Ward Mountain: Great snow and rewarding meadows.

Distance: ~10-11 miles
Vertical: ~5,000ft

In the back of my mind, I have this initiative to tour every frontal (eastern) mountain in the Bitterroots this year. From Lolo Peak to Trapper. Right now, I think I'm almost half way. Today Ward Mountain was added to the list. With avalanche danger considerable, and going solo, I thought the low angle of Ward would be just the ticket.

The entire trail is skin-able. The snow really started getting good around ~5,500ft. Sinking nearly a foot with each step made slow going. I was impressed with the rewarding meadows along the way after getting out of the lower trees. These meadows are probably 20-25 degree slopes that just beckon to be tagged with long sweeping turns. A prime location when avy danger is of a heightened state. :) 

Fluff!

Probably my favorite little meadow, around 7,000ft.

I was surprised with the steeper options available from Ward. Specifically the obvious north facing drainage off of it around 7,800ft. I stood on a ledge looking down at it, contemplating; but with no one with me.. thought I'd stick with the original plan.  

That final push, feels so good.

Summit cairn.

Looking SW from the top.

Looking N

East view.

Side note, SPOT tracker is pure brilliant! I've been doing increasingly more solo tours, and although confident in my abilities, having the option to contact the outside world is a welcome feeling. Tracking available at 10min intervals, pre-programmed messages that let loved ones know that you are: OK, going to be late, in need of help, or even the SOS function that will send your coordinates to the authorities letting them know you really botched something up.  Below is a shared map screen shot after the trip. This map is available to anyone with the link and is updated real-time during the trip.

Thanks for looking!

-Miles Granger

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.