Trip Planning

Owl Lake on the Lake Plateau.

With Yumi off to Japan with her kids, I realized what a great opportunity I had to ditch my boys---who were asked repeatedly if they'd like to go with me---and get another trip in before the start of school.

There wasn't a whole lot of planning for this trip other than making sure I had 5 days worth of food with me when I left the house. Most of my gear was already spread out on the ping pong table in the basement following our Wind River trip just a week before. In fact, I didn't even know where I'd be going when I left the driveway. I thought about going back to the Winds and to the Cirque of the Towers. I pondered making the long drive out to Glacier in hopes of securing a killer hike as a walk up. I considered Yellowstone or the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and the Cloud Peak Wilderness. So many places to choose from and no clue where to go.

My first decision was made only 5 minutes into the drive as I reached I-43 just outside of town: I'd be taking I-94 which meant the Winds were out, Glacier, yellowstone and the Absaroka's were in. When I got to Glendive, MT, the next morning I had to make my decision: Glacier or the Absaroka's. I chose the Absaroka's for no other reason than I didn't feel like driving the extra 5 hours each way to get to Glacier. Besides, I had the Falcon guide with me for the Absaroka's and hadn't been there before.

All I needed were some maps and I'd be ready to go, but that little adventure will be told later.