Carlton Lake from Mill Creek: Feeling better than I imagined.

Distance: ~14 miles

Vertical: ~5,400ft

It was 5:00am, and with quick decision, a click of the snooze button brought it quickly to 5:30am. Figured such action was acceptable; this was going to be a solo tour. :)  Soon afterwards I was at the Mill Creek trailhead at 7 talking with a nice gentleman by the name of Dan W. He came out to ensure I knew that the 'No Trespassing' signs at the gate of Mill Creek were not, in fact, absolute. The land was purchased by an individual from Mississippi, and one is suppose to respect this now private property by remaining on the trail for the first 1.5 miles.  

Friendly info immediately after starting.

It's worth mentioning, and by request of Dan, please keep an ear out for any public notices, or activity regarding the future of the Mill Creek trail. It's important for the regional forester to be aware that this trail system is still in use. Both during winter and summer months. The only viable (albeit long) route to Lolo Peak and surrounding area during winter months, while the Mormon Creek road is gated. Additionally, to my understanding, a fantastic mountain biking route for the summer months.

As suspected, ice all over; courtesy of recent weather.

I had never made use of the Mill Creek trailhead, so I was going off of my topograph map for planning and I had assumed the road was gated right after where my map was showing the trail starts from the road. Turns out, the road is actually gated nearly 1.5 miles from where the trail itself starts from the Mill Creek road. This would affect my timing and intended destination of Lolo Peak, north.

This is where I had originally thought one could drive...

Copious amounts of windfall.

huge!

Not a very good representation of size, but good sized mountain lion tracks... all over the place. Followed these for a few miles.

Between the upper portion of the Mill Creek trail, and its junction w/ Lolo Peak trail, I was walking in a sea of tracks. Wolf, mountain lion, moose, and elk... my only [false?] sense of security was the bear spray, and .40 cal. (of which I only carry on solo tours) Also, my singing to warn any wildlife that I was in the area. :)

First glimpse of Mormon Peak from the ridge.

Getting to this junction felt like a triumph in itself.

Feel like I was taking the Lolo Peak trailhead (3/4mi from here) for granted!

Working up Carlton ridge.

Top of Carlton.

When I reached the top of Carlton at about 12:15 (5hrs after starting) I felt like Lolo Peak north would be within grasp for the day. Without giving it much thought I ripped off the skins and skied some very firm snow down to the lake.

Upon reaching the lake and re-applying the skins, I scouted the options. This is when I began adding up the time measurements I'd been keeping in the back of my head for the route back. Ski pack: ~3hrs, ski back down: 1 mile past the Mill Creek/Lolo Peak trailhead ~30mins, Buffer time for error: 1hr... thanks to the public school system I knew this was 4.5hrs, a glance at the watch said 12:45. If my estimations for the time back are correct, I wouldn't be getting back until 5:30-6pm if I turned around now! Reflecting on the massive amounts of mountain lion and wolf track, I thought it best to getting out, 14 miles is good enough. 

Looking east towards the Bitterrrot Valley.

Back on top Carlton Ridge.

Not exactly power turns.. haha

back to ski packing.

View of the parking arrangement on the other side of the green gate.

I made it back with light.. and plenty of it. The voyage down only taking me 3.5hrs vs. the expected 5ish hrs. In hindsight, the lower ridge of Lolo Peak would have been more than 'do-able'. But, I'm glad I wasn't hiking back in the dark by myself. A group tour to Lolo Peak north would be long, requiring headlamps for sure, but within reach of those seeking to push themselves. I consider myself an average ski tourer, so this can be done for sure. I felt bad for getting back earlier than expected, (4:30pm) I ended up taking the scenic route and walked on the road instead of the trail that bisects the road at about a mile up the road from the start. I couldn't believe how great I felt, how much I loved pushing myself into this. It never ceases to amaze me how the human body can keep pushing. You go until you think you can't, then this subtle, steady stream of momentum, almost magically moves those legs, churning them into new places.  

Stats

When the Mormon Creek road opens this spring, I would love to do a 'six lake tour' around the Lolo Peak area. Carlton, Little Carlton, Mclain, (ski down the other side) S. One Horse, Reed, and N. One Horse Lake. Then back up and down Lolo Peak north.

Thank for looking!

-Miles Granger

Swan Range: Near Devine Peak - The 80/20 rule.

As an accounting major at the University of Montana, I've found an unduly amount of 'business terms/rules' being thrown around. One of which, the 80/20 rule; whether that be 20% of your customers typically provide 80% of your revenue. Or less business inspired, 80% of that hot dog is "mostly meat" and 20% constituting, well, something else. (Or maybe I got that backwards?)

In this context, alpine touring began for me by distributing excitement by 80% skiing, 20% touring. Within a year those numbers have flipped, finding myself enjoying the touring aspect of any outing/exploration more than the skiing itself. True then, the 20% skiing on the way back is a very nice bonus, especially when complemented w/ great snow. Besides, joys of the downhill portion is the only thing that separates us from cross-country skiers.

First path heading into Blind Canyon, and our route for the day.

Mike, and the snow scooters. 

One of my favorite pictures from the trip. Tons of runnels from the trees.

A false summit of Devin Peak, which sits just a few hundred feet behind this guy.

Upon reaching the bowl towards the top, we deemed it prudent to do a [what we thought would be] quick pit to check up on the conditions. With 190cm of snowpack @ ~6,800ft South aspect, a consistent [3x] failure developed at 90cm  w/ ECTP 11-12 Q1. No doubt if we had tested in a slightly steeper slope the slab would have slid on it's own during the test. In this case we were at a more mild 25ish degree. After the 11th-12th tap, and merely wedging the shovel behind, causing it to slide off independently in a most disheartening way. Lowering expectations of skiing mid bowl, and enjoying some long sweeping turns. 

False summit of Devine Peak

Mike

That feeling right before making the summit.

View of Pyramid Peak.

Looking NW towards the Missions.

Our run awaits.

SW view.

SE view.

S view.

Snacks and discussion at the bottom. :)

Back out.

The Stats.

Overall, a short sweet tour, saving my legs for Monday in an attempt from Mill Creek to Lolo Peak South.. Maintaining about 1k vertical gain per hour, knocked this out bottom to top in a bit over 2 hrs; top to bottom in 30 mins.

Vertical: ~2,200ft

Distance: ~2 miles.

Glen Lake - Time Cruncher

Glen Lake Tour:

Distance: ~6 miles

Vertical: 2,600ft

It isn't often I'm pressed for time when I go out on a tour. This was not the case, and it made the whole tour go w/ a different feel. I'm not sure if I enjoyed this time crunch, but I did enjoy the tour. The lack of time was from a requirement to pick my wife up from the airport. I felt as though she might frown if I didn't show up. In any case, I either grossly overestimated the required time, or I was just speedy.. I'll go with the latter. 

This is our dog child, Marshall. Coming up on 6 years young. A Basset Hound by default has short legs, and as you might expect, these are not the same short tools equipped by his K9 cousins that are meant for snow travel. Regardless, I took him out New Year's day for a demo. I was guilt tripped into it since Merete is away, and I have been leaving him behind on the most recent tours. 

Marshall and I went up with the intention of poking around the trail-head area for Glen Lake. We were only able to make it in the Escape about 4 switch backs before the trailhead, or 2.5 miles. Luckily, I assume one of those track buggies (not sure what the real name is) had gone on further cutting ~2ft tracks in the road for us to follow.

See what I mean? This thing must have been gnarly... I want one!

Looking south down the Bitterroot valley.

Marshall with his "Paws Booties"

I will say if you have a furbaby and thinking of bringing them, but are afraid of their feet getting cold. Assuming they are more adept at snow travel, Paws Booties are awesome, they are basically a really thick rubber balloon. Marshall hated the thicker booties we got b/c he couldn't properly bend his paws, resulting in some inefficient, but hilarious movements.

Trying to blaze his own trail...

We made it up to the Glen Lake trailhead and I could certainly tell Marshall was beginning to bonk on me. We turned around and in the end, had a fun ~4.5mile little outing together.

Anyways, onto the main event.. the Glen Lake tour on Jan. 4th, 2014

Weather was super windy, and thus quite cold. I didn't shed a layer the entire time... which is rare for me. In fact I covered my face and wore my ski goggles nearly the entire time to shield myself from the near relentless wind.

"Boss Hog" not really 'boss' just a hog... 

Can you spot the snow bunny?

Just about the entire way is filled with, what I imagine, are amazing views if the weather cooperates. Most everything is very open, thanks to the burn I s'pose. The area needs another foot or two of the fresh for full-on tree skiing, otherwise slow cautious movement should be rendered out of respect for underlying brush waiting to break/twist ligaments.   

Coming over the ridge, working west towards Glen Lake.

The bowl-ish area just below "Upper Glen Lake"? Not sure of the name...

To the right of Glen Lake, is another small lake/pond, we'll call this Upper Glen Lake for now; below that is a very fun looking bowl area going down into the Big Creek area between this point and St. Mary. It looks to be nearly filled in enough if anyone is interested! There is a pretty quick & obvious way out at the bottom as well that doesn't appear to require much bush whacking at all.

First sighting of Glen Lake.

Looking SW at the side of Glen Lake.

Looking NW at the side of Glen Lake.

I've been playing w/ the idea of camping, probably spring time. Glen Lake struck me as a great area to do so. Plenty of area to explore in all directions of the lake. Let me know if you have other spots you know of!

South from Glen Lake.

Tree skiing!

From Glen Lake, I went south and hit up some great, albeit slow, tree skiing. As I said, the area needs another foot or so before one can safely open up the taps. I edged out on a couple of fallen trees/brush on a few turns, and there are plenty of pointy burnt stumps left over from the burn.

Working back up to the ridge.

The Dynafit Cho Oyu skis, and La Sportiva Spectre boots, not a bad sight to look at.

Back on the ol trail, some parts completely gone from the wind. 

Getting back, and seeing someone else is out enjoying their Saturday brings a big smile.

Start from vehicle: 9:00am
Finish at vehicle: 1:15 (disappointed w/ such an early finish, could have done more...I'll be back!)

The route.

Thanks for looking!

-Miles Granger