STONY LAKE HIKE

Connie and I hiked along divide trail between Ravalli and Granite Counties yesterday off of Skalkaho Pass then dropped down into Stony Lake on the Granite County side.  Steep trail down to the lake and it was even steeper when we came out of there!  Pretty little lake that was worth the hike.  We had ridden along the divide trail back in 1992 when we did a pack trip from the east fork of the Bitterroot to Willow Creek.  I think we were gone a nearly a week.  The area has changed a lot since then.  Many fires in recent years has made it look a lot different.  The fires of 2000 were in this area as well as fires from last fall very near the lake.  So we got to see how the forest is recovering.

This is Skalkaho Falls going up to the top of the pass.

Some of last years fire.

And an area where no fire have been for many many years.

The trail was crisscrossed with lots of spider webs - more than usual in my opinion.  This was one of the largest spiders we saw.  Click to enlarge.

Stony Lake from the divide trail.  You can see all the area that is burned behind the lake.  I think that area is from the fires of 2000.

We were amazed to see this one green tree among all the dead ones.  Makes one wonder how things like this happen.

Lots of little trees starting on top of this old stump in the lake.

Pretty bouquet on top of this rock.