DatesJul 10th - Jul 17th 2010 Service ProjectCampsite rehabilitation, revegetation and some trail maintenance Free DaysExplore the wilderness, hike peaks, cold lake swimming AccommodationsBackpack camping Trip RatingStrenuous : 4 mile backpack. High altitude, digging, lifting, hauling. Pack animal supported. LeadersTom Laabs-Johnson Equipment |
The Mission Mountain Wilderness, with its rugged peaks, pristine glacial lakes and mountain streams, is frequently called the American Alps. Located east of Flathead Lake, and about an hour and a half south of Glacier National Park, the Missions are home to a wide variety of wildlife including grizzly and black bear, elusive mountain lion, mountain sheep and goat, moose, elk, deer, eagles and other raptors. The Missions feature 225 lakes and its clear waters hold native trout, a high-bred "Cutbow" (which is a cross between the Cutthroat and Rainbow trout), and pike. Its high peaks tower 7000 feet above the valley floor, up to 9280 foot McDonald Peak. The slopes and valleys are heavily forested, rocky and lush with undergrowth. Our 2010 project is campsite rehabilitation and revegetation, and trail maintenance in the Heart Lake and Crescent Lake area in the southern part of the Mission Mountain Wilderness. It includes a 4 mile hike into a base camp at about 6100' next to the lakes. Our campsite provides easy access to trout fishing and to an evening swim. We'll be using hand tools -- crosscut saws, shovels, Pulaskis, picks and such -- to reconstruct parts of the trail, obliterate campsite impacts, remove some fire rings and reduce others. The Forest Service will provide pack stock for the food, kitchen, tools, and our personal gear. We'll hike in with our daypacks. On our day off, we'll explore the wilderness, swim in a lake, climb a peak or just relax and soak up the solitude.
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