Richard Layne Photography
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Ten Mile Lake Area
Ten Mile Lake located on the edge of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness off Lost Horse Canyon in Montana
This Ten Mile Canyon is located in the Lost Horse Canyon, which is approximately 10 miles south of Hamilton Montana. It is short and strong on an ascent/descent. The lake is typically at the end of the canyon in a cirque. Its elevation is just short of 7000 feet. The best time for going into it is the 1st part of July, as long as crampons are a part of your trail gear.
I have taken 2 trips into this fairly secluded and off-trail area. It is also the best route for getting into Roaring Lion Canyon's headwaters, another area of seclusion. On the canyon floor is a serious timber fall jungle. I recommend this canyon floor route if I know you . . . and I don't like you. Otherwise I found it better to go up the wall of 2000 feet to the high region. To do that go approximately one mile up the road beyond the mouth of Ten Mile Creek Canyon. Pick one of the slide areas that can be seen on a topo. I have twice used the one which has 3 small ponds on the other side of it. Don't go as far as the Ohio Slide though. Be prepared for a tough south face climb with trees, deadfall, boulder fields and sheers to go around. But it still beats the canyon route, unless I don't like you. Bring water, at least 48 ounces. Start early in the day while it is still cool, unless of course . . . well you know.
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Also, try to be prepared for the totally different neighborhood, delightful and full of springs, views and seclusion, immediately following the summit of the initial climb. I am referring at this time to that 2000 footer, 2 hour climb. This area is reserved for the somewhat hardy. Fishing at the lake is plenty bountiful with cutthroat that are self-producing.
The trip can be a through hike, sort of. Instead of turning around and going back eventually, go down Roaring Lion Canyon. If you are slightly delusional than pop over the next wall to the north and go down the Sawtooth Canyon via Ingomar Lake. I have not done this latter item. The closest I have come is staring down at the lake one hot waterless day in July 2000. Once down into the Roaring Lion Canyon there is a trail. You'll like the route. It isn't saturated with people like most of the other Bitterroot Canyons are. Take an extra two days to get from Ten Mile Lake down to the mouth of the Roaring Lion, unless you're an animal. Then it ought to take you about 22 seconds of seeing nothing along the way. rgl
The photos on this page were captured with the Nikon D2X. The updated version of this incredible all-weather, all-terrain machine is the D2XS shown below. While the D2XS is not for everyone and with a price tag that is somewhat prohibitive, it will go where no others can. When the cold stops a camera my D2X came through without a problem. Meanwhile I don't personally know anyone else that goes through the weather and terrain extremes I take my equipment through. That said, besides the D2XS, Nikon has a slr camera for pretty much everyone. From the D50 to the D200, things sure aren't what they were in 2004 when I got my first slr digital (D70).rgl
Copyright (c) 2007 Richard Layne Photography. All rights reserved.