It’s a beautiful late-June day, perfect for walking around Clearwater Lake in Lolo National Forest. The trail to the lake opens onto a comparatively open area, where Clearwater Lake really is astonishingly clear. Behind it is the Swan Range, and the volunteer guide points out the Swan’s avalanche chutes, which feed the lake. …

This Field Note was written by Janet Cass. Would you be interested in writing one? Contact Allison De Jong, Field Notes editor, at adejong [at] montananaturalist [dot] org or 406.327.0405. Please visit the Field Notes website at the Montana Natural History Center for more information.