Piper Lake. (Keith Hammer photos unless otherwise noted)
Ten Swan Rangers hiked to Piper Lake while five hiked the Phillips Trail, both in the Mission Mountains, on Saturday, September 12!
Piper Lake is in the Mission Mountain Wilderness while the Phillips Trail overlooks Flathead Lake from Crane Mountain!
A Montana Conservation Corps crew was hard at work improving the Piper Lake Trail! But Congress right now is threatening to greatly reduce funding for AmeriCorps, which would in turn drastically reduce MCC programs. Please make a quick phone call to MT Senator Steve Daines ((202) 224-2651) and MT Representative Ryan Zinke ((202) 225-3211) (or the members of Congress from your home state) to help them understand how important full funding of AmeriCorps and MCC is to you and your ability to enjoy public lands! Thank you!
Click here for a map of the Piper Lake Trail.
Click here for a map of the Phillips Trail.
The high country is showing off some true fall colors - like these red huckleberry bushes!
It's OK for the Swan Rangers to hike in the Missions . . .
. . . as long as they can catch a glimpse of the Swan Range along the way!
Wouldn't it be nice to have a Swan Mountains Wilderness area too?
Perhaps it was enough water stored in this old stump that kept this Pyrola/pink wintergreen looking so good all summer!
Although this bee thinks these asters along the Phillips Trail look pretty good too! (Fawn Simensen photo)
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!