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1 review of Jewel Basin

Stopped by the drift -- momentarily

We churn on in low range, skirting rockfall and downed branches, before hitting a 5-foot high drift. Because of grizzlies Laura wants to sleep in the back of the truck, but that means we have to unload everything; most of it goes on the roof. In the morning we are up with the sun, and after a long breakfast we hike over the drift and up the road. Some skiers have come this way, and someone on an ATV, but we are the first today and perhaps the first in a while. After about a mile we reach what looks like the end of the road – but it’s hard to tell for sure as everything is buried under feet and feet of snow.

We split – Laura, on snowshoes, follows the hint of a summer trail, while on skis I skin a more direct line up the ridge. The snow gives out near treeline and I hike on, skis on my pack, to the summit. The Swans stretch away north and south, while the Great Bear and Glacier hunker to the north; Flathead lake shimmers in the early summer morning air. Push off: suncups and elk tracks, buried trees, old avalanche debris. Some 60 turns later I’m back down, and miraculously Laura walks up at the same time. Another day in the mountains.
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