Mud, Echo, and Flathead Lakes with Fall colors! (Keith Hammer photos)
Fourteen Swan Rangers hiked up into the clouds along the Switchback Trail on an otherwise sunny Saturday, October 27, 2018!
Click here for a 45-second "moment of silence" video of water vapor rushing uphill to join the cloud ceiling along the Switchback Trail!
Click here for a map of the Switchback Trail.
With a week of rain and sleet in the forecast, the Rangers took advantage of the sunny day to get up high . . .
. . . which requires a bit of climbing and . . .
. . . 79 switchbacks!
The Rangers finally achieve cruising altitude and leave the sun in the valley below!
A view of the north end of the Mission Mountains, which divide the Swan Valley at left from the Flathead Valley and Lake!
Swan Rangers in Service have "logged" 969 person-hours clearing trails for the Flathead National Forest, including the cutting of a couple deadfalls along the Switchback Trail during this outing!
Both woodpeckers and bears appear to have eaten ants from this old snag . . .
. . . but mushrooms appear to be eating this one!
The Swan Rangers meet every Saturday at the Echo Lake Cafe for breakfast at 8:30, leaving at 9:30 for a partial day outing in the northern Swan Mountains and foothills. (These will be our Winter hours until the first Saturday in May)!
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.
Big game hunting season is Oct. 18 - Nov. 25, so wear "hunter orange" and bright colors to be safe while hiking!
Everyone is welcome!