Scalplock Lookout Trail

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llholmes1948
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Scalplock Lookout Trail

Post by llholmes1948 »

Link to a short item in the Flathead Beacon about the Scalplock Lookout trail. I believe this lookout is always or almost always staffed in the summer but corrections would be welcome:

https://flatheadbeacon.com/2018/08/28/e ... k-lookout/
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Re: Scalplock Lookout Trail

Post by indiana hiker »

We hiked this a few years ago and it was manned at that time. I believe his name was George but can't remember for sure. I do know he had been the lookout for twelve years and was originally from NY. Did it one year and had been back every year since. We did have trouble on the return finding the right trail. There were many trails that branched off at one point and since we had backtracked to the right trail on the way up, it only added to the confusion!
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Re: Scalplock Lookout Trail

Post by llholmes1948 »

Thanks for your comments. I have not done this trail yet (I try to be optimistic) and I had not heard that there were other confusing trails in the area. That doesn't sound good.

As I recall, there was a bear attack on this trail about 15-18 years ago where I believe one and perhaps two hikers were seriously injured. I cannot recall if that was at the height of huckleberry season or not.

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Re: Scalplock Lookout Trail

Post by PeteE »

I did this hike in 2003 with my nieces husband.
My family came out right after the Robert fire got going good :(

We might have had the good views described in the article but for the fire. Smoke was BAD virtually everywhere in GNP.
I remember that there was NO water on that trail in late July in 2003. It was very hot and dry that year.
And going up there is like a "junior" version of the Mt Brown hike.
I had to beg water from my nephew-in-law on the way down :(

The other memory I have is that the flies were HORRIBLE when we reached the lookout.
We thought the lookout would have invited us inside the lookout to eat our lunch; nobody else was up there.
But he didn't.

I do think it would be a nice hike in cool, crisp, clear weather.

pete :wink:

PS

Yeah, that trail junction not far from the TH could be confusing.
The Scalplock trail shares the South Boundary trail briefly.
Go left at first junction(right goes to Ole)
Go right at 2nd junction(straight is South Boundary)
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

George Carlin
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Re: Scalplock Lookout Trail

Post by Sue Z »

PeteE wrote:Go left at first junction(right goes to Ole)
Go right at 2nd junction(straight is South Boundary)
Turn right at the rock that looks like a bear. Turn left at the bear that looks like a rock. (from F Troop)
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Re: Scalplock Lookout Trail

Post by llholmes1948 »

Pete and Sue,

Thanks for your directions. I will print them out and save them. (But what do we do if the bear has moved?)

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Re: Scalplock Lookout Trail

Post by indiana hiker »

The worker in the lookout was named Henry. It finally came to me! When we hiked there was not a clear sign at one of the junctions. There was a sign for a horse trail only. We went the wrong way and had to backtrack, thus the confusion on the return. When a ranger asked after we had finished how we liked the hike, we told him great except for the confusion near the beginning. He responded "yeah, we need to fix that sign".
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