A view of Flathead Lake from Elk Springs (Keith Hammer photos).

Eleven Swan Rangers snowshoed to Elk Springs on Broken Leg Mountain Saturday, February 16.

There were lots of snowshoe hare tracks, but no sign of the lynx that sometimes leaves tracks on the steep hillside in pursuit of them!

The Rangers put on their snowshoes for the steep trail up the northwest shoulder of Broken Leg Mountain. The old road to this point was either bare or walkable hard packed snow.

A winding, steep trail up to the Broken Leg Trail and Elk Spring!

Snowshoe hare, so named for their large hind feet placed at the front of each track set, don't seem to care how steep it is!

A woodpecker was recently looking for a frozen ant or bug or two!

Two-way traffic near the turn-around at Elk Springs!

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.

They carpool from the Swan River School parking lot next to the Cafe.

Everyone is welcome!