Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

[Bryan Harwood]

The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is in Idaho and Montana. Its an extremely diverse wilderness. High rugged mountains on the east side where the border of the 2 states sits on the crest of the mighty Bitterroot Mountains. This trip took place in one of the 23 deep glaciar carved canyons on the east side of the wilderness in the Montana side. The canyon is called Chaffin Creek, and it goes up the canyon where it meets the chain of lakes at the top wiithin the main cirque. The lakes are called, heart, tamarack, and Chaffin lakes. The main peaks that tower above are called the Shard, Sugarloaf mountain, and Chaffin Peak. We took a 3 day winter backpacking trip with snow shoes. This trip took place March 28- 31.


Bryan (me) and Erin at the Trail Head


This is the view from our camp


Campfire at our camp 3.5 miles up the creek


Sweet moon shot over one of the pinnacles


Traversing the upper parts of the canyon for better views


Erin lovin the characteristic granite cliffs of the Bitterroots


Having fun in the snow


Sweet Icicles


More traversing toward the lakes

We reached heart lake, completely frozen yet

Snowshoes

Tamarack Lake, second lake up the chain of lakes

Lookin down the canyon

Chaffin Peak


craggy shit

Erin above heart lake

cool shadows





A good look at the Shard

lookin down into the bitterroot valley

sweet cliffs

We got snowed on the way out


Wilderness boundary on our way out.

If you ever get a chance, please visit the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. It's incredible and needs much awareness and public support as the USFS has no money at all to properly manage this special wilderness.
My name is Bryan Harwood, and I have taken hundreds of trips just like this one into this wilderness. I worked on the trail crew here for 3 seasons, and I have seen most of it. I will continue to post trips as I go as well as trips in the past.

 

[Jackson]

So awesome. When I was in high school, I loved reading about Lewis and Clark, and I've wanted to check out the Bitterroots ever since. Thanks for sharing this. Looking forward to seeing other trips you've taken over that way!

 

[Bob]

Nice ........ I've got a route scoped out to try going south to north. ............
The Selway is a under the radar area, shouldn't let it out.....

 

[danger02ward]

Those are some great pictures! Love the view on that first shot!

 

[Langdon Greene]

Beautiful area.... except for all that nasty cold white stuff.