Glacier National Park 2010

70-miles of hiking in early winter-like weather in early September
  • Very first photo taken: Hidden Lake, not far from Logan Pass (6646-ft). Last bit of blue sky as the weather is predicted to degrade in the next few hours.
  • One of the Arnicas or Grounsels -- the closest sun-like thing I'd see for days.
  • Western Oxypolis
  • Heading down to the lakeshore, a 6-mi round trip. The clouds thicken around Reynolds Mtn (9125-ft).
  • The weather changed faster than I had ever experienced, and an hour sooner than predicted. Logan Pass would close for 24-hours later that afternoon.
  • My only self-portrait of the week, taken as I contemplated how I could get my gear in the car without soaking everything. The wind was howling and the snow was fliying!
  • Grinnell Point sunrise on Labor Day morning. A pattern of clear early mornings, followed quickly by building clouds and afternoon storms set up for most of the week.
  • A more detailed view of that golden light and a a touch of fresh Labor Day snow...
  • On the Iceberg Lake trail, Sally takes the lead.
  • This trail would close that afternoon as a grizzly bear with 3 cubs would take over the area for the remainder of the week. (Yes, Sally you go first...)
  • Magenta Paintbrush against a background of fresh snow at 6500-ft.
  • A surprisingly slippery crossing. It was more like Christmas time than late summer.
  • Near the trail end and the first view of Iceberg Lake, looking wintry for Labor Day.
  • At water's edge of Iceberg Lake; no ice floating this late in the summer.
  • Bear claw mark on tree along trail, often used to mark territory.
  • View from Many Glacier Hotel up Swiftcurrent Lake to Mt. Gould and the Garden Wall.
  • Overcast, but mirror still Redrock Lake along the Swiftcurrent Pass trail. 8851-ft Mt. Grinnell (L), Swifcurrent Mt (R), Swiftcurrent Pass (C).
  • Unknown flower (at present)
  • A very large bull moose, just seconds after a little sparring match with a counterpart half his size. This is the very instant his seasonal felt began to peel.
  • A much smaller male, sitting down and about to nap after a little jousting with his big brother.
  • Detailed view of the bull quietly enjoying some brush as the freshly disturbed felt bleeds. He shows scars of past tussles.
  • Destination: Fire lookout on 8436-ft Switcurrent Mtn summit (the small square on the peak).
  • Approaching the Swiftcurrent Pass lookout cabin. The last 500 vertical feet were agonizingly slow with 1-ft of snow and 8400-ft elevation.
  • The final day before the cabin (8436-ft) is prepped for winter; huge shutters would cover the windows the next day.
  • A quick peek inside the lookout. Comfy and neat, but the resident Ranger seemd to like his privacy. My dream job...
  • Continental Divide looking SE at Mt. Gould (middle) and the Swiftcurrent Glacier (low)
  • A wider view to include the Logan Pass and HIghline Trail area (far right). The weather begins to change...
  • The view back along the trail from the Swiftcurrent Mt summit, 3400-ft below.
  • Fishercap Lk (foreground) and Swiftcurrent Lk and the Many Glacier Hotel 7 miles from my perch. A long walk back awaits...
  • A wider view from the summit looking at a classic glacier-carved valley. From near to far is Bullhead, Redrock, Fishercap, and Swiftcurrent lakes.
  • Thick steel cables keep the lookout from being blown off the mountain; it resides directly on top of the Continental Divide.
  • Orange lichen growing in the foundation mortar.
  • View 1500-ft down on the west side of the pass is the Granite Chalet and the Highline Trail. The edge of the 2003 fire is shown in the upper right.
  • View to the east shows much clearer weather than what is over my shoulder to the west -- and plowing into the Continental Divide.
  • Another look over the edge of the 3400-ft cliff. Makes me queesy just thinking about it.
  • After dropping back down to the valley, the rain returned, as shown on this fleabane bloom.
  • Mirrored Moose. A quiet morning at Fishercap Lake.
  • Her calf comes out of the brush to watch mom feed.
  • Twins! Very curious; they wandered over to within 10-ft of my position before settling down to nap in the brush on the lakeshore.
  • Skinny mini-moose, but they were as tall as me... and really curious.
  • Mountain Blubell.
  • A small section of Redrock Falls. A sudden hail storm kept me from capturing the other segments...
  • Siyeh Pass Trail: Sally concentrates on crossing the upper Siyeh Creek as the winds gust. She tells me, "Quit your whining, we're going up no matter what". I oblige...
  • At Siyeh Pass proper (7750-ft) looking at the spindrifts ripping off Mt Siyeh. We're aided by a 40-mph tail wind. Frozen ground and grizzly tracks in the snow remnants...
  • Sally braces against a 40 mph tail wind just above Siyeh Pass at 8100-ft. A small avalanche pours off Mt. Siyeh abover and to the right...
  • With gusts estimated to 60 mph, cheeks and fingers go numb as we are forced to turn back by a snow slide blocking a narrow ledge on the trail. A "slip, you die" obstacle...
  • Siyeh Pass Retreat! Hiking DOWNHILL into the high winds was more difficult than the climb. Sally fights the conditions at 8100-ft.
  • With clouds banked up against the Continental Divide and the Garden Wall, Cataract Mtn collects some interesting light.
  • A bull moose wanders the shore at Fishercap Lake, which explains the nervous female hidning in the woods behind me.
  • Another view. This was the first time I've seen a bull at Fishercap Lk -- and the 7th bull I came across that week.
  • Mt. Wilbur (9321-ft) catching the sunrise as seen from Many Glacier; the sunniest day of the trip.
  • Mt. Gould viewed from the Many Glacier Hotel.
  • Huckleberries: staple food of much of the wildlife... and a key ingredient in 1000 tourist products.
  • Moose tracks (not the ice cream) at Bullhead Lake, but no bull moose to be spotted along the Swiftcurrent Trail that morning.
  • Fleabane blooms enjoyed by a bee. Off the trail and along the hidden shore of Bullhead Lake.
  • Mountain Ash berries at the base of the climb to Switcurrent Pass. This red shade was used as the basis for the 1930's "Jammer" tour bus paint color.
  • A large dragon fly suns itself, as do I on the sunniest -- and last -- day of the trip.
  • Red Breasted Merganser on Fishercap Lake.
  • A different female moose (cow) being very attentive while feeding...
  • ... keeping an eye on her male calf. A face only she could love.
  • A large grizzly bear close to 2-miles away. Foraging -- and wearing a radio collar.
  • Mt. Gould (L) and Grinnell Point (C) on a clear and calm morning, just as Sally departs...
  • THE END. (Thanks for looking.)