Missoula County

Wed 21st Sept. A very chilly start to the day, -2.4°C when we got up, with the thermometer registering the minimum overnight as -3.9°C. However, the sky was blue and clear and sunny so when we left for our hike to the Swiftcurrent Pass it was already -1°C so lots of frost along the way. It was another trail that went up a valley past lots of small lakes, easy walking with not much elevation gain until after the last lake - Bullhead Lake. It was at this lake we stopped to take some photos at the bottom of the lake, then went back on the trail up alongside it. We stopped to admire the lake again, when an Aussie guy pointed to where we had just come from, and along the bottom of the lake shore was a coyote moving rather quickly through, so another new animal to tick of our list, however he was too fast for us and we didn't get a chance to get a photo (I did get a unfocused one which you can just make out, of him slinking behind the trees). So after the lake which was 3.5 miles in (all the maps are in miles and feet which is annoying) we had 3.4 miles with 1928 ft elevation gain up to the Pass. This wasn't to bad, and there was great views down the valley overlooking the lakes as we climbed. Also there was a note at the ranger station saying there had been a lot of bear activity on the trail so we were searching hopefully for a sighting. Once reaching the Pass, there was a track going up to Swiftcurrent lookout on top of a peak - only another 1.3 miles but this was a fairly relentless climb and very open with a cold wind blowing. We got up there, but Doug who is like the energizer bunny and just can keep going and going when climbing up, compared to me who has to stop quite often, is not enjoying climbing up exposed mountain tops he informed me when I finally got up to join him, so we might have to avoid them for a while - with the weather turning we might not have a choice anyway. So once we admired the views and found a sheltered spot for lunch, it was time to head back, still looking for bears but no luck today. Our longest hike so far - stats: 28.02 km, active time 6 hrs 22, elevation gain 1277 m, highest altitude 2585 m. Steps D 40049 / V 44962Les mer