Canoe Trail and Larch Grove

About 40 miles across the mountains on a gravel road is Seeley Lake and the Canoe Trail.  Phil and I were the only ones interested in kayaking this, so off we go.  The Canoe Trail is only about 3 miles through a lot of narrow bushy trails through the marsh at the north end of Seeley Lake.  We put in the kayaks, paddled through the marsh, then Phil walked back about 1 1/2 miles to get the car.  I stayed with the kayaks.  Unfortunately, we did not see any moose or bears or anything but the loons, but it was still very pretty.

Most of the canoe trail wasn't much wider than this, with large bushes on both sides.

There were lots of blooming flowers in the water.

Traversing the trail.

The water was so clear.  This shot was taken through the water.  What you are seeing is all underwater, clear down to the bottom.

This one lone dead tree just stood out and captured my attention.

As we left the canoe trail and entered the lake, we saw lots of water lilies.

I read about a Larch Grove.  Not knowing what that was, I suggested we check it out on the way home.

A Larch is a deciduous conifer, or in other words, it looks like a pine tree, but it looses its leaves in the winter.  Girard Grove is home to the largest Western Larch in the world.

This Western Larch tree is 1,000 years old and has survived over 40 major fires.  It is 153 feet tall, and at 4 1/2 feet off the ground, it is almost 23 feet around.  It's big.

Here it is compared to the other trees around it.

And just what is all this at the base of this tree?  It's ants.