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| Hiking around Heart Lake |
On the 16th, I drove west of Missoula with Carrie, Jake, and Rhian. We started a backpacking trip from the Heart Lake Trailhead. It was a very nice trail up through lush forest to Heart Lake. Views were nice in spots heading up to Heart Lake, but they became better once we reached the lake. We encountered some other backpackers who were heading out and offered us their spot. We had planned on hiking further--past Heart Lake to camp at Pearl Lake. We saw one or two other groups camping around the lake as we continued to hike. As we began to climb away from Heart Lake, it began to rain a bit. Fortunately it did not last long and we pushed on to Pearl Lake. Heart Lake had been beautiful, and Pearl Lake was even more impressive.
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| Near the Pearl Lake camp |
We found a spot to set up camp a little past the middle of the lake. We set up our tents and found a way to get up a food hang and then we relaxed. Jake wanted to go fishing and Carrie and Rhian decided to go pick huckleberries near the foot of the lake. I had pushed for this trip to have a shot at climbing five peaks in the whole trip and I had figured I needed to climb the first peak on the first afternoon. It was going to be one of the harder sells to get the rest of the group to climb this random, unnamed hump in the middle of nowhere and in the opposite direction we would need to hike on the last day, so I figured I could hike up it and be back down in time to help cook dinner.
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| Dalton Lake |
I left camp and followed the trail along the lake and then as it climbed beyond the head of the lake. The trail was a bit steep, but it had some switchbacks that made it more bearable. At the first saddle I found the trail that headed down to Dalton Lake as well as great views to that amazing lake nestled in below an impressive, cliffy ridge. From the saddle, I followed steep trail that climbed toward the crest of the ridge and the Montana/Idaho border. Eventually it quit climbing so directly and did a nice ascending traverse toward the ridge. Once on top, I took in the great views. Looking northwest, it was exciting to see the route we had planned to hike out along that ridge. Equally exciting were the views toward the summit of the peak. From the lower saddle I had thought the true summit was at the end of the ridge over Dalton Lake, but from the ridge it was obvious that the true summit was a more-mellow walk, mostly along trail, to the top.
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| The ridge that the trail followed for our hike out |
I left the trail to stay on the ridge and save some backtracking. Before reaching the final saddle I picked up the trail and found it very pleasant to follow it to the top of the peak. While it may have not been the most stunning peak from the direction I had climbed it, it did provide some stunning views. Looking east toward Crater Mountain and beyond to the south worked to greatly increase the number of peaks on my list of ones I would like to climb. I stood on an outcrop of rock over a small patch of snow and had quite the perch over the Trio Lakes.
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| Two of the three Trio Lakes and Crater Mountain |
After snapping some photos and trying to memorize the new and beautiful scenery, I decided to head back so as not to be late to cook dinner. The descent back to the first saddle was quick along the trail. I again decided to leave the trail so as to stay on the ridge and save some time. Once back on the trail I descended quickly back to Pearl Lake and camp. I made it back in time to help Carrie cook some dinner, and we sat up into the dark and starry hours enjoying the evening and each others' company.
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| Evening on Pearl Lake |
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| Backcountry dinner |
Elevation gain: 2600' Total gain: 129,920'
