The Dawson Pitamaken Loop

Another awesome weekend of backpacking! We went back to the Two Medicine Valley, but this time on a much more ambitious hike than Caiti and I had ever done before: about 12 miles each day! We brought along our awesome friend Kelsey who works at the entrance station.

Here we are at the beginning of our trail, heading out into the mountains!

Caiti and I super excited to be out on the trail!

Our first amazing vantange point: Dawson's Pass - a low point in the ridge stretching between Flinch Peak and Mount Helen... I can't imagine a more awesome "low point"! Here I am skipping toward the precipice, looking out into the Nyack Valley: one of the most remote and difficult to access valleys in the park.

Here we are all together on the pass!

From Dawson's Pass, we headed northeast around the back side of Flinch Peak: 4 miles skirting the peaks and ridge, while all the while looking at the eye-popping scenery of the Nyack.

A cairn guides our path across the ridge. I couldn't resist taking a picture of this awesome rock someone found and placed here! "This way!"

On top of the world!

We've come all the way around the ridge, and are now at Pitamaken Pass, looking down at Oldman Lake. Flinch Peak is the sharp peak in front of us, and the dip in the ridge to the right of Flich Peak is Dawson's Pass, where we just came from!

Now, we have to turn and look the other direction, down in the Cut Bank Valley, towards our campsite: another three miles down at Morning Star Lake!

Along the way we passed this awesome lake: Pitamaken Lake, still full of huge icebergs!

Getting ready for bed! Finally clear skys so we can sleep with the tent open!! Just a thin screen between us and the stars!

Next morning we had to climb all the way back up to Pitamaken Pass again!

And here I am on the return journey~ Long, but achingly beautiful.... What an Epic trip!!!