Sun, Jul 7 2019 - Blacktail Hills #2 (View Original Event Details) Coordinator(s): Larry Hiller Participants: Larry Hiller, John Oliver Ellis, Frank Wesolovski, Greg Notess, Denis Twohig, Nancy Riva, Steve Berg, David Schuler, Laurie Lintner

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On the previous trips I've coordinated in the area, we've started from Marias Pass to intersect the Autumn Creek trail. Occasionally there has been a train parked on a siding at the pass, blocking access to the trail which posed a bit of a problem. This year I decided to start from the west end of Autumn Creek to avoid the train issue and view some different terrain. I prefer that approach to the hills, although the trail is a bit overgrown, resulting in pants and boots getting soaked when wading through the dewy vegetation. Regardless of approach from east or west, you head off-trail at the same spot.

The cooler, wetter weather this spring and early summer was a mixed blessing — lush greenery but also a bumper crop of mosquitoes. Although a bit early for the maximum bloom, we still found many dazzling bitterroot blossoms with more soon on the way. By mid-afternoon, with storm clouds approaching, we dropped down the steep vegetated slopes to the cars we had parked at Skyland road to enjoy refreshments. Early season trekking in the Blacktail Hills has always been very rewarding. This year was no exception.