Black Mountain, Nevada Range, Continental Divide

Al at our last rest stop on the way down.

After our awesome climb up Mount Haggin a few weeks back, I had it in mind that I wouldn't be seeing my Bozeman pal Al for a while, but it was his Spring Break last week and his family had left town, so he called and asked if I could get away for a snow shoe trip up a peak. My philosophy about such things is that you've got to take advantage of good opportunities when they come, so I said yes. Al drove over to Missoula and we left early the next morning for the Scapegoat. When we got to Kleinschmidt Flat on Highway 200, the Scapegoat looked ominous under clouds, so we continued on toward Avon and climbed Black Mountain instead. It was a great outing with nice walking through open forest and whitebark pine up high. Our route is particularly nice in winter. 

One of the summit views.

walking up through open woods

Black Mountain is quite close to Avon: turn off of Highway 12 at Avon onto Highway 141, and a few miles later turn right onto Ophir Creek Road. Follow Ophir Creek Road beyond the Forest Service boundary to a very large opening in the road with tons of room to park. Gain the ridge here and walk it all the way to the summit. See the GPS track here. 

Pudge on the summit

another shot from the unassuming summit

Open whitebark pine woods near the summit. Note the snowmobile tracks.

One of the big open parks on the way down.

Unassuming Black Mountain from below.

The Flint Range on the way down.