mission range, montana

[goofball]

high expectations turned into all my shit drenched by mostly rain. and hail. sunny skies were short lived. so on day 3 in the crescent creek basin, w/ high hopes of breaking weather fueled by clear skies in the morning, i packed out mid afternoon as weather, once again, rolled in and rained on my parade. sometimes nature just gets in the way. and gray wolf/high park lakes were still winter conditions according to the trail crew. my view of them from montana 83 was of unbroken white from the bottom up. another year... but it is a lush, gorgeous area well worth the visit. i have no regrets.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/578198522HFPBtB


view up crazy horse creek to pt. 8292. cheff lake below. from pt. 7150
http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/44690/2592342880044057460S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2592342880044057460RnDNwp)


cheff lake
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/45591/2015148800044057460S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2015148800044057460RSaazH)


tumbling creek
http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/44462/2294089900044057460S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2294089900044057460XeEAYp)


hiding in boughs
http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/45233/2778465150044057460S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2778465150044057460gRimTP)


best look at post creek drainage and mcdonald peak
http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/46142/2080722410044057460S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2080722410044057460tPRSLZ)

[ibenick]

Looks cold! :cold::cold: Was this recent or a couple months ago?

[Cirrus2000]

Yes, when was this trip? Look like a pretty sweet area to explore. It'd be nice to see that Post Creek/Macdonald Peak shot in better weather!

[goofball]

this was july 4-6. i met a trail crew at the trailhead who told me my other destinations of gray wolf and high park lakes were still winter snow conditions. from the hwy it looked like it... according to them the majority of their snow came in april i believe they said ? so a very late winter.

as to temps it was not too bad due to the miracles of modern technology. my synthetic shirt and pants and flawless rain gear made it less miserable. everything got wet from the tent being due a seam sealing and sweat condensing inside clothing and not being able to dry out. and bunch grass w/ every step that was dripping wet and got inside my boots due to my lack of gaiters. but as long as i kept moving i stayed warm. the bough huddles are what sucked adn cooled me down. so when shivering began i moved regardless of conditions. in ten years this is the only trip w/ sustained rain, so i guess i was overdue.

this guy - http://www.flickr.com/photos/montanaguy/sets/ - has some nice albums of the area as well if anyone wants to see it in nicer weather.