Tobacco Root Mountains, Montana; North & South Meadow Creeks

[duffer]

A group from the Early CJ5 site was here for a week and I participated for two days of trail rides in a very new to me 2006 TJ which I hadn't time to do anything with prior to the first day run on South Meadow Creek. By the thrid day on North Meadow Creek, at least the ARB twin compressor was under the hood but still no winch. As for a little background, North Meadow has always been my favorite local area, ever since my late father ventured into there with the family in 1952. The ride was a 1947 CJ 2A and I remain a little impressed as how he sandwiched 3 kids, mother, and the kitchen sink in that Jeep. We camped at the New Deal Mine that trip and it was the start of my downhill slide to addiction.

South Meadow Creek is a relative mild trail up to the lake, just a little shelf exposure and one area though some rock that requires a little expertise. The trail off that route up to the McKee workings is really steep and rocky.
Day 1 (South Meadow Creek) photos.

Remains of the Missouri-McKee Mill.

Some of my photos of the Missouri-McKee Mill circa 1970/1972. All of the out buildings are now gone.

Minor carb problem.

At South Meadow Creek Lake

One of the McKee adits. A tram line ran from the adits down to the mill.

The trail past the McKee workings ends up almost on top of South Baldy Mountain and is the highest point you can drive to in the Tobacco Root Mountains.

South Meadow Creek Lake from about 10,000 ft elevation

Not much for trees around here at 10,000'. This trail gets you the highest of any in these mountains.

 

[duffer]

Day 3 photos, North Meadow Creek/McKelvey Lake. This trail has always been a bit of a challenge and if you are adverse to stringing winch line, lockers on both ends highly recommended. The TJ survived with just a little paint missing on the driver's side drip rail and a bent draglink, that latter problem of my own making.

There used to be a quality mud hole in this area but that got cribbed up and back filled with gravel when all the bridges on this trail got rebuilt 3 years ago.

That mud used to look like this, circa 1983.

Another D18 e-brake drum bites the dust.

New Deal Mine cabin. There was several frame bunk houses here at one time along with the second log cabin (remains behind the TJ)

McKelvey Lake

Several of the group hiked from McKelvey the quarter mile past Mine Lake up to Cliff Lake.

Mine Lake

Cliff Lake, some fine skiing to be had in that cirque.

 

[Belizean]

Beautiful pictures, old and new. Great looking areas for wheeling in your backyard. Thanks for posting those. Speaking of lockers I finally got a front locker installed and finished up today in my Jeep. Hoping to get to Colorado next summer and if things are still holding up, visit a good friend up in NW Wyoming.

 

[CJ]

Excellent good time and beautiful images. Sure wish I was capable of joining you!