Glacier's Harrison Lake at Larch's heighth

 

 

Hiking to Harrison Lake in Glacier's southwest corner is something I have wanted to do for about 25 years.

I've put it off because it involves wading the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, a tricky and somewhat dangerous task.

I put it off until Fall, thinking the river is at its lowest.  But, then you're at the mercy of changeable and frigid weather.

We hit it just right on Oct. 21:  relatively warm weather, the Larch trees at their colorful peak, and the river was low.

The best crossing is at a railroad road turnout from US 2 just east and across the road from the Ousel Peak trailhead in the Great Bear Wilderness.

You have to walk the railroad track right of way for about a quarter mile west and there's a bright fluorescent orange marker on the other side of the river that marks the best route across.    

The crossing is in flat water above some stream riffles.

The water came up to just above my calves to my knee cap at the deepest this October day.

And, it was darn cold and my footing had to negotiate a slimy bottom so I had to place each step carefully.

I had read accounts that there would be a bushwhack to the South Boundary Trail in Glacier Park, so I immediately began a bushwhack to the east, thinking I'd eventually pick up a trail.

I did notice a trail to the west that went steeply uphill, but figured it was the South Boundary Trail going back toward West Glacier.

After thrashing around for half an hour in grass and deadfall, I decided to check out that steep trail, although it seemed counterintuitive since it was headed in what I thought was the wrong direction.

I was wrong, and this was the trail I needed.

After cresting to a bench it turned out to be the South Trail and it was smooth sailing from there.

The Harrison Lake Trail junction was eight-tenths of mile ahead.

At that junction we found the remains of an ancient tractor and on the way back explored the area, finding an old plow, oil cans, and a rather large cabin, which had been the home of a Mrs. Josephine Doody, a notorious bootlegger.

It was another 3 miles to Harrison Lake through old-growth and regenerated burned forest now mostly lodgepole.  The old burn offered us great views of Loneman Mountain and the amazing larch stands that glowed bright yellow and golden.

The large Harrison Lake seemed to suddenly appear, its unearthly green color a product of its origins in the park's glacier fields coming off mainly Mount Jackson.

We were treated to a wind-less, calm day and the water was like glass.  On the lower end it rests on the flanks of Loneman Peak.  We could see down the lake to Thompson and Blackfoot peaks.

We walked up a little less than a mile of shoreline and enjoyed a relaxing lunch before turning back and retracing our steps.

It was a glorious day in the park made even more joyous with news that Katie had become a grandma for the fifth time with the birth of grandson in Salt Lake City to Chip and his girlfriend Jill.