After Stanton Lake

After Joyce and I had hiked to Stanton Lake on February 3, we stopped along Hwy 2 at where we had crossed the Flathead River to go to Harrison Lake back in September 2009.  This photo shows Loneman Mountain on the right and the Harrison Lake valley left of center.

We then checked out the Ousel Peak trail head.  Some foot traffic had been on that trail in the snow.  The trail looks doable for a hike another time.   Perhaps not in winter snow as the trail is supposedly 2.55 miles long with a climb of 3837 ft to an elevation of 7157 ft.  Probably a Spring, Summer or Fall hike as the views look good from : someone's May hike.   Though I am really tempted to try it now...   <Later note: Patti and I climbed most way up to the top of Ousel Peak in the snow on March 10, 2010.  I never got around to writing up a blog post about that climb.>

Here is a view of the mountains as we drove along Hwy 2.

Then while driving back to West Glacier, a few miles from town, I noticed a road off to the south.  And it was plowed of snow.  All these times of driving on this highway and I don't remember ever seeing this road, though it is an old road.  We decided to check it out.

As we drove down the road we saw what looked to be a highway department sand pile in an old quarry.  Driving on we met a man walking with a rifle over his shoulder.  We stopped and asked him about the road.  Driving on, after a couple miles total from the highway, we came to an open gate and a No Trespassing sign and a Ryan Field sign. It appeared be private property and we turned around and left.

Back in West Glacier we drove over to the old historic bridge that used to be the Park entrance. On the other side of the bridge is the Boundary Trail.  Again here the snow was packed down so one could hike on the trail using hiking boots.  We checked out the trail head and views from the bridge before leaving.

Back in Columbia Falls...

Plum Creek Plant in Columbia Falls, MT