Little St. Joe Peak - A half-marathon distance.

Vertical: ~5,200ft

Distance: ~13.5 miles

Officially the longest distance tour I've been on solo or otherwise (Lolo Peak Proper tour still holds the vertical highpoint). I'm blown away at how some others like Blake Votilla (http://montana-skiing.blogspot.com/) are able to far surpass a day like this. Oh well, I'll live in my own little world and continue to believe this is unique; it is for me. If by the end of the season I log just one 7,000+ft tour I'll be satisfied.

Today I went solo to Little St. Joe. Knowing it was going to be some distance as the road is gated relatively low. (~5 miles before the trail-head itself) With the latest downfall of fluff had come and gone, I assumed the road was ready... and so it is.

So I was pretty sure I couldn't cut off the first switch back where the cabin is on the road, but thought I could at least cut off the last two. The first two were definite no gos, but the last one (and the largest) was acceptable, albeit not to ski back down.

Second switchback, still not enough

Third switchback barely had enough, ...barely

Bass Creek on the way up.

Bitterroot Valley.

At the Lookout by the trailhead.

Out-house by the Little St. Joe Cabin.

Little St. Joe Cabin

 I came up on the Little St. Joe Cabin, definitely need to make use of this fine establishment later this winter! How exciting, and it's about a 1.5 mile skin from the summit!

Inside

From 93, Little St. Joe looks pretty gentle, but there are plenty of challenging terrain up there!

The summit is up there somewhere!

Summit!

It's always nice to have a clear blue sky, but it still looks impressive.

Pushing my way down the road.

 As I mentioned, the short-cut bypassing the last switchback was no where near ski-able, so I resorted going on the road the entire way down. It wasn't bad, but required near constant pushing or 'shuffling' until I reach the skin tracks.

Little St. Joe.

The Stats.

Thanks!

-Miles Granger.