Beaver Mtn. Hike

On Labor Day, 5 hikers went atop Beaver Mtn--the long 11,500' ridge SW of South Fork. We went up the heavily forested E side, enjoyed lunch on the beautiful flat top covered with kinnikinic (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), inspected its grape colored "bear berries". Then we walked to the 2002 burn limit at the north end of the mountain, still without spruce, fir, or aspen regeneration.  Finally, we followed an elk trail down the steep pitch to the logging road on which we had parked.

Thanks to Wayne, Loren, Marilyn, and Pat for being good sports as we traveled "new ground" of Beaver Mountain.

With the waning of the numbers of hikers still in the area, we recommend that we join the hikers who go out on Tuesdays. We have a several special hikes lined up for the cool fall season, to combine with Dennis' plans. (Then, when the ski season starts, we'll probably switch back to Mondays, for the sake of a free cup of coffee on Tuesdays at Wolf Creek.) So a week from Tuesday, join us at Rickel Park (near the Health Clinic) at 9 a.m. (unless we send a note that it is at 8 a.m.)

Top of Beaver--white Elephant appears in winter--for many South Fork residents.

N end of Beaver Mtn. 2010, burned mature spruce forest in 2002

Top of 2002 burn Beaver Mtn. North end.

Spruce-fir Beaver Mtn. today --on top

kneeling in kinnikinic on Beaver Mtn.