Bill's Blog (Web Log)

Failed McLeod, Black Tail Peak (Missions) Today

Change of plans. Yesterday's hike was unsuccessful. I drove all over the Jocko Valley looking for an entrance point to the Rattlesnake Wilderness but the border was covered with private land. I couldn't even get close enough to stash the car for an attempt and I was afraid to leave my car abandoned on the reservation. Today's plans are to go into the Mission Mountain Range and grab a 8,000 footer. The closest one is Black Tail Peak just West of North Jocko Peak. I will access the trail head north of the road that follows the north fork of the Jock River. This is the same road that goes all the way to the Seeley area. Just as the road approaches the wilderness from the West side there is a left turn that goes North about a mile and accesses a trail head that goes North East up the Jock River Drainage. I plan to follow the trail and staying to the left until I reach the bottom of the ridge that heads up to the North between the two peaks. This ridge has the Deep Creek Drainage to the East and the Jocko Peak off to the right. Its a long route and I am not bringing Marcy. It will be a long day and I am taking my bag just in case.

McLeod Peak This Weekend

A hike a day has continued and now I am on my 22nd day if I go today, and why wouldn't I. Today I am planning a climb up McLeod Peak today. Once again I am getting out late but I am struggling. I am exhausted for some reason, although the excitement of a new adventure is perking me up. There are a series of roads called McClure and Gray wolf off of route 93 that I will attempt to start from. I intend to skirt the boundary of the Vision Quest territory of the Salish Tribe, being careful not to intrude upon the sacred areas. The boundary seems to follow a ridge line over to McLeod. I intend to follow that and stay north of the Finley creek drainage. I intend to drive as far as I can go and set out from there.

As I remarked earlier I am "Wore Out". Big Big. I guess I can attribute the fatigue to this weeks hikes, or shall I say runs. For some stupid reason I have ran all my hikes this week. I am getting out of hand. Next week I hope to slow down and relax a little. For gods sake, it is only February.

Julie sent me a DVD movie of the Wrangle St. Elias National Park. It is a place where she lives next to and I have been wanting this movie called "Crown of the Continent" for quite some time. On Tuesday I received a package and was overwhelmed with joy to find it was the movie I wanted. Thanks Julie, I watch it all the time. Ok, it the only movie I own.

At work I have been creating some great stuff. Not only is my interview server working out nicely but now I can use data collected and build pdf files dynamically as easy as creating a web page. How cool is that.

Well it is off to the task, god speed all!

Stark Mountain Successful

Saturday I stopped by Starbucks to grab a coffee and scone. I was getting out late and needed a snack. I found the road to the trail head well enough and went until I got the car stuck. From there it was a 6 mile snowshoe which wasn't easy. From false summits to a crust that just was not enough to hold me up, The way to the top was long and arduous.

Stark Mountain This Weekend

Today I am planning a hike up Stark Mountain. I plan to start by an access road off of Nine Mile Road. The access road seems to be #5515, but if that isn't accessible, I will go to where the ridge cuts down to Nine Mile Road at Cedar Creek. According to the map it will be about a 4 mile climb.

Last week things went pretty well and I have finished up my first phase of my interview server for MARS Stout. There is still no sign that they want to hire me, so I still work for Work Force. Still a temp. Oh well, that isn't as nearly as depressing as missing First Friday Gallery Night.

Last night as I was coming back from the hike at Water Works Hill, I noticed a lot of people downtown walking around. Then it hit me, I forgot about First Friday Gallery Night. Damn! I couldn't join in because I was in my hiking grunge and had to go to Big Lots for today's hike snacks.

This Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday and I plan to hit the Board Room with Mike from work. It sounds like fun, I cant believe no one here hosts Super Bowl Parties at their homes. Out East I was always at a Super Bowl Party. If it is not the Griz, they are just not interested.

I better hit the trails, have a good weekend. Signing out form Missoula Montana.

BIKELOG 2005

Total Miles: 47.2 miles
Total Climb: 110 feet
Bilinkg is goin ok, new cyclo-cross tires should make things better.

Back From Squaw, Week in Review

Mom's computer was last weeks big project. She sent me her computer and I diagnosed it as having a bad CPU fan. It was making a huge racket because the bearings went out due to dirt and dust clogging the heat sink. Well, that is my diagnosis. I ordered her a new fan, heat sink, and a cd burner. Everything went smooth. In a matter of a hour I had it all back together and burning a cd. I packaged it up and sent it out, and that brings me to another project, this one not going so smooth.

Squaw Peak Today

Today I am attempting to climb Squaw Peak. It is not a huge mountain by any means, but it is one that I have not done so there is a sense of adventure and the unknown. What ever, just wanted to post where I am going today just in case something happens.

I plan to go to the Nine Mile Ranger Station and go straight through that intersection and follow the signs to the Squaw Peak trailhead. I do not expect to get to the trail head but as close as I can get. It may be a 4 mile hike and it may be a 14 miles hike. That part I do not know at this point.