shoots-straight
Well-known member
Every year I try and climb a few Peaks around here. Helps get me in shape for hunting season, and I enjoy seeing new sites. Yesterday, I looked out my window at Ward Mountain. It's 9100 ft + and although I've lived within a stones through of this behemoth, for 49 years, I've never climbed it. So I said today is the day.
The trail starts almost at the Valley floor, and you climb up for around 5,000 ft. It's only around 5 miles or so, but the grade in continuous. The last 3/4 of a mile or so was all snow cover, except the very peak where the snow must of been blown. The snow was stable enough, that I didn't post hole a bunch, or I might have changed my mind. Post holing takes it's toll on a old guy like me in a hurry.
At the top I found millions of Ladybugs on the leeward side of the wind. Here's some pictures of them and me at the peak. There use to be a Lookout here but it was torn down.
The view west into the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness Area:
Looking back down at the valley and my home area:
The hike was a steady 6 hours round trip. Sore today.
The trail starts almost at the Valley floor, and you climb up for around 5,000 ft. It's only around 5 miles or so, but the grade in continuous. The last 3/4 of a mile or so was all snow cover, except the very peak where the snow must of been blown. The snow was stable enough, that I didn't post hole a bunch, or I might have changed my mind. Post holing takes it's toll on a old guy like me in a hurry.
At the top I found millions of Ladybugs on the leeward side of the wind. Here's some pictures of them and me at the peak. There use to be a Lookout here but it was torn down.
The view west into the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness Area:
Looking back down at the valley and my home area:
The hike was a steady 6 hours round trip. Sore today.
