It was a good day to be out in the mountains.

The saddle between the north and south summits provided easy tundra walking, with outstanding scenery.

Big Bitterroots to the south.

After this, the camera batteries died.  Always happens at the worst moments.  The ridge was entertaining, not nearly as tricky as the SummitPost beta made it out to be.  I went about halfway to the next peak south, just past the crux of the ridge (easy 4th), before descending east into the basin.  Continuing on didn’t look as interesting, and would’ve created complications returning to the car.  Some talus, granite slickrock w/ sweet metamorphic swirls, meadows, and bushwacking got me down looking for the One Horse Lakes Trail.  I found it eventually, and it’s state of disrepair reinvigored confidence in my trail-finding abilities.  The north slopes by Carlton lake are obvious, but the more vegetated southern slopes have had their way with man’s work.  Eventually, I found my way back to the car, a good day of training and wandering in the bag.

It’s a worthwhile route.  I resolve to get out in the mountains as much as possible before snow comes.