Glacier National Park 2012

September Hiking in the Northern Rockies
  • Opening picture must be of My Sweetie. Logan Pass on a chilly morning, with a hint of forest fire smoke in the air...
  • After a costume change, Yvonne poses along the Highline Trail, 5 miles out.
  • A late season willowherb still blooms.
  • Red Rock Lake with views of Grinnell (L) and Swiftcurrent (R) Mountains.
  • At the end of the Swiftcurrent Valley. Yvonne says "I'm dressed like a ninja to intimidate bears." Sally and Jim seem unconvinced.
  • Iceberg Lake Trail: Yvonne sports a spiffy new hat as we pause at the falls.
  • Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail: Steeper than it looks, but with plenty of huckleberries for fuel...
  • Ptarmigan Lake with the last climb to Ptarmigan Tunnel before us.
  • Sally then turns to us and says, "Listen, break is over. Less talking, more walking!"
  • The final stretch to Ptarmigan Tunnel, Sally and Jim enjoy level trail.
  • Ptarmigan Lake and the hanging valley as seen from the tunnel entrance.
  • Jim winds his way back down the talus slope.
  • Yvonne illuminates the dark side of Ptarmigan Tunnel... and threatens me with a shovel if I take any more photos of her.
  • Through the Tunnel: Elizabeth Lake and an entire different valley.
  • Through the Tunnel: More peaks and glaciers.
  • Shady side of tunnel trail blasted from the cliff. It has a Grand Canyon feel to it.
  • One of the few remaining bear grass blooms of the season.
  • Returning to base camp; overlooking the Swiftcurrent Valley.
  • Moose cow giving us the stink-eye (her calf was just out of view in the woods behind).
  • Butterfly warming in the morning sun.
  • Moonset near Swiftcurrent Peak.
  • Another specimen feeding on Aspen sap.
  • September 6 snowfall above 7000-ft. Grinnell Point.
  • Mirrored doe at Fishercap Lake.
  • Frosty Paintbrush near the Siyeh Bend trailhead.
  • Frosty Magenta Paintbrush along the Siyeh Pass trail.
  • Jim and Sally at top speed, heading for sunshine at Piegan Pass...
  • Frosty alpine daisy just as it catches some warmth.
  • Partly frozen Mouse-on-a-Stick. (Yes, it was a 20-something degree start to the day.)
  • Columbia ground squirrel looks us over closely; he is not impressed.
  • People respond to altitude in surprising ways: Sally at (on) 7500-ft Piegan Pass.
  • Sally-the-Snow-Angel and Jim happy to gain Piegan Pass on a perfect day.
  • Yvonne crests 7540' Piegan Pass, with 10,014' Mount Siyeh behind.
  • After dropping down from Piegan Pass, we're surrounded by the Garden Wall.
  • More descending; we come across Feather Plume Falls.
  • Incredible flowers at the head of this valley. A perfcet lunch spot was found at the base of the falls.
  • Retrieving cars at Logan Pass at sunset. A good view of Reynolds Mountain (9125').
  • Just down from the pass, some big horn sheep graze... and watch us watch them.
  • Bull moose feeding at Fishercap Lake.
  • Moose calf kneels for a drink while mother moose feeds on water plants.
  • Grizzly bear spotted by Yvonne -- after we crossed below him with no idea he was nearby.
  • Much more interested in berries than us. (From ~100-ft away.) We experienced a good sort of respectful fear.
  • Crossing Swiftcurrent Pass, dropping down to the Granite Chalet for a snack... in the smokey haze.
  • Lichen on the corner of the chalet.
  • Yvonne surveys the return trail, knowing that our grizzly bear buddy is down below.
  • After a 15-mi day, a 67-mi week, and with a huckleberry lager in my hand, a pleasant sunset ends the week.