Tobacco Root Mountains Palooza

[grizzled]

After exiting Quartz Creek onto Mill Creek Road (FS 111), we stopped by the remains of the Smuggler Mine.  I've been past it dozens of times but this was the first pixel age photo stop.  An interesting place in that it was pretty extensive but apparently never patented-all Forest Service ground.

Continued--------

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Mill Creek was rolling well.

For a diversion on the way back to Bozeman, instead of taking the highway (US 287) back to Virginia City/Ennis and the 287 to Norris, we hit Granite Ceek Road (FS 161) about 5 miles east of Alder, MT to South Meadow Creek Road (FS1249), thence onto North Meadow Creek Road, Sterling Road and came out at Norris.  Not very fast but better scenery.  30 something miles of dirt.  Unfortunately, didn't stop to take too many photos.  

This one off FS 1249.  South Baldy and Ward Peak as we were descending into the South Meadow Creek drainage.

[grizzled]

Bell Lake/South Willow Creek

 

 

Just a few photos from a day hike to Bell Lake.  It is a modest 6 mile round trip with about 2,000' of elevation gain.

About 3/4 mile from the trail head-north side of Branham Peaks.

Upper South Willow Creek heading off the first hanging valley headwall.

The token canine photo.  We did run into a little snow but in a normal year, there would  still be 4 to 8' of it over all this area.

Bell Lake and un-named mountain (about 10,400').

Branham Peaks.  The slope failure on the right has dumped a lot of sediment in the lake and it would appear that catastrophic failure at some point is likely.

Another shot of Bell Lake.

While we were at the lake, the wind pushed the ice away from the outlet so my wife got a little time in with the fly rod.  Yellowstone cutthroats.

South Willow Creek near the trail head.

[grizzled]

Oval and Triangle Lakes, Bow Basin off the North Fork of Indian Creek

A few photos from an over-nighter to Oval and Triangle Lakes, along with Bow Basin.  All above Hill Reservoir on one of the branches of the North Fork Indian Creek.

Not much use for a Jeep on this one-only had it it 4x4 mode for 25'.  A very little used area.

Trail head.

Hill Reservoir.

Cascades below the outlet of Oval Lake.

Oval Lake and Noble Peak.

Triangle Lake.

Bow Basin, including a cow with a necklace.

Token goat shot.  There were 3 nannies with kids.

Small lake at the head of the Bow Basin drainage.

On the way out we stopped at the Red Pine Mine.

And another weekend in the mountains without a drop of DEET.  I'm sure the skeeters are planning a counter attack, but I'll take what I can get.

Many more photos here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/97954210@N04/sets/72157652595599303

[Aaron Zagrodnick]

Great stuff grizzled, thanks for the update! Really nice photos and looks like a beautiful area and range. If we didn't have closely competing seasons it would be a no-brainer to head that way on my next trip...Although from what it sounds like, maybe I should anyway to escape the mosquitoes that are definitely out here in the Winds.