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Published: October 4th 2009
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Matt may have lost the battle with the keg and despite Leannes predictions, he somehow managed to make it up for breakfast and throw together what was needed for the next trip away. We were off on an overnight camping trip to the Beartooths but as Leanne had only ever car camped we decided to be more adventurous and hike into a secluded lake for the night. After the wedding reception today may not have been the best choice for a day of hard yakka. So with our packs stocked with only the necessities we loaded them into the truck and set of on our 2.5hr drive to the Beartooths.
Our first and only stop along the way was at a small town called Red Lodge where a much needed coffee was on the cards. Red Lodge is a small ski town with the main street falling straight out of a western movie, however no cowboys rode into town today. The drive to and from Red Lodge to the start of our hike was just as stunning as Glacier National Park with high snow capped mountains at every angle we looked and more and more beautful lakes around every bend.
As we wound up the pass we came to a lookout where we decided to get out for a stretch of our legs. The wind was strong and cold but when you are up in the mountains in scenery like this, the desire to go for a quick explore was too great to resist. We boulder hopped to get to a vantage point across the valley. Its hard to describe how strong and cold the wind was as we clung to the rocks but it definitely was great for clearing the head. As we pearched on the rocks, the rain began to start with lightening and thunder in the distance. Being quite high and out in the open Leanne decied to make a quick retreat for the truck to find Sarah already inside. Matt and Joe prooved their manliness by staying slightly longer but even this was only measured in seconds. For a brief moment we were thinking that turning this into a day trip may not be a bad idea and although we were all thinking this no one was prepared to make the call. Who were we kidding this place was far too beautiful to let a bit
of H2O stop you. So with no one challenging the status quo we parked up in Beartooth and got ready for our overnight hike.
With packs loaded onto our backs, bear mace in hand and the view of the trail weaving around the many lakes into the distance we headed off. We were planning a short hike in and therefore a short hike out but the hunt for the perfect camp site in this vast wilderness was never going to be easy when you have 3 strong minds and a 4th that just can't decide. Hiking around here was stunning with a different lake over every hill and around every corner and although mostly open there was small pine forest here and there. The sun was now out but we had seen what the elements can look like around here, so the hunt was on for a sheltered flat camp site by one of the lakes with room for a camp fire. Coming to the inevitable fork in the road we debated before heading left down a large hill with the intention of camping at the bottom. I don't think we needed the exercise but thats what we got
when we reached the bottom to find a river crossing the trail that our dry feet wouldn't let us cross, so it was back up the hill with pack on our backs and tails between our legs. The right track turned out to most definitely be the right choice as our mouths dropped at the beauty of the perfect lake. Okay we had just walked past half a dozen lakes but these just keep getting better and better. Any normal person would have stopped here but Joes quest for perfection pushed us past this lake and up another hill to what truely was the lake of the day and perfection in our eyes. This place is amazing!
As required our camp site ticked all the boxes. With out much need for communication we all immediately got busy setting up camp. Tents were erected, firewood gathered and food safely stowed away from bears in the nearest tree. We settled in to the kind of night you wish you could always have. We were drinking cask wine and eating dried food but under the blanket of stars and good conversation we wouldn't have traded it for a Michelin star restaurant (this
was no ordinary dry food. We recommend hiking with foodies like these too. Roughing it with Joe and Sarah is a pleasure).
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