This hike to St. Paul Lake will likely be blazoned without end in my reminiscence as a result of it was the primary hike I ever did in Montana. I used to be out west this previous summer time visiting some mountaineering buddies. They had been desperate to share their favourite hikes with me and determined this average hike to a distant alpine lake can be a becoming introduction. It was.
St Paul Lake is situated within the Cupboard Vary of Western Montana, near the Idaho-Montana border, about 2 hours southeast of Spokane, Washington. This area has its share of 8000′ peaks and glacial cirques, with over 20 alpine lakes teeming with cutthroat trout. The hearth hazard is all the time very excessive in summer time, and the world has a grizzly bear inhabitants, which I discovered a bit of intimidating, however my buddies took it in stride since they’ve been mountaineering on the market for years. I’ve by no means needed to carry bear spray earlier than, and it was a sobering wake-up name to get handed a bear spray canister and discover ways to use it rapidly in an emergency.
For the ten days I visited, we deliberate most of our hikes utilizing a guidebook titled “Trails of the Wild Cupboards” by Dennis Nicholls and Jim Mellen, the native mountaineering bible. The Benchmark Maps Montana Street Atlas was additionally an indispensable information for navigating the Forest Service roads that present entry to the encompassing cities and Wilderness Areas.
The St Paul Lake Path (#646) is about 6 miles up a gravel highway from the freeway and was near the compound the place we had been tenting. The hike to the lake is 4 miles a method with 1600 ft of elevation achieve by an old-growth forest of hemlock and big cedars.
After we had been chased from the parking zone by agitated bald-faced hornets (nasty bugs), we began mountaineering uphill on switchbacks overlooking the East Fork of the Bull River. I’d introduced Tenkara Fly Fishing gear on this journey, however the water degree on the streams was too low to fish efficiently. In hindsight, I ought to have introduced a rod and deal with to fish within the alpine lakes we visited, however I don’t personal any flatwater fishing gear and must purchase some earlier than my subsequent go to.
As we climbed, we handed the Cupboard Wilderness Boundary, and I mirrored on how a lot I respect the Nationwide Forests and Wilderness Areas in the US. I dwell in a Nationwide Forest again residence and felt a right away connection to the panorama once we handed the Cupboard Wilderness signal early in our hike. Dwelling amidst massive timber and mountains and having quick access to nice mountaineering, fishing, and snowboarding has enriched my life and well being throughout the previous six years I’ve lived of their proximity, and I by no means wish to dwell removed from a Nationwide Forest once more. They’re greater than a refuge for nature.
One in every of my buddies is a mountaineering path builder and an equestrian, so I used to be handled to a proof of what it takes to construct a path hardened for horses since mixed-use is rather more prevalent in Montana. Along with leisure use, path maintainers used horses and mules to haul heavy instruments to extra distant areas and better elevations on a few of our hikes.
As we approached the lake, the vegetation thickened significantly, and I turned a bit of nervous a few potential bear encounter. We had been all speaking and making loads of noise, however this being my first time in brown bear habitat, I used to be understandably nervous. I relaxed extra on our later hikes.
When the lake got here into view, I used to be amazed by the view of St Paul Mountain overhead. It regarded just like the Matterhorn! The encircling mountains and ridges had been gigantic and prolonged so far as the attention might see, whereas the lake was picture-perfect, nestled in a cirque on the foot of the height. All of us scrambled down the steep financial institution to have lunch and marvel on the view. The water was low however clear, and a waterfall thundered on the alternative financial institution. And that was my introduction to mountaineering in Western Montana, a spot I plan to return to once more.
