Numa Ridge Lookout in August

Last November Patti and I hiked up to the Numa Ridge Lookout (story and photos - click here).  This Saturday we decided to hike to the lookout again, this time when it wasn't so cold.  In fact, with the forecast to have the high temperature in Kalispell at 90 F degrees, hiking up north and up a mountain would be cooler.  And it was, as the temperature up at the lookout was pleasant.

The hike was 11.2 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 2930 ft up to an elevation of 6960 ft at the lookout.

Because it was going to be a hot day, Patti, Mary and I got an early start. They were at my place after 7 am and we were on the trail after 9 am. The others in our hiking group had other plans.

While a good number of people were at Bowman Lake, we only saw six people on the trail to the lookout.

We did see horse poop, bear scat, and wolf scat.  Here is the wolf scat.

The lookout is staffed, and a young college student was there this summer.  She was friendly and helpful in naming the peaks as Patti forgot her map.  She also explained the trail heading north to the false summit did not go down to Akokala Lake.  Instead it was the old trail up to the lookout.  Because the trail was in the bowl to the north of the lookout, the trail melted out late and had other issues.  So years ago the Park created the switchback trail to the south of the lookout.  The old trail starts at the first switchback and is in pretty good shape for being abandoned.  There were only a half dozen trees growing on the trail and about the same number of downfall over the trail.  I would recommend going down the old trail instead of up.  Use the switchback trail to go up.

At the lookout was another couple who were from Great Falls, MT.  Their son was climbing Rainbow Peak with a friend this day.  To do that, they had to kayak quite a few miles on Bowman Lake to where they would start their climb.  There is no trail so they bushwhack up to above the tree line then climb the rest of the way.  They planned on it only taking 12 hours.  Oh!  To be 24 years old again!

In the photo, Rainbow Peak (9,891 ft)  is the large mountain in the center and to the left.  Mt Carter (9,843 ft) is in the far background and Square Peak (8,777 ft) is the smaller pointy peak to the right of center.  The climber's route was up the area between Rainbow Peak and Square Peak.  At the saddle between the peaks they would climb Rainbow just on the other side of the ridge line to the top.

Mary has not hiked much this year as her knee and hip has been bothering her.  She did fine hiking up, but the last few miles hiking down were hard on her.  She had to stop and take a pain pill.

Back at the foot of the lake we rested.  Mary read, Patti swam, and I got to use Patti's kayak.  That is the first time I have been in a kayak.

Afterwards we stopped at the Northern Lights Saloon in Polebridge for supper.  It was busy but not crowded.  It was steak night and Patti and I had steaks.  Mary, leaning towards being a vegetarian, had some sort of salad.  The food was very good.


Bowman Lake as seen from the trail and later from the lookout.

The trail starts at the far end of the lake.  It follows the lake .7 mile then climbs up the ridge that is right of center.  The trail passes just right of the small lake.

Akokala Lake, as seen from just north of the lookout.

From the lookout, a view of the false summit of Numa Peak.  The true summit is behind this false summit.  A climb to the top of this false summit doesn't seem to be too difficult and someday I want to do it.

On the right, the Numa false summit.  On the left, Reuter Peak (8,763 ft). In the background... I don't know.

Reuter Peak and the Whitefish Range in the background.

Snow is still near the abandoned old trail north of the lookout.

Views of the lookout from the old trail.