Day 066: Switchbacks to Mary

Pic: I hope you feel better later on. Lake Mary, Custer Gallatin NF, MT. Larger image

It’s possible to visit Lake Mary as a 12-mile day hike from the parking lot, but it was much more pleasant as a short-but-strenuous 3-mile side hike from basecamp at Quinnebaugh Meadows. On the way back, I yielded to a group of backpackers who had lugged heavy packs up the final stretch: one thousand feet of climbing over just one mile of switchbacks. They looked like they might have preferred my plan if they’d thought of it.

At least the view from the top provided a nice distraction from their suffering.

Pic: Fall, fall, fall, fall, fall. Silver Run Peak, Quinnebaugh Meadows, and Whitetail Peak from Mary’s Lake Trail. Custer Gallatin NF, MT. Larger image

Moonlight playing over the silent lake that night may have been adequate compensation for the extra labor, but I was happy with a short day followed by evening worship at the Altar of Maruchan and bedtime on the valley floor.

Pic: The Altar of Maruchan. Quinnebaugh Meadows, Custer Gallatin NF, MT