The day was cool at 7:30 am. The trail head was quiet. 2500 vertical ft above us, on a steep scree slope above timberline, we could see our destination. This trail had intrigued me since I first noticed it. At that time, I was hiking through Maloney Basin in the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness. The trail ran from left to right, high above me on an open mountainside. It seemed incredibley HIGH. But that’s Montana; everything’s big. The mountains match the sky in that regard.
We started walking and 3 hours later, at 9500 ft, we would look down to see the truck waiting for our return.
It never ceases to amaze me what putting one foot in front of the other can achieve. This day hike delivered alpine beauty beyond our expectations. 
Macro views of the high peaks of the Pintler Range.
Micro wonders of lichen and flowers fresh from recent rains.
Also a spring so cold that our hot feet could stand only a few minutes of submersion. We sucked down long swallows of the pristine water; unfiltered and full of elemental energy. Restored, we sprinted back up 1000 ft to retrieve a trekking pole forgotten in our dreamy alpine distraction.
Another day in Montana.
Filed under: Day Hiking, travel Tagged: Day Hiking, hiking, montana, trekking poles, walking
