We followed the advice of the man in Ronan Sports and Western and tried a day hike to Mollman Lakes, which should have taken us three hours to get to. Now, in California when a trail is supposed to take you three hours it'll actually take one-and-a-half, in flip-flops. Out here in Montana they do not mess around. We actually ended up abandoning the car and hiking to the trailhead before we even started, so treacherous was the access road.
Luckily, after three hours, we found ourselves in a beautiful alpine valley. This was not guaranteed, as views through the dense pines all the way up the challenging incline were few and far between. Views of wildlife were also rare, the bells being a little too effective, and my trigger finger itched on the spray canister.
We made it back down unscathed, but perhaps should modify our soft West Coast ways when it comes to the mountains around here. A second trail that the guy suggested, which we were going to try on Thursday, skirts the "grizzly conservation area". Perhaps a sedentary day, possibly in this very coffee shop, will be preferred.
Rings on his fingers and bells on his toes.
I'm coming to get you bears!
I was born in Somerset, which is pretty tribal. But we bought a pass all the same.
The best "view" on the way up.
The wildest animal we saw. He didn't look quite so smug after I'd hit him with the pepper spray.
Negotiating a tricky section.
Straight up to the summit!
Ahhh, finally! It was all worth it.
See? Alpine.
They had wildflowers and everything. But no bears.
