After our whitewater rafting trip, we moved camp to the Avalanche Creek Campground within the park boundaries just northeast of Lake McDonald.
Being the earlybirds they are, Pat & Quent woke up early on our third day in Glacier to get a glimpse of Avalanche Lake at sunrise. Of course this required a 2 mile hike uphill one-way. I think the hike was worth it, though.
As the sun continued to rise, the lake view remained beautiful.
Typical of the other glacial lakes in the area, Avalanche lake had a bright blue color.
Once Pat & Quent returned to camp, we headed out for a trailhead at Logan Pass for a day hike. On the way, we passed the classic red Glacier park busses that drive tourists around.
Pat & Quent ready to roll on the Highline trail towards the Granite Park Chalet.
The beginning of the trail offered beautiful views of the valley near Logan's pass. I was surprised how green the grass was - almost like Ireland!
A view of the valley looking towards Logan's Pass. It didn't seem that we were very high up until we took a look at traffic below.
Model Quent posing along the trail for Christina's photos.
The mountain views were spectacular.
After a few miles, the trail skirted along the base of the Garden Wall arête. For those of you who don't speak geology or French, an arête is a rock ridge typically created between two U valleys formed by glacial action. In French, arête means 'fishbone.'
The boulders littered all over toe area of the Garden Wall looked small until you stood next to them.
A happy hiker!
Pat had to practice his snow ball throwing in preparation for soon-to-be winter in Minnesota once we got up above the snow line.
A rare chance to wear shorts in the snow without freezing to death.
When we took a break for lunch, this little ground squirrel became very interested in us.
Not too shabby of a view during lunch. We thought we would setup the tripod and get some pics of us enjoying the view. The guys were a little confused as to when to put their arms around the girls ;-)
As we continued along the trail after our lunch break, we came upon a few bighorn sheep. We switched to our telephoto lens to get some close-ups.
Do you see the three sheep?
Further down the trail, we were treated to a view of Lake McDonald to the south.
The trail was a little rocky in this stretch.
The trail continued to offer sweeping views of the Garden Wall arête.
Another view of Lake McDonald.
Although Indian paintbrush flowers were prevalent along the trail, I think we only took one photo of them!
We arrived at the Granite Park Chalet, 7 1/2 miles from the trailhead, in mid-afternoon.
We had tried to get a reservation to stay at the chalet or campground, but unfortunately both were full. Apparently you have to make reservations at a minimum 6 months in advance, and we weren't quite sure when we would be making the hike. We could see why the reservations filled up fast.
The Granite Park Chalet was built in 1914 and 1915 by the Great Northern Railway to provide comfortable backcountry accomodations in the park. It is apparently one of only two backcountry lodges built by the railroad to survive.
Pat, Quent, & Christina infront of the main chalet building.
In addition to relatively rustic accomodations, the chalet offers a little convenience store with snacks for hikers. The Starburst were tasty!
Instead of turning back the direction we had come, we headed towards the Loop trailhead 4.2 miles away to try and catch a park bus back to Logan Pass. Along the way, we saw another slab of shale with ripples. The ocean originally covered Glacier NP, depositing sediment that eventually cemented together and formed rock which held the ripple shapes that had formed from wave action. When subduction caused the formation of the Rocky Mountains, it pushed up the lithified ocean bed, leaving these remnants.
As we got closer to the Loop trailhead, there were signs of the 2003 forest fire. It was at this point we were hoping Quentin had made it before the last bus of the day since we were pretty tired.
Just before reaching the Loop trailhead, we crossed a creek filled with huge boulders and got a nice view of a little waterfall. At the end of the trail, we were happy to see Quent come pick us up in the rental car!
Being the earlybirds they are, Pat & Quent woke up early on our third day in Glacier to get a glimpse of Avalanche Lake at sunrise. Of course this required a 2 mile hike uphill one-way. I think the hike was worth it, though.
As the sun continued to rise, the lake view remained beautiful.
Typical of the other glacial lakes in the area, Avalanche lake had a bright blue color.
Once Pat & Quent returned to camp, we headed out for a trailhead at Logan Pass for a day hike. On the way, we passed the classic red Glacier park busses that drive tourists around.
Pat & Quent ready to roll on the Highline trail towards the Granite Park Chalet.
The beginning of the trail offered beautiful views of the valley near Logan's pass. I was surprised how green the grass was - almost like Ireland!
A view of the valley looking towards Logan's Pass. It didn't seem that we were very high up until we took a look at traffic below.
Model Quent posing along the trail for Christina's photos.
The mountain views were spectacular.
After a few miles, the trail skirted along the base of the Garden Wall arête. For those of you who don't speak geology or French, an arête is a rock ridge typically created between two U valleys formed by glacial action. In French, arête means 'fishbone.'
The boulders littered all over toe area of the Garden Wall looked small until you stood next to them.
A happy hiker!
Pat had to practice his snow ball throwing in preparation for soon-to-be winter in Minnesota once we got up above the snow line.
A rare chance to wear shorts in the snow without freezing to death.
When we took a break for lunch, this little ground squirrel became very interested in us.
Not too shabby of a view during lunch. We thought we would setup the tripod and get some pics of us enjoying the view. The guys were a little confused as to when to put their arms around the girls ;-)
As we continued along the trail after our lunch break, we came upon a few bighorn sheep. We switched to our telephoto lens to get some close-ups.
Do you see the three sheep?
Further down the trail, we were treated to a view of Lake McDonald to the south.
The trail was a little rocky in this stretch.
The trail continued to offer sweeping views of the Garden Wall arête.
Another view of Lake McDonald.
Although Indian paintbrush flowers were prevalent along the trail, I think we only took one photo of them!
We arrived at the Granite Park Chalet, 7 1/2 miles from the trailhead, in mid-afternoon.
We had tried to get a reservation to stay at the chalet or campground, but unfortunately both were full. Apparently you have to make reservations at a minimum 6 months in advance, and we weren't quite sure when we would be making the hike. We could see why the reservations filled up fast.
The Granite Park Chalet was built in 1914 and 1915 by the Great Northern Railway to provide comfortable backcountry accomodations in the park. It is apparently one of only two backcountry lodges built by the railroad to survive.
Pat, Quent, & Christina infront of the main chalet building.
In addition to relatively rustic accomodations, the chalet offers a little convenience store with snacks for hikers. The Starburst were tasty!
Instead of turning back the direction we had come, we headed towards the Loop trailhead 4.2 miles away to try and catch a park bus back to Logan Pass. Along the way, we saw another slab of shale with ripples. The ocean originally covered Glacier NP, depositing sediment that eventually cemented together and formed rock which held the ripple shapes that had formed from wave action. When subduction caused the formation of the Rocky Mountains, it pushed up the lithified ocean bed, leaving these remnants.
Not long after this, we realized all three of us probably weren't going to make it to the last bus of the day. Mountain goat Quent offered to run ahead to try and catch it.
As we got closer to the Loop trailhead, there were signs of the 2003 forest fire. It was at this point we were hoping Quentin had made it before the last bus of the day since we were pretty tired.
Just before reaching the Loop trailhead, we crossed a creek filled with huge boulders and got a nice view of a little waterfall. At the end of the trail, we were happy to see Quent come pick us up in the rental car!
1 comment:
I find myself busting out with a laugh...I just love your journaling! I miss you guys!!
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