Two Late-Season Outings: Big Hole Lookout and the Rattlesnake Wilderness Boundary

Big Hole Lookout: Jen lounging, Ellie in the shade, and Baldy Mountain in the distance.

One of the most beautiful days of the entire year was Saturday October 17. It was a bluebird day and was warm, but the sun's direct rays were soft. There are only a handful of such days in a year, and it was a gift to have one on a weekend. Even more of a gift was that Ellie woke up wanting to do something with Jen and I, so we cancelled our plans to do a long mountain bike ride and instead went with Ellie down to the Plains, Montana area for a hike. Last year at about this time we went to the same area and climbed Baldy Mountain on a similarly spectacular fall day. There are a number of great family friendly hikes near Plains and Thompson Falls. There's also a good ice cream parlor in Plains, and Quinn's Hot Springs nearby for a soak on the way home, making for a full and pleasurable day. 

This year we opted to hike to Big Hole Lookout, which I learned about because Big Hole Peak (about 1/8th of a mile from the lookout) is one of Montana's 143 peaks with 2000 or more feet of prominence. It's a bit of a drive to the trail head, but on a beautiful day, who cares? I highly recommend the hike for families. It's probably about 3 miles to the lookout with not much elevation gain for a summit hike; you gain most of the elevation on the drive to the trail head.       

A closer shot of Ellie and Big Hole Lookout.

Pudge looking off toward Big Hold Lookout from Big Hole Peak.

The next day, with the weekend winding down, Jen and I decided at the last minute to ride up the Stuart Peak Trail to the Rattlesnake Wilderness boundary. This is a ride neither or us had done, so it felt good to get it in before the snow flies. It was a great ride, and we got back to the trail head just as the last cars were leaving and dark was descending, for a very full weekend indeed.

Jen on the near endless climb to the Rattlesnake Wilderness Boundary on the Stuart Peak Trail.

Jen showing good cornering technique with Missoula Valley in the background.

Finally made it.

Missoula Valley at dusk on the descent.