A Swan Ranger skirts an icy sink-pond along Alpine Trail #7. (Keith Hammer photos)

Seventeen Swan Rangers beat the heat on Saturday, June 29, by breaking into several groups and hiking Tongue Mountain in Jewel Basin!

They hiked on trails often still buried in snow until they reached a nice overlook of Clayton Lake and the northern half of Jewel Basin Hiking Area!

A view of Mount Aeneas, distant center, from Tongue Mountain as brooding morning skies began to thin.

Right to left: Tongue Mountain's easterly tongue, Clayton Lake and Pioneer Ridge, with the Flathead Range in the distance.

Tongue Mountain view down Clayton Creek, across Hungry Horse Reservoir to Great Northern and Grant peaks with Glacier National Park peaks in the far distance!

Skies were turning blue for the return along a buried Alpine Trail #7!

Twin Lakes are free of ice, but enough snow remains to keep your beverages cool!

Small rivers of melt water run through it, leaving sink-tracks in the snow pack!

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!