Halloween trip to Coopers Lake

On the road we stopped for a photo of larch and were joined by friendly horses

This is what we came for:  the lake and larch

From the Big Nelson Campground

Wayne capturing the area's beauty

 

We could catch glimpses of Coopers Lake from the trail

Monday's hike to Harrison Lake in Glacier Park whetted my appetite to see more of the radiant larch.

In the past several years that has meant a trip to remote Coopers Lake on the edge of the Scapegoat Wilderness near Ovando.

Friend Wayne Phillips, now 85, discovered a national forest hiking trail on the lake's eastern flank that we've hiked several times.  It leads to nice views of the lake and in one spot a grove of giant larch trees in the 130 foot range.

 So along with Gordon Whirry, the three of us went for a "look-see-at the larch" hike and weren't disappointed.

Prior to hiking we visited the Big Nelson Campground on the lake's southern end.

Then we drove back to a gated summer home road a quarter mile away where we began our hike on FS Trail 384. 

There's tight parking in front of the gate near this unmarked trail.

It seems obvious that the locals don't want folks to know about it.

We didn't go far on this overcast, but beautiful day, with lots of joking about the obscured sun in dense clouds being a typical "West Side" day.

We hit the larch just right.  They were in full golden glory.

On the way to the trailhead on the massive Kleinschmidt Flats we stopped for a photo break to drink in the larch in the mountains and several friendly horses wandered up to us, adding to our day's enjoyment.