Baldy Mountain

On Friday July 11 Jim, Steve, Larry, Jeff, Glen and I hiked to the top of Baldy Mountain, which is located between Hot Springs and Plains, Montana.

Steve and Larry thought Baldy Mountain is on the Flathead Indian Reservation so we all bought Flathead tribal permits for hiking on their lands.  However I suspect Baldy Mountain itself may not be on tribal land.  We found two Indian reservation signs indicating the boundary and each time we saw the sign it was on the right side of the road when we were at a fork in the road.  I believe the second time we saw the sign it was right of the right fork when we took the left fork.

Steve knew someone who lived in the Hot Springs area and could provide us with directions on how to reach the summit from Hot Springs. Apparently many people reach the summit from the Plains, MT side, but that meant a longer drive to reach Plains, then the trail head.  The Plains, MT route *may* be a better way to go as the drive on forest service roads from the Plains side is suppose to be much shorter.  Our drive on a forest service gravel road took one hour fifteen minutes to reach the trail head.  The road had potholes and bumps.  Jim's Prius car made it all the way to the trail head but he had to drive really slow so as not to bottom out.

Steve's friend took us on the road to the first major fork (take the right fork) out of Hot Springs.  Then he gave us a map he drew and directions.  One thing missing from the map is that there are two Indian Reservation signs.  The reservation signs are wooden and old and faded and tucked in among the trees at forks in the road.

Larry had a GPS device and mapped our route.

Here are the elevation statistics from Larry's GPS data.

Another indication Baldy Mountain and the trail to it was not on tribal lands was this sign at the trail head.  These are national forest signs put up by the Plains/Thompson Falls ranger district.

Also, from the sign you can see the distance to the top is 2.9 miles.  I believe the trail to the top is shorter from the Plains side.  But then if you want to go to Baldy Lake you would have to descend.  Our route took us to the lake first (where we ate lunch) then up to the top of the mountain.


Here is the view of Baldy Mountain (the one with snow) from Hwy 28 just east of Hot Springs.

At the top of Baldy Mountain is the remains of the living quarters for the people who manned the old lookout.

This was the location of the old lookout (with the living quarters remains in the background).

On the east side of the mountain top is this stone structure.  I imagine the former lookout residents gathered and arranged the rocks in their spare time from all the rocks in the area.

Looking down on Baldy Lake.

The temperature in the valley was around 90 degrees F.  That accounts for the hazy views.  Since we were just above the snow field I believe our temperature was in the low 70s F.  Very pleasant temperatures on the hike.  At lower elevations on the trail we were in thick trees and shade and it remained cool.

Here is a short writeup and photos from another web page:  http://montucky.wordpress.com/2007/07/06/mount-baldy-the-trail/

More photos from our hike can be found at this link:

https://plus.google.com/photos/109566462412251958234/albums/6043952426580945089?authkey=CPq8-IKEh9yuSA

Buffalo Lakes

On July 2 I went on a hike for the first time in a long time.  Tammy didn't like to hike, and didn't like me hiking with my group because the group included women, so I didn't hike much when she and I were together.  Now that Tammy has left I can get back to hiking.

My neighbor Jim is in a hiking group of mostly guys and they hike during the week. I have never hiked with them.  On Wednesday July 2 they planned a short hike to Buffalo Lakes near Marias Pass along Hwy 2 and next to the Blackfoot Indian Reservation.  Larry S. had hiked to this lake before and there were hopes the wildflowers would be in full bloom.  We did see wildflowers but it appears we missed the full bloom by about a week.

Our group was eight people.  All men except for one couple.  All retirees except for me with the ages (I believe) in the 60s and 70s, except, again, me.

We met up at the Columbia Heights park 'n ride area.  Several other hiking groups were there also.  Another group of men were hiking to Ousel Peak and a group of women were hiking to the Scalplock Lookout.  Wednesday appears to be a popular hiking day.


The trail head for Buffalo Lakes is along Hwy 2 on the south side just east of where the trail head is for Firebrand Pass.  The trail head parking area is a small pullout along the highway.  I think it could only fit three vehicles.  No signs about the trail or the lake.

The route

Glacier National Park mountains.  Center and left of center is Calf Robe Mountain.  Just right of center is Firebrand Pass.

When we reached the route and clear cut of the natural gas pipeline we took a left and left the trail.  We hiked up to the ridge at the horizon, then followed the ridge line to the right.  This gave better views than if we stayed on the trail.  Later, after we reached the lakes we hiked back on the trail.

Two freight trains meeting.

We saw several signs of bear activity from the ground torn up in several places in search of roots and grubs to teeth marks in the plastic marker.   No recent scat though.

At the ridge line is a fence marking the Blackfoot Indian reservation.  This is the view east onto the reservation.

What's going on?

They were all looking at this mushroom.

Some wildflowers.

Walking the ridge line towards the lakes.

Lakes are seen in the distance (middle of photo).

Another view of the Blackfoot Indian Reservation.

One of the lakes is at left as we continue to climb the ridge line.

Buffalo Lakes.   We ate our lunches up here where there was a slight breeze to keep us cooler and keep most of the bugs away.  I and a few others did get bit.  I noticed some small flies on my legs and ankles. They didn't appear to be biting but then I noticed blood and bites.  I just didn't feel them until they started itching some hours later.

Half way up the mountain on the other side of the lakes we heard and seen a few cattle.   On the walk out from the lakes we saw cow manure on the trail.

Coming down the ridge to the lakes.

We crossed the lakes on a beaver dam between the lakes.

 Then walked along the lakes.

The ridge line we walked on earlier is on the right.

More wildflowers and lichen.

Hiking back to the cars.

Lady Slippers, which made Larry's day. He took lots of photos of them.

In all we hiked 3.3 miles.  The elevation gain was 890 feet.  Several people had GPS on their smart phones or watches. Everyone's totals were slightly different.  The mileage and elevation was the consensus.