Glacier National Park Day 4 August 29, 2024

 

When I woke this morning, I laid still and perked up my ears.  I heard nothing, no rain nor wind.  I listened again, intently, to make confirmation.  When I peeked outside I saw the moon and a sky full of stars!  I wondered what the mountain tops looked like.  That would have to wait until sunrise.  Back to bed I went to luxuriate a little longer.  

Today was check-out day so before loading up my vehicle, I strolled around the area to savour the morning sights of the new snow on the peaks.  The wind picked up and it was very cold.  Mitts and a wool hat would have come in handy.  

The sun was up and the alpenglow was in full swing.  I took this photo from the area in front of the store.  The peak is pink from alpenglow and is covered in snow which fell yesterday and overnight.  The clouds were rolling along behind it and the alpenglow turned them pink too.  

A little while later I returned to my home away from home and gathered up my belongings, loaded the car then drove to the Many Glacier Hotel to enjoy the views there.  It was here that I ran into the group of seven who I shared trail time with on Tuesday when I saw the black bear.  We chatted for a bit then they hit the trail to hike to Grinnell Glacier and I headed for my car to begin the drive home.  

After reading only about 100 pages in my new book, I gained loads of knowledge about Glacier National Park and there is still lots more to learn.  I have seen Chief Mountain many times from a distance and a few times closer up but never stopped to truly appreciate the Mountain not knowing the reason for the name and the history behind it.  Now knowing a little more about it, I decided to take the Chief Mountain Border crossing home.  It meant a bit of a longer drive but I felt the need to do it.  There were a few pull overs along the route before the US/Canada Border. I pulled off to admire the majestic Chief Mountain.    

The border crossing was uneventful and I was now back home in Alberta, Canada!  

It was snack time so this pull off place was perfect.  

I zoomed in as far as I could and if you look closely, you can see the Prince of Wales Hotel at tree line bottom left.  It's that tiny white spot with the green roof.  That hump above it is the hike called Bears Hump with I hiked up a few times  The lake is Lower Waterton Lake with the National Park Staff offices and equipment storage to the top right of the Lake.  This photo sure puts into perspective the vastness of the Waterton mountain range and this is just a very small portion in this photo.  

During this visit and my visit to Glacier National Park early this month, I was made aware about the closure of the Swiftcurrent Valley area during the summer of 2025. I did further investigation to find out more details.  

Swiftcurrent Motor Inn closes in mid September for the winter which it always does each year  This year it will close on September 11th.  It will not open up again until spring/summer of 2026.   The Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, the Many Glacier Campground, the Boat Launch and the Picnic Area will all be closed for the 2025 season.  When reading the details, trailheads will be open but access will be limited and there are many other access/no access notices in place.   I would like to return to the Swiftcurrent area as I feel I still have unfinished business to attend to. I will wait until 2026 to see what transpires.

I feel so fortunate to have had these two trips to Glacier National Park this summer and will cherish the adventures I had and the memories I created!  

Glacier National Park Montana Day 3 August 28, 2024

 

Fishercap Lake & Redrock Lake

August 27, 2024

Before getting on with today’s story, I need to finish yesterday’s!  After returning from hiking to Iceberg Lake, I felt I had a little more in me so added on another roughly five kilometres before returning to my sweet home away from home.  I followed the trail to Fishercap Lake and then to Redrock Lake. I wanted to make the most of the day!  Elevation gain was minimal.  By now the wind was on the wild side with strong gusts.  

at the junction where I decided to carry on to the other two lakes

view to right from the bridge over the creek

I took the trail through the forest down to the shore of Fishercap Lake. I preferred this route rather than following the trail above the lake. People were tucked in the trees along the shore sheltered from the wind. When I was here years ago I saw  two moose in the water.  This time there were none while I was there.  

I could see white in the lake at the far end so I continued along the shoreline to get to where it was.  There were loads of tiny white flowers in the water. 

This is a close up.

At the far end of Fishercap Lake, I found a trail that led back up to the main route and followed it towards Redrock Lake.  This was the view along that trail. 

I spent some time at Redrock Lake sheltered in the trees with a lovely view of the water which at times had little whitecaps.  The wind was so wild, at times a dust storm passed in front of me while I sat here.  I could see the clouds building off in the distance. No doubt that wind and those clouds were bringing in the forecasted rain.  

On the return hike, a trio of hikers coming towards me, one with bear spray in hand, warned me that a few minutes prior a black bear with two cubs crossed the trail in front of them.  The cubs tried to climb a tree but were not successful then the three scampered off up the hill.  Once again, I was extra vigilant!

view on the return portion of the hike

By the time I finally entered my room, I was pleasantly depleted, but not depleted enough to stop me from savouring a “Huck It” Huckleberry Blonde Ale.  Soon thereafter the rain started and it was relentless.  I had accomplished sweetly venturing out there to Iceberg Lake, Fishercap Lake and Redrock Lake, where I was in my happy place and I was now happy to be inside my place I called my sweet home away from home.

Now on with today! 

August 28, 2024 

I slept with the window open and woke to the sound of rain!  I postponed getting up as I knew I would probably not be hiking today. After luxuriating for quite awhile, it was time to get on with the day. This was going to be a “save the day” kind of day and save it I did!  

After coffee, then breakfast, I freshened up, got dressed for the weather and wandered over to the Ranger Station to chat up a Ranger. Next on my agenda was to drop by the gift store to purchase a book, reading could fill a couple of hours through the afternoon and evening. Then I drove a few minutes to the Many Glacier Hotel to sit by the fire and people watch. Many people were on the same page as me at Many Glacier Hotel.  So far so good with my “save the day” skills.  

This was the view from a trail near the Many Glacier Hotel.  While it was rain down where I was, it was snow up there on the mountain top.

the lounge was not open yet

the sound alone was soothing and warming

Carrying on with the day and now back at my sweet home away from home, I started my new book which grabbed my attention quite quickly and held my interest for close to 100 pages before I needed a break.  

My “save the day” skills were proving to be tried and true!  Break open a  “Huck It”! It was the perfect beverage to savour while salivating over hiking trail descriptions and photos.  Top that off with Huckleberry Sea Salt Chocolate Bark and it was turning into a sweet day!  But it was not over yet!  

With pen in hand I created a pen sketch of one of yesterday’s Iceberg Lake photos.  I did what I could with what colours I had. While, I have green and brown ink pens, they were at home. I know I definitely want to do a watercolour painting from one of my photos of Iceberg Lake.  Stay tuned for that!

my reference photo for the above ink sketch

The day was flying by yet I still had more "save the day" activities to complete. I had another “Love Letter” to write along with two postcards. 

Also during this "save the day" kind of day, I squeezed in lunch mid way and when it was getting later, I needed to make time for dinner!  Oh by the way, the rain never let up and the mountain tops were now bright white!  I saw the snow when I ran out to get more ice for the cooler.  

Day turned to dusk which turned to dark!  The rain was still falling as I laid in bed falling to sleep!  It was not the kind of full day I had in mind when booking this adventure to Glacier National Park, yet it was a full day indeed in a beautiful mountainous place!  My "save the day" skills grew even stronger after putting them to use today!   

 

Glacier National Park Montana Day 2 August 27, 2024

Iceberg Lake, Many Glacier

August 27, 2024

When I was at Many Glacier in early August, the hike to Iceberg Lake was closed due to bear activity.  For this visit to the area, the route was wide open with no warnings of any kind.  Yet, I still went prepared and knew to be bear aware!  Today was go day especially with rain in the forecast for tomorrow.  

The trailhead was just a few minutes of walking from my front door.  I could see others ahead of me and as I hiked along, I could see others coming behind me.  We played hopscotch as we all hiked along.  I hiked to Iceberg Lake three times, the last time was in 2016.  I remembered a few things about the route, but lots of it felt like new.  

The lighting at about 7:45am when I snapped this shot, was absolutely gorgeous. 

a few minutes later it was even more beautiful 

Once most of the elevation gain was done very early in the hike, the trail levelled off and the view became wide open.  It was here that I had the first sighting of the Ptarmigan Wall which is the jagged far off line of peaks that runs from the middle to the right. Iceberg Lake is a jewel at the base of that Wall.

By now myself and other hikers were hopscotching each other. It was a slow go for me due to lots of picture taking especially when I came to these red shades and also as the view of the Ptarmigan Wall became clearer.

along the red trail

Before entering the bushy section, I passed by a couple and also a group of seven. Each time we passed each other, we had short chat sessions. From this vantage point I could tell that Iceberg Lake was below that line of snow which was still just over two kilometres away. 

the view behind me

these cloud formations hung over those mountains for the entire hike in

With about a kilometre to go to the Lake, when I rounded a corner, I saw a black bear coming towards me on the trail.  It stopped and I stopped.  We examined each other.  There was enough distance, I snapped a couple of shots.  It started to walk again towards me.  I yelled and expected it to take off into the bushes but it kept coming, I yelled again, it kept coming, it appeared curious about me or else it did not care about me.  It was a very healthy looking bear with a shiny coat which was good.  I retreated, rounded a corner and kept retreating until the couple and then the group of seven who I passed earlier, caught up to me. They heard my hollers but thought I was yelling out to someone else.  I explained what occurred. We hiked close together, with bear spray in hand.  The black bear was now no where to be seen!  Whew!  These are the two photographs I took.

 

when I rounded the corner, there it was

a quickly zoomed in shot, it was sniffing me out

We arrived to the top of the trail leading down to Iceberg Lake.  At this point they stopped to use the pitt toilet. I followed this trail down to the Lake.  

Others were already here settled on rocks near the water and I did the same.  What was different this time at the Lake, there were no icebergs.  Seeing them in previous hikes when I was here was always such a cool thing. Yet, it still remains an incredibly beautiful place.  After spending time relaxed on a large flat rock at the water’s edge, it was time to explore the far end where I saw others.  We took turns taking photos of each other.  

my destination shot selfie

my rock where I settled and had lunch

at the far end of Iceberg Lake

The couple who I hopscotched with were at the far end when I arrived.  She captured this photo for me.  It puts in perspective how big Iceberg Lake actually is and how high the Ptarmigan Wall is. 

view looking at Iceberg Lake at the base of the Ptarmigan Wall

a zoomed in shot of the top of the Ptarmigan Wall

After roughly an hour at the Lake, I was ready to begin the hike back. By now other hikers were arriving and some were leaving. I felt comfortable on my own, I just knew I needed to be very aware.  This was the view while crossing over the little bridge not far after leaving the Lake. 

During the hike back, the trail was busy with hikers who were on their way to the Lake.  I still remained vigilant of my surroundings.  It was an uneventful hike back other than sharing pleasantries with other hikers and enjoying the beautiful sights which made it the most event-filled!  

My home away from home is tucked down in the valley in the light green trees in the middle far right of this photo. That was still a few kilometres away. 

I followed the last little steep section down to the Swiftcurrent Valley. After crossing over this tiny bridge and reaching the junction to either my home away from home or to carry on towards Fishercap Lake and Redrock Lake, I took the trail to the two Lakes.   

Tomorrow's post will include the story about hiking to those two Lakes.  I was so grateful to have such an amazing adventure hiking to and from Iceberg Lake.