stops on one of these kind of wanders. Talk about a table with a view. It doesn’t get much better. Thanks for taking us along.
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Comment by anniespickns — July 15, 2012 @ 7:10 am
I almost always hike alone; I love the solitude and the freedom of it. And I know of nothing better than just being in the high country.
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Comment by montucky — July 15, 2012 @ 9:54 pm
It looks so nice and cool–which would be welcome right now (we have been mostly in the 90-100 degree range the past few weeks). The little lake nestled in the valley is so pretty. What a site to come upon!
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Comment by kateri — July 15, 2012 @ 10:19 am
It’s cooler up there than in the valley. The rule of thumb is that on a sunny day (and all other factors stay constant) temperature decreases by 5.4 degrees per thousand feet of altitude increase. The top of that mountain is 5000 feet higher than the valley and so it would be about 25 degrees cooler at the top.
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Comment by montucky — July 15, 2012 @ 10:03 pm
That shot, looking down at the lake, takes my breath away… Beyond gorgeous… ❤
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Comment by snowbirdpress — July 15, 2012 @ 1:20 pm
It’s a pretty little lake and can be seen only from the mountain above it, kind of a bonus for making the hike up there!
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Comment by montucky — July 15, 2012 @ 10:04 pm
What a view! And what a ‘lunch room!’ 🙂
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Comment by Mama's Empty Nest — July 15, 2012 @ 6:26 pm
There are lots of those “lunch rooms” around here. I dined in another today with a view looking out over the Nine Mile valley. Don’t even have to reserve a seat!
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Comment by montucky — July 15, 2012 @ 10:05 pm
Hi Montucky, I sure am enjoying your pictures of the forest, mountain peaks, trails, oh that snow, and of course, the pretty small lake. Beauty and unspoiled! Have a super great coming week!
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Comment by wildlifewatcher — July 15, 2012 @ 6:46 pm
I’m glad you enjoy seeing these places, wildlifewatcher! It feels good to know that others enjoy seeing the wild country too!
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Comment by montucky — July 15, 2012 @ 10:07 pm
God’s artwork untouched by mankind. What a beautiful place, so captivating, I am mesmerized!
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Comment by bayphotosbydonna — July 15, 2012 @ 7:11 pm
Some planet we live upon, isn’t it!
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Comment by montucky — July 15, 2012 @ 10:15 pm
They’re all great pictures, but I especially like the ones that show a bit of trail, so I can imagine hiking there myself.
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Comment by Kim — July 15, 2012 @ 9:43 pm
I like the trails too Kim. They are invitations!
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Comment by montucky — July 15, 2012 @ 10:16 pm
The second picture especially gives me the impression of bald—and cold. It may be the same planet we live on, but distinct parts of it.
Steve Schwartzman
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com
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Comment by Steve Schwartzman — July 16, 2012 @ 6:32 am
Yes, vastly different climate, even at our valley elevations. The top of a mountain like this, completely exposed, has lots of extremes.
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Comment by montucky — July 16, 2012 @ 8:14 pm
Oh, to always have a lunch room with such a view!!
I love the view of a scree and boulder fields, but don’t relish the thought of walking/hopping across them. And the alpine lake…very pretty…as is the rest of it. Thank you. 🙂
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Comment by seekraz — July 16, 2012 @ 8:40 am
The rocks are not pleasant to walk on. Every time when I come back down I mentally celebrate feeling real dirt under my boots again. (And good tough boots are the salvation of that trail!)
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Comment by montucky — July 16, 2012 @ 8:16 pm
Yes, there is a physical sense of relief to be off the boulders and out of the scree…and I do know about the boots. 🙂
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Comment by seekraz — July 16, 2012 @ 9:48 pm
Incredible views Terry…love the view down into the lake, do you ever get bored with these boring vistas lol !!
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Comment by Bernie Kasper — July 16, 2012 @ 12:34 pm
I don’t even know how many times I’ve climbed that trail, Bernie, but I’m already looking forward to the next time!
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Comment by montucky — July 16, 2012 @ 8:27 pm
Just stunning – and I love the cirrus clouds in a perfect blue sky. It must be such a wonderful feeling up there.
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Comment by Jo Woolf — July 17, 2012 @ 12:24 am
Yes, a wonderful feeling. I wish everyone could make that trip at least once.
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Comment by montucky — July 17, 2012 @ 9:41 pm
Just plain gorgeous…you are lucky man!!!
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Comment by dhphotosite — July 17, 2012 @ 11:11 am
I keep returning to there often. I’m very glad that it’s so close!
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Comment by montucky — July 17, 2012 @ 9:42 pm
Gosh the trails are spectacular! You certainly make the most of where you live.
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Comment by Tammy — July 17, 2012 @ 9:48 pm
I sure do Tammy. It’s part of the love affair I’ve had with this wild country for 70 years now. Nearly all of my wanderings are in our National Forests. I often wonder how many folks in America today really realize what treasures these forests are!
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Comment by montucky — July 17, 2012 @ 11:15 pm
can’t say it enough….absolutely gorgeous!
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Comment by skouba — July 19, 2012 @ 7:55 pm
It’s a beautiful time of the year here Stacey. We’ve been getting some of your hot weather lately though.
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Comment by montucky — July 19, 2012 @ 8:45 pm