A squall rolls in across Flathead Lake! (Keith Hammer photos)
Seven Swan Rangers scaled Crane Mountain on Saturday, April 13, in a blizzard, reaching an altitude of 4,400 feet without supplemental oxygen!
OK, OK; but they did hike the Phillips Trail, starting out in a snow squall and attaining both the Crane Mountain "summit" and the knob offering great views of Flathead Lake!
It was one of those Spring days that reminds you it is still April.
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A mossy knob near the Estes Lake trailhead. (Photos by Bob Muth except one noted as Roger Benson)
Seven Swan Rangers hiked to Estes Lake on the north end of Crane Mountain on Saturday, April 6.
Though a bit of a drippy day, this well-glaciated area offered spring green-up and the season's first wildflower booms!
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Upper Wolf Creek Canyon (Keith Hammer photos)
Seven Swan Rangers hiked and post-holed the Broken Leg Trail into Wolf Creek Canyon on Saturday, March 30, 2013!
The trail is essentially snow-free to Deer Creek, intermittent snow to Windy Point, then lots of post-holing to Lunch Rock!
Signs of spring include ticks, so carry your bear spray!
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Sunshine and smiles on the first outing of Spring! (Keith Hammer photos)
Seven Swan Rangers wandered about aimlessly north of Mud Lake on Saturday, March 23, 2013, soaking up some springtime sun!
They explored the flatlands and enjoyed nice views of the Swan Range!
It's that awkward time of year between skiing and hiking - and time to dig out the bear spray as bears begin to emerge from their winter dens!
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Swan Rangers approach Krause Basin under foreboding skies. (Keith Hammer photos)
Ten Swan Rangers snowshoed a foreboding Krause Basin on Saturday, March 16, 2013!
Their trek would reveal mountain lion tracks, the scant remains of a snowshoe hare, and melting snow bridges!
Three would make it to the upper crossing of North Krause Creek and back to the car as heavy rains began.
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There actually is a final pitch to Infinity Ridge, and this is it! (Keith Hammer photos)
Eleven Swan Rangers set out to snowshoe Infinity Ridge and seven made the summit on a sunny Saturday, March 9, 2013!
It was a blue sky day made for sun screen, electrolytes, ibuprofen, and smiles!
Tracks for the day included lynx, lots of their favorite prey snowshoe hare, weasel, and a half dozen pine marten!
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Crossing a shrinking snow bridge over North Krause Creek (Keith Hammer photos).
Eleven Swan Rangers skied a springtime-like loop up Krause Basin and down Peters Ridge Road on Saturday, March 2!
With nearly 50-degree weather, the snow pack is shrinking and peeling out of the trees!
Wildlife sign for the day included two members of the Mustelids (weasel family): tracks of wolverine and tracks of a weasel leading to its den!
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Crossing Krause Creek for the fourth time as snow falls! (Keith Hammer photos)
Eleven Swan Rangers skied and snowshoed in long-awaited fresh snowfall in Krause Basin on Saturday, Feb 23!
There was some 8" of fresh powder and it was still snowing hard in Krause Basin as the Rangers skied back out shortly after noon!
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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!
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Swan Rangers coming out of the woodwork! (Keith Hammer photos)
Fourteen Swan Rangers bushwhacked a steep loop through Krause Basin on Saturday, February 9!
On the mid-slope traverse between the north and south forks of Krause Creek they saw tracks of snowshoe hare, pine marten and lynx!
This is an area of key wildlife habitats that Swan View Coalition kept from being logged and roaded in 1984 - and since!
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