A hazy view of Lake Blaine from the Hemler Creek Trail! (Keith Hammer photos)
Fifteen Swan Rangers hiked the Hemler Creek Trail on a smokey, cloudy and cool Saturday, August 15, 2015!
The post-thunderstorm cool weather was a welcome respite from an unusually hot summer!
Click here for a map of the Hemler Creek Trail.
The first couple miles of the Hemler Creek Trail is an old logging road, which allows the Rangers to hike as a herd!
Then the trail narrows and heads through the big trees to cross South Hemler Creek . . .
. . . and through a rocky section rounding into North Hemler . . .
. . . below beautiful cliffs and a scree slope that makes an excellent lunch spot!
A cool breeze was enough to make the fall colors pop out during lunch!
Smoke from numerous area wildfires obscures the horizon line between Flathead Lake and the sky above!
Huckleberries were few and scrawny, but the bears seemed to be enjoying stumps full of ants along the way!
The Swan Rangers meet every Saturday at the Echo Lake Cafe for breakfast at 7:30, leaving at 8:30 for a partial day outing in the northern Swan Mountains and foothills.
They carpool from the Swan River School parking lot next to the Cafe.
When hiking in bear country, remember to carry bear spray and avoid the 3-D's: dawn, dusk, and darkness.
Everyone is welcome!