Bitterroot Valley, Montana

Up and over the pass from the Sawtooths -- and there were the Bitterroot Mountains!  Another long, lovely valley with a variety of small ranches and towns.  We spent one night in a campground near a natural hot springs (and did we enjoy a nice soak) and then moved on up the valley.

We found a delightful campground at Lake Como.  The Lake was named by an Italian priest in the 1880s (?) in memory of Lake Como in his homeland.  It was quite hot during our stay (high 90s) and so we were a bit low key:  walked around the Lake one day (maybe 8 miles) and sat along the Bitterroot River another.  The Bitterroot is famous for its fly fishing and we watched several boats trying their luck.

Blodgett Canyon is one of the 11 east-west canyons that line the western edge of the Bitterroot Valley.  We opted to try a backpacking trip up the "Yosemite" of the Bitterroots.  The canyon walls soar thousands of feet high from the valley/creek floor.  It was quite lovely.  We walked about 7 miles in and spent 2 nights.  We had expected to find the trail near the creek and have plenty of time to play in the cool waters.  Wrong.  The trail was not near the creek and anyway the FLIES and MOSQUITOS were fierce.  So apart from the time walking -- we read and played cards in the tent.  OH WELL.

Then on to Missoula and then up towards Glacier.  Our itinerary from here on depends on the weather and .... forest fires.

Lake Como in the Bitterroots

View down Blodgett Canyon, the Yosemite of the Bitterroots

Checking out the peaks!

Hiking hazard--thimbleberries were ripe at lower elevations.  Makes for slow, but delicious, going.

Blodgett Creek

Mostly a lovely trail; not near the creek (oh well)

The tent -- our haven from the BUGS

Walking out under the moon!