The trail was littered with downfall (thanks to last winter’s winds and the trail crews have not yet made it here), but the views – man, the views – were beyond worth a little more effort and a few scraps. Hiking partner Jeff set a brisk pace (okay, the bastard nearly killed me), but we crossed into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and arrived at Glen Lake in good time. The snows had only recently receded from the shoreline and cirque was filled with white noise of many snow-melt cascades. We decided to hike up further onto a ridge that holds a no name lake that was still choked with snow and ice. The whole area was bi-polar mix of summer and winter. Warm sun on our shoulders, cold wet snow at our ankles. This hike is the very essence of Montana wilderness.

Jeff going through the remnants of Gash Creek Fire The ghost forest Ridge between Glen Lake and the no name lakes No name lake in the Bitterroots No name lake in the Bitterroots Gnarly ridge