My Journey

[Foy]

I think you could pm any of us along your route if you needed help. Be aware that we have lots of wildfires all over the west.


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I'm grateful for the additional support. I've spent a considerable sum in dollars and hours on maintenance and prep so i think if I can keep a light foot on the skinny pedal I'll be OK. Hotter than the hinges of Hell now (late afternoon) loading up and hitching up. I've got to survive this before anything else matters, eh?

Foy

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Ace.....sorry to hear that.....

Foy.....best of luck.....



After spending the night at the same campsite.....yes, along the side of the same road.....we drove the same final three miles to the same trailhead.....



Now this is where things were almost at the point where I can finally stop using the words"the same". We did take the same trail but after only one mile of hiking the trail to Campfire Lake turned to the north.....our route.....to Cottonwood Lake.....continued onwards to the east.....



Our new trail followed along the meanders of Cottonwood Creek.....the entire way.....to Cottonwood Lake.....




The first three miles were a gradual increase of grade.....but then the trail steepened and the real work began.....




I found myself stopping every minute or two to breathe in some fresh air.....it was that steep. Sequences of waterfalls came rushing down the mountain.....



Everything about this place was most incredible.....




And here too.....wildflowers were in full bloom.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

At some point the steep grade lessened.....maybe four miles in.....and the hike became just a little bit easier.....



There was still a pretty good snow melt going on therefore the water level was still high.....high enough that we used several of the pine log bridges that we came across.....



As we continued to gain altitude the landscape continued to change as well.....



This waterfall I thought to be absolutely stunning.....I'd take a guess at maybe thirty feet high.....



We found ourselves hiking across these massive rock slabs.....




The snowmelt created informal seasonal streams.....they were literally everywhere along the mountainside.....



Standing on the slabs and looking out to the west reminded so much of the movie "The Last of the Mohicans".....



After the rock slabs the grade really flattened out and now we hiked along small pools of crystal clear water.....



And of course more rocks.....

 

[Arjan]

Many, many thanks - love the pic of those 2 in the water !

To busy playing with trains to get out but we're planning a trip for November into the Alps.

Hiking getting less easy is something I unfortunately know only too well....

Thanks !

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Arjan.....trip report ! And for sure my pleasure.....



The small pools of crystal clear water eventually turned into larger pools of crystal clear water.....




And finally.....after more than five miles and nearly three hours of hiking.....and nearly 2,500' of elevation gain.....we reached Cottonwood Lake.....




I had hoped to sit by the lake and watch the dogs swim and eat lunch but this entire area surrounding the lake was infested (?) with marmots.....they wouldn't stop chattering.....and it drove the dogs absolutely insane.....we had to move on.....




So we chose a smaller lake just a little ways further downstream.....



I let the dogs run loose and fortunately they didn't backtrack to the marmots.....they were too into getting their swims in.....




I laid up against a fallen tree and broke out my lunch and of course snacks for the dogs.....afterwards the dogs swam some more and it was just a perfect afternoon in the Crazy Mountains.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Since this hike was miles less than Campfire Lake, we had plenty of time to just hang out.....



.....to daydream and to simply enjoy the incredible views.....




Above us on the rocky slopes we could hear rockfall occasionally from the mountain goats although we weren't fortunate enough to actually see them.....




It was still early afternoon when I finally decided that we needed to head down the mountain.....a last look back at paradise.....and off we went.....




Down climbing some of the steeper slopes was a real challenge.....the dogs were back on leash and their pulls really tested my hiking abilities.....




We hiked nearly 12 miles that day.....and I felt great afterwards.....nothing like the hike three days before. We spent a second peaceful night sleeping in the camper and then headed home the next day.....already thinking about & planning for another trip to the mountains.....

 

[Ace Brown]

I recall once camping near a mountain lake in the Snowies of Wyoming. There were tons of Pikas in the rocks. They would squeak over there and my dog ran to them but of course they dove for cover before she got there. Then one would squeak at another spot and off she’d go. I have no doubt they thought it was great fun. I believe my dog thought so too. She never came close either.


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[ITTOG]

Wow, amazing place. I have added both lakes to my list. I can't wait until I get to go spend a lot of time in Montana. Hopefully next year!

Thanks for taking us along.

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Ace.....their nonstop chattering gets old fairly quick.....I was happy to move on.....

ITTOG.....there's a loop hike that includes both of the lakes plus a third lake. It's 21 miles with nearly 6,000' of elevation gain. I'd love to do it as an overnight trip one day. In addition, there are several trails that cross the mountain range.....again it'd be an overnight trip. I would love to do one of those as well and include a summit with it. Maybe one day.....



We spent the next 3 days back at the cabin mowing, trimming, edging, and of course lots of watering. A measurable rain could not come soon enough.....the drought continues on.....

On the fourth day we loaded up the rig once again and headed right back to the Crazy Mountains. This time we moved a bit further south and camped at the Rock Lake Trailhead.....the drive to the trailhead.....which we once again did in the evening hours.....was spectacular.....



Not too from the town of Clyde Park, Montana we passed by the entrance to the very controversial Crazy Mountain Ranch. Why do I say that ? Cause they're stealing the ground water for their newly built golf course.....leaving the ranchers in an uproar.....the rich don't seem to care.....



Not too much further down the road I spotted a Bald Eagle on a power pole.....what an incredible sight.....



The next 13 miles of gravel roads passed through beautiful Montana ranch land.....




We spotted both deer & antelope along the way.....



We stopped often.....as we always do.....never hurrying along.....stopping here to photograph the horses with the setting sun.....




The next stop was to photograph the mountains to the west.....again with the setting sun.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

One more stop along the way to admire the incredible sunset.....there's something so special about times like these.....perfect weather, perfect companions, and of course.....the perfect surroundings.....





We arrived at the trailhead just as night had appeared to find an empty, grassy, somewhat flat lot.....it was exactly what we had hoped for.....



I love these cool nights spent in the solitude of the wilderness.....where the weather is just so perfect that I can leave the skylight open and fall asleep while staring at the stars.....it doesn't last long unfortunately as I usually am asleep shortly after my head hits the pillow.....

The morning started with freshly brewed coffee and a good hardy breakfast.....then we were off to another wonderful day hike.....



For some reason I didn't recall the hike to Rock Lake being 9 miles one way.....I remembered it being round trip.....I was dismayed.....




At that moment I thought that we'll never make it that far.....that's just a bit too far for me these days. We decided that we'd go as far as we could.....to see what we could see.....



I've actually attempted this hike several times over the years but have never been successful due to the high water levels at the crossing of Rock Creek. This time I took a second pair of hiking boots.....I was serious (well, up to the point where I saw the 9 mile sign).....

We hadn't hiked more than a mile that morning when I noticed that Trapper had hit on game. Both dogs are a natural at this.....Trapper being the better of the two.....



Finally the bear sighting drought had ended.....Trapper spotted a small Black Bear foraging in the tall grass. The bear.....maybe 100' +/- from us seemed totally uninterested in us.....definitely focused on finding food. At one point the bear stood up on its hind feet to have a better look.....maybe 4' tall at most. For 5 +/- minutes we watched each other.....both meandering along in the same direction.....and then the bear, now bored with us disappeared into the dense pine forest.....

 

[ITTOG]

Congrats on ending your bear drought. It is always awesome to see animals in the wild. For me moose and bear are special.

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[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

ITTOG.....people are always so freaked out about bear encounters.....as you well know, they're infrequent.....




We hiked across two ridgelines and then dropped down into the Rock Creek Valley. Here we followed along an ATV trail east as it paralleled the creek. A mile upstream the trail turned abruptly to the north.....where it is nearly indistinguishable. We wandered around looking for the trail crossing of the creek.....



We actually never found it that day.....we wandered up and down that creekbed.....using the creek as our trail. The dogs of course loved it.....and I.....I guess.....was OK with it.....



At one point we climbed a steep embankment (the picture does it no justice.....it was STEEP !).....



We found an abandoned roadbed and we hiked it for a half mile but it went in the wrong direction (did it zig back at some point up the mountain ?).....it was frustrating.....



Eventually I just gave up and headed back down the mountain knowing already that we'd never make it to Rock Lake anyhow. All that being said.....it was still an amazing day wandering around in the Montana wilderness.....



Five hours of wandering was the total time spent.....8+ plus miles. We headed back to the camper feeling pretty darn good.....the bear sighting had already made our day complete.....



The remainder of the day was spent walking in the fields near the rig.....



.....and sometimes running (if you're a dog).....



There's never a bad day in the mountains.....



We spent a second night there and the following afternoon we drove home.....and yes, we were already planning our next trip into the wilderness.....