with bags, tents, snacks, jetboils, 9mm and 22, ropes, new merrell hiking boots, cameras, and seven and nine (the labs)....we set out...
seven sporting fishing gear and dogfood...yeah, this didn't work for long
and yours truly...packin heat
we set out, about 50 pounds heavier with all of our gear...
the walk was breathtaking...sunflowers, forget-me-nots, indian paint brush, strawberry plants, lupines, many purples and yellows. the predominant plants of the basin were bear grass and huckleberry plants... a couple more weeks and the hucks should be ready to harvest...
beargrass kissing the sun...
the trail was gradual, the sun was intense, the mountaintops magicalness danced all around us...i took my sweet time, taking pictures, enjoying the views step by step.
our first vantage point overlooking parts of the flathead valley...
past twin lakes...it looked a bit shady for us...
at the end of the trail awaited our camping site...nestled next to wildcat lake
the following few days were spent swimming, relaxing, fishing, and hiking. we cleared our own trail (bushwhacked basically) up the side of the mountain to the top of the ridge. from the top, our views were stretched all across the flathead valley.
early sunday morning, we woke with the sun and hiked out. the only signs of wildlife were mountain goats, gophers, birds, and a deer.
on our way out, i overheard a hiker say that a drum would be nice to bring up to jewel. dually noted. my bongos are coming with me next time.
