Finding Cool Temps at Altitude

This weekend we had two goals: first to explore new places and second to get high enough in the mountains to escape the heat wave. So we packed up Meadow and Lark with bikes, food and gear and headed out the door and drove west to the Gravelly Mountain Range.

The drive was hot - over 90 degrees and the AC worked very hard to keep us cool. We stopped for a cold milkshake in Ennis at the Sugar High (yup, that’s really it’s name). Then headed farther south to cross the Madison River at the Lyons Bridge. From there it was all dirt roads up into the mountains. As we gained elevation, the temperature thankful dropped to the mid 50’s, especially so as a thunderstorm rolled through, and we rolled down the windows and turned off the AC.

Just a few miles from camp, we spooked a cow moose on the road. By the time we reached our camp, the rain had stopped and set up camp. The Wolverine Basin has a large trailhead outfitted with a large parking lot and hitching posts. Nestled amongst rocky peaks, the Basin is a large open meadow surrounded by forest. While it was empty this weekend, I would expect that during hunting season, this would be a busy trailhead. We decided to camp in the trailhead parking lot, as it was empty and we doubted anyone would be joining us. We leveled Meadow, heated up dinner, and went for a walk.

The trail is a rough two track from the parking lot with a few campsites along it until it comes to a creek. At the creek crossing, the trail shrinks down to a reedy singletrack. A sign marks it as a motorized trailed, but with some date restrictions. A bull moose grazed in the large meadow before moving off as we walked down the trail.

The night got cool - perfect sleeping whether for us - and we snuggled under the blankets. In the morning we woke to clear skies. After our traditional pancake Saturday breakfast, we changed into our riding clothes and jumped on our bikes. We rode the trail up the Basin through the forest and open meadows. After another creek crossing, the trail heads up steeply and we had to push our bikes for 15 minutes before topping out on the ridge. We continued on through another open meadow filled with wildflowers and elk, before turning back and heading back to the trailhead.

Following lunch, we packed up the Meadow and Lark and drove up to the Gravelly Road further up on the mountain range. The Gravelly’s are beautiful, remote and full of wildlife. And we definitely need to do further exploration in this range. But that will wait for another time.