Ward Peak Lake: For the third time this summer I went to Ward Peak Lake. Where as the week before my focus was to spend the night at the lake to experience the sunset and sunrise. This time I went to explore the area above the lake at the mine and rock deposition zone and then to explore the little valley below the lake. On the hike in I spied a Marten down in a rock pile below me. He wasn't too concerned about me at all and ambled off without much haste. The mine above the lake was much deeper than I expected. Usually the mines are caved in with just the opening available to inspect. I didn't go in as that is a foolish thing to do at these old mines. I headed down into the valley below with the intent to circle the valley and climb back up to the saddle near the lake.
There is a game trail that will take you down along the left hillside above the valley. I left the trail and climbed down to the edge of the valley overlooking Hazel Lake. The trail continues around the hillside towards Mary Lake. I believe there is a game trail between Ward Peak Lake and Mary Lake, but it would be very diffcult as that hillside is a series of cliffs and extremely steep even in the trees. Something to look at next year. As it was I spent too much time at Ward Peak Lake and I ran out of time to circle the valley, so I went back up the way I came down. As I neared the lake I discovered that a second mine shaft exists below the lake. Someone posted that it was a "hobby hole" that was actively worked into the 1970's. This shaft also went back a ways into the hillside, but I didn't go in. It was a pretty good day with new discoveries. Ward Peak Lake is fast becoming one of my favorite fishless lakes in the Great Burn region, along with Middle Cache & Kelly Lakes.
Cascade Creek Falls & Overlook: On Friday, Kathy, Skye & I took the new trailer over to the Muchwater CG for an initial test run We traded in the 2017 RPod for a 2026 Grand Design Transcend One. Muchwater CG is between St. Regis and Paradise, MT. along Hwy 135 (Cut-off road). After setting up, we drove to the Cascade Creek CG a couple miles away to hike to the top of Cascade Falls and the overlook there, a 3 mile round trip. The campground is closed for the season but the FS built a new trailhead (parking & toilet) outside of the campground this past year. There isn't much water in Cascade Creek this time of year.
Hoodoo Lake: On Saturday, we went up to Hoodoo Pass and hiked into Hoodoo Lake from there. There is another trail that comes in from the 19 mile (big) corner on the main Trout Creek Rd that is shorter but much steeper. It was another great fall day with lots of sunshine. There was a young couple (Superior & Missoula) there swimming and lounging on the bank. We went over past the outlet to the campsite there to have lunch and hang out for an hour or so on the rocks there. This was the first time that Kathy had been to the lake.
