Looking upstream from the first creek crossing. It is hard to tell from the photo, but there is good gradient upstream from this point.
Big Creek in the Bitterroot National Forest lies just west of Victor, on Highway 93 South. Today we spent the afternoon hiking upstream looking for potential sections to paddle when the temperatures rise in the spring, and the goods start flowing. Getting out of the house with a late start this morning meant that we only managed to hike around 4.5 miles up the creek, most of which was relatively flat and heavily treed, with a few steeper sections.
Rosie and Wrangler chillin, literally, on the bridge.
According to Google Earth, the creek flows out of Big Lake, which is around nine miles from the trailhead and it is around this upper section that the creek starts looking real nice. Even today, during the middle of winter, Big Creek was flowing with a remarkable amount of water, and had very little wood in the channel, which is rare for the area. We have been told that the upper reaches of the creek contain many bedrock sections, and a potentially huge slide coming down form the lake. Hopefully soon, we can make another trip upstream and find out for ourselves.
Big Creek flowing through one of its mellow pools.
Enjoy the photos from the day!
