From State Highway 37, turn north onto National Forest Road 228 (FR-228; paved) about 20.6 kilometres east of Staff Sergeant Arthur J Rambo Memorial Bridge in Libby or 85.9 kilometres south and west of the junction with US Highway 93.  Drive 10.2 kilometres and park in pullouts (48.44419, -115.31636) on either side of the road.  These pullouts are actually further north of where FT-270 apparently intersects FR-228 as shown on maps (more on this to follow).

Zosia and I were confounded right at the start when we did not see a well-defined trail heading into the forest from the pullout on the west side of the road.  It is worth noting here that, even at the coordinates where FT-270 apparently intersects FR-228 as shown on maps, there is no obvious trailhead since the forested slope on the west side of the road is guarded by steep bluffs (plus there is virtually no space for parking).  Puzzled but still determined, we followed a questionable beaten path into the forest and bushwhacked for a short distance before stumbling onto a reclaimed exploration road running perpendicular to our line of ascent.  We turned southward along this road hoping to intersect FT-270 as shown on my GPS map, but when we reached the exact spot, there was not even the hint of a trail to be found.  Wandering a little further south, we abandoned the road and climbed a steep but less vegetated slope to gain a fairly open ridge that initially looked promising to ascend.  Higher up though, we again found ourselves thrashing through some pretty heinous terrain while traversing a dip along the ridge.  All the while, we kept looking for the elusive trail as marked on the GPS map but were continually disappointed.  Given our frustratingly slow progress, I was genuinely beginning to feel despair as we plowed deeper into the hellish and seemingly endless bush.

As if the mountain gods had deemed that we had suffered enough, Zosia and I eventually intersected a well-defined trail rising across a bushy slope.  This turned out to be FT-270, but confirmation would not come until a little later when we came upon a sign for Alexander Mountain where the trail crosses an overgrown road (FR-4857).  Naturally, we made much better progress on the trail and soon reached the summit which, contrary to the claim in the aforementioned website, is completely viewless.  A fire lookout tower once stood here, but little of it remains other than some concrete blocks and the odd piece of rubbish.

	From the pullout, Zosia follows the most promising trail--little more than a beaten path--heading into the forest.
	After a bit of a bushwhack, Zosia stumbles onto a reclaimed exploration road.
	Abandoning the exploration road, Zosia hikes off-trail up a steep slope with some limited views of Lake Koocanusa.
	This ridge initially appears promising to ascend.
	Sonny goes for an extended thrash through some rather miserable terrain. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	The look on Sonny's face says it all as he emerges from the bush and intersects a well-defined trail. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Near the intersection with an overgrown forestry road (FR-4857), Zosia rejoices at seeing a sign that confirms that she is on the trail (FT-270) to Alexander Mountain.
	Zosia holds the remnant of some mysterious device on the summit of Alexander Mountain (1422 metres).

With nothing to see at the top of Alexander Mountain, Zosia and I continued westward along FT-270 to Fleetwood Point.  At one point, we passed a small break in the trees, but distant views were largely obscured by wildfire haze.  Otherwise, we had no trouble following FT-270 to a T-junction with Rainy Divide Trail (FT-125) just below the top of Fleetwood Point.  We turned right and reached the viewless summit shortly after.  Another fire lookout tower also once stood here, but all that remains is a collapsed hut.  With nothing else to see at the top of Fleetwood Point, we retreated to the T-junction and stopped for a lunch break.

For our return trip, Zosia and I hiked back over Alexander Mountain along FT-270 and continued to follow the trail eastward to see where it actually ended up.  We discovered that, east of the intersection with FR-4857, FT-270 is inaccurately marked on all maps.  At one point during our miserable bushwhack, we had been only a mere 30 metres from the trail, but further east, FT-270 diverges considerably from where we had expected it to be.  As we got lower and nearer to FR-228, we were dismayed to find that large parts of FT-270 have been wiped out by a recent clear cut.  We ended up tiptoeing through logging slash to get down to FR-228.  As we walked along the highway back to where we parked, we passed the actual signed trailhead located about 70 metres north of the pullouts.  The sign here would be easy to miss if traveling northbound on the highway, and even if we had started hiking here, we would have lost the trail immediately in the clear cut.  In my opinion, it is perhaps just as well that the trail is obliterated near the beginning because neither Alexander Mountain nor Fleetwood Point are worthwhile hiking objectives.

	While traversing between Alexander Mountain and Fleetwood Point, Sonny crosses a rare break in the forest which allows some hazy views of distant ridges. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	A collapsed hut marks the summit of Fleetwood Point (1462 metres).
	The highlight of the day is eating California rolls for lunch. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	On the return hike, Zosia spots a grouse perched on a stump at the intersection between FT-270 and FR-4857.
	Following FT-270 out to the highway, Zosia gets a glimpse of Yarnell Island in Lake Koocanusa.
	The trail disappears amongst some logging slash. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

Unable to find the continuation of the trail, Zosia makes her own way down through the logging slash.

 

	Sonny finds the actual trailhead for Alexander Mountain.  Note how far away the sign is from the pullout where Sonny's car is parked. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Total Distance:  15.9 kilometres Round-Trip Time:  7 hours 1 minute Cumulative Elevation Gain:  768 metres GPX Data