Cedar Lake. (Keith Hammer photos)
Seven Swan Rangers hiked to Cedar Lake in the Mission Mountains Wilderness on a hot Saturday, July 29, 2017!
The Rangers discovered it an ill-advised adventure to seek the trailhead via the rough and poorly signed Fatty Creek Road network!
Instead, click here for the Forest Service map but ignore its driving directions and instead turn off Hwy 83 between mileposts 54 and 53 onto the much smoother Piper Creek Road 966, then right on Road 10381 to the Cedar Lake/Fatty Creek trailhead (or stay on Road 966 for the Piper Creek/Lake trailhead). These are the better roads and the only ones well signed.
May we always give thanks to those who went before us and championed the cause of public wilderness designations like this one!
There are a lot of dead whitebark pine in the Missions, as seen near this unnamed lake along the way to Cedar Lake!
But there are whopping survivors like this one to be found, along with their smaller offspring . . .
. . . though the dead certainly outnumber the living due to white pine blister rust and mountain pine beetles!
The mountain gential and . . .
. . . and fireweed populations appear to be doing well!
The Rangers prepare for the return hike, after lunching at . . .
. . . Cedar Lake!
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!