Fire Lookout

Jolie, me and Polgara spent a couple of nights at the Granite Butte Lookout near Helena. Cant drive in this time of year so we snow shoed  4 miles in using our backpacks. Lookout has great views in all directions. Wind was howling for most of the time we were there (guessing 50-60 mph) - made the lookout shake the entire first night - made sleeping tough.

Here is a shot of the interior - very cozy once you get the wood stove warmed up.

Morning of the first day at lookout, we saw these fresh tracks in the snow. Not sure what critter it was, but there was a lynx study in this area last year, so we are guessing it was a lynx. We saw these just after Polgara flushed a moose with her babies out of the trees.

Here is the gang enjoying lunch in a windless spot during our day hike - the sun was warm making our little snow pits very comfy

We were lucky to get this sunrise on our second morning.