We still had snow on the other side of Dawson Pass but as we dropped down from the top we dropped out of the wind. That was a blessing. The snow did not cover everything but I still used the snow to go down faster than just following where the trail lay under the snow. We had to make time. It was after 5 pm now and we had almost 6 miles yet to hike.
Because the trail dropped so quickly it wasn't too long before we were out of the snow. It seemed as if we had hiked half the trail in snow.
Photo 1: the south side of Flinsch Peak. From this side it looks easy to climb. Look at the previous posts to see the peak from the other three sides. I think I will return next year and climb it.
Photo 2: many layers of rock.
At a trail junction the sign said the distance to No Name Lake was .2 mile. I decided to hike to the lake. Joyce and Sue Ann continued back to the car. I was confident I would catch up to them as I had been hiking faster than them.
No Name Lake should be renamed. Maybe "Reflection Lake". The lake is not very big but the water reflected the views from all sides. I could see the rock mountain side to the south, the permanent snow field to the SW, the far off snow covered mountain to the east, Rising Wolf Mountain to the north, in addition to the trees along the lake. Very beautiful.
Photo 1 shows No Name Lake from near Dawson Pass.
Of the photos below, which is Rising Wolf Mountain and which is its reflection in the lake? Can you tell? You never know... I may have inverted some of the photos to make it more challenging.
Between taking a large number of photos I also spent time checking out the campground and environs beyond the lake. I spent more time here than planned, but well worth it.
From near the lake here are views looking back to Dawson Pass and then later a view of Two Medicine Lake. I had thought I would be closer to the lake at this point with all the hiking I had done.
I never caught up to Joyce and Sue Ann before they reached the car. In fact they reached the car almost 20 minutes before I did. They were determined to get off the trail before dark.
Through the trees I could see mountain tops to the east lit up by the setting sun. Once it became open so I could take a photo that light was gone. Then I noticed the clouds west over the Pass were a light rosy orange. Again trees prevented a worthwhile photo. Next I noticed the clouds above the eastern mountains were lit a fluorescent orange. Again I had trees in the way making a photo pointless. My timing was off. Sue Ann later said they were in an open area along the lake at this time and the lake was a beautiful red in the light.
At one point when I was along the lake I thought I heard a sound in the trees below.
"Hey bear. Hey bear!" I called out. No answer.
As I moved along I heard more sounds like some animal also walking along with me. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck. It was dusk, the time the wildlife comes out to eat. I kept walking and after a minute I no longer heard any more of the sounds.
A few stars were now visible in the sky and the trail was getting hard to see when it was in amongst the trees. Across to the SE end of the lake I could see lights from the campground store and employee quarters. Getting dark!
The trail head was actually at the campground end of a short spur trail that led from the campground to where the Dawson-Pitamakan loop started. I really watched for this short trail as I definitely didn't want to begin the loop again! I was able to make out the trail sign in the darkness. *whew!*
I couldn't tell where the car was until I got closer. It also helped that Sue Ann opened the car trunk to get something and I could see the trunk's light. Joyce's car was the only one in the parking lot. The two hikers still on the trail must be staying in the campground. Even if it would be a chilly night, a tent and sleeping bag and not a long drive home, seemed like a great idea.
Joyce and Sue Ann reached the car at 7:55 PM, and I at 8:15 pm. It took us 11 hours to do the hike. Our Gunsight Pass hike was over a mile longer and we did that hike in only 10 hours. Then again we had no snow on Gunsight Pass and less elevation to climb.
Joyce and Sue Ann were very tired. Me, not so much. So I drove Joyce's car back. Besides I usually stay up late and would be less likely than the others to fall asleep during the drive home.
All of our shoes, socks, feet and pants were soaked. Joyce cranked up the car's heater and it was a toasty warm drive home. As this was an unfamiliar car I drove 5 to 10 miles under the speed limit home. Even so we didn't see many other vehicles on the road and were only passed by two vehicles between Two Medicine and Columbia Falls. For those who are unfamiliar with the area, I believe this is roughly 75 miles.
The answer to my lake reflection question is that the third photo is the mountain itself.
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