Page 58 - Flathead Beacon // 7.8.15

EXPLORE NUMA RIDGE LOOKOUT
BY CLARE MENZEL
WITH RECENT HIGH temperatures, hikers need a few extra tricks up their moisture-wicking sleeves to escape the heat. Choosing a hike that reaches high altitudes is a given, but my new go-to is finding one near water. With its trailhead at Bow- man Lake and objective sitting at 6,900 feet, Glacier National Park’s Numa Ridge Lookout Trail is well qualified. The trip starts off along- side the easygoing Bowman Lake Trail, which runs the length of the park’s third largest lake. About a mile in, the 5-mile long trail splits off to climb gently for 2.5 miles before hooking east to take hikers steeply uphill. It winds back and forth across a south-facing aspect of the ridge, providing mouthwatering views of the lake, which lies 3,000 feet below. From the lookout, hikers can ogle behemoths Rainbow Peak and Mount Carter. The next high spot north in the ridge, 800 feet above the lookout, obscures view of the immense Numa Peak, and bush- whacking up the ridge for a look is well worth the extra sweat. Which, of course, will wash right away upon plunging into the glacier-chilled lake water at the day’s end.
Bowman Lake from Numa Ridge. CLARE MENZEL | FLATHEAD BEACON
TWO BUCK SHUCK
Oyster Night Every Thursday
406.407.1455
306 Stoner Loop
In the Lakeside Town Center
Seasonally & regionally inspired dinner & spirituous drink
5pm-10pm Tue - Sat
See the next generation BioSuit designed for exploring Mars by MIT professor
Dr. Dava Newman.
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JULY 8, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM