Lots Of Exploring
We did a lot of exploring, looking for openings in the trees to play on hillsides and mountains, ascending and descending almost constantly. This area is covered—and we mean almost completely covered—with trees. The openings we found were usually areas that had been logged or the result of forest fire(s). There are some natural openings but not many.
So if you like tree riding, the Purcell Mountains in extreme northwest Montana around Libby are your proving grounds. Let us clarify that. Tree riding on slopes as there isn’t much flat ground where we rode.
We spent a couple of days last March riding mostly north and west of Libby (elevation 2,096 feet), riding the groomed trails—there are about 100 miles of Lincoln County Sno-Kats groomed trails in the area—for a ways and then shooting up hillsides or dropping down drainages through gaps in the trees. Or heading off trail into one of the logged/burned out areas to play in the openings.
Our advantage over the two days of riding was we were sledding with guys who knew right where the gaps were and where the best play areas are. Day one’s ride was beautiful and clear. When we gained elevation and there were gaps in the trees you could see for miles in every direction. And what did we see? Mountain range after mountain range. Most mountains were covered with trees, some spots are still recovering from fires and all of it was spectacular.