Glacier National Park Backpack Trip

Glacier National Park, Montana 22 to 24 Jun 2014

Drove up to Glacier first thing Sunday morning and made a last moment decision to hike up Harrison Lake. Started from the Headquarters trailhead about noon and made really good time along the boundary trail. Found one of the old homesteads from pre-national park days. It was nice to look at the old tractor and home, although the roof on the house is collapsing. Legend has it that there is an old prohibition era bootlegger still somewhere nearby but of course I didn't find it. Others have looked for it over the years with no luck as well. No one has reported finding it anyway.

Went quite a ways past the end of the maintained trail along the lake to get a view of the seldom seen glacier up the valley, messy trail conditions at the end of the lake while boggy and buggy with hordes of ravenous mosquito's past the lake.

Left the camera behind so it wouldn't get ruined,  so no pictures of the wonderful glacier view, but I did get this one of the lake view from my camp. That night just as it was getting all the way dark I had a rabbit run right over me in my sleeping bag. It stopped just a few feet away so I got a picture of it while I was still laying in my sleeping bag. Not fixing the red eye cause I think it was an evil critter at heart, sure scarred me pretty good anyhow.

On Monday I hiked back out to the trailhead and drove to the Walton trailhead at the southern point of the park so I could hike on less used trails. On the way back to my car I had a close encounter with a fawn, this picture was taken with as little movement as I could muster at a range of about 18 inches. Sure mom was somewhere near and wasn't happy with me being so close to the little one.

I may have been the first one over some of these trails this year. I headed for the Ole Creek campsite via Park Creek and then the connecting trail behind and over the saddle behind Scalplock Mountain. Some parts were a green tunnel with lots of vegetation and mostly it was just very wet. I had wet feet almost the whole way from crossing creeks that normally you could step over but now with the snow melt they are wade across crossings. Of course to get over the saddle I had to cross about half a mile of snow. Pretty easy to figure where the trail would be, and lots more fun than just a normal dry trail hike.

After spending an uneventful night at Ole Creek (no rabbit attacks) I went back to the trailhead on the direct trail closing the loop of the area. So many flowers in bloom along the trail right now. The ones that I was most excited to see were these Mountain Lady's Slippers. Even the flower guides say they are rare in Glacier.

Bass Lake Backpack

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Montana

Summer starts in 48 hours, storm of the last few days is gone, and the mountains are calling. Geri and the grandkids took me down the Bitterroot valley to the Bass Lake trailhead. We started with a 3 mile hike up Bass Creek with everyone. Moving water is always an attraction and the kids were having tons of fun. Grandpa was enjoying things as well. Caught a snake for the kids to feel and we al;so found a baby bird that was out of it's nest. Walked them back to the car and grabbed my pack for a quick overnighter.

 Headed back up the same creek to camp somewhere along the south end of Bass Lake for the night and hopefully to get up the summit of Stormy Joe, but at 9003 feet I knew that was going to be iffy with this years snowpack. The snow line looked high as I went up the valley and by the time I was getting near 6,000 feet of elevation I was feeling pretty good about my chances of getting to summit.

But then I got to the final climb below the lake and it was a snow traverse. Steep enough that I was wishing I had brought the ice ax. Crested over the lake and saw lots of ice on the water and my camp plans put me right at the bottom of the snowfield across the lake. Not what I was expecting at all. Wind coming off the snow was cold so I decided I was not staying at Bass Lake for the night. Maybe in a month or so when it melts out.

Back down the canyon I went and after about 1 1/2 miles and I located a primo spot at the edge of some trees and near enough to the creek that I could listen to the running water all night long. Set up the tent in case mosquitoes got to be a problem, a few came out to play but not bad at all. The best camp spot I have found all year. Good enough that I will use it again.

Woke up with a few clouds and some light rain and thunder as I headed back down to the trailhead. Did lots of side hill exploring and found a good line to get me up one of the unnamed peaks along the mid part of the drainage. Made it to the trailhead just as Geri and the kids were getting there to pick me up so we did another short hike and went for Root Beer Floats in Lolo on the way home.

Apgar Mountain Summit

Glacier National Park, Montana

Woke with the sun coming up to a nice morning right on the shore of Lake McDonald. In need of a morning excursion prior to heading back to Missoula it seemed a summit bid of Apgar Mountain was the perfect choice. There is a great trail to the seldom used fire lookout and then a short brushy scramble to the summit itself. On the way up and on the way down the views are nice. This is one of the widest best maintained trails anywhere in Glacier. This was my first time up it and I need to take Geri Lynn here later this summer.

Of course by the time I got to the top views looking north into the park and the Lake McDonald valley were shrouded by clouds coming in from the northwest. Not the best for photos but still a nice view.

Because of my early start I saw a bit more wildlife than those who started later. I had this doe hold her place till I was within 6 feet of her then she got up and wanted to stay close to where we were although she sure kept an eye on me. Maybe she had a fawn close by and didn't want to get far from it. If so I never saw it. As many deer as I have been close to this was the most unusual encounter ever.

Glacier View Mountain Summit and more

Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park, Montana

Have had my eye on getting to the summit of Glacier View Mountain for 2 years now. It sits just on the other side of the river from the park and has wonderful views of the whole North Fork region, besides I drive past the forest service trailhead every time I go to Kintla. The trail was steep and rocky, then it leveled out for a few hundred yards and the area was a riot of flowers of every color. The climb was worth it just to see the flowers, but I pushed on to the summit anyway.

 After Glacier View I was right back into Glacier and I hiked the Huckleberry Nature Trail. One section got a hawk riled up and it flew over me again and again and was very vocal. My camera skills are lacking so no good picture of the bird. Then it was off to Avalanche Lake to see how the snowpack was doing. I went past the end of there trail and my off trail scrambling led to me taking a pretty good fall. Looks like I was trying to get the bears to come to me! I had plenty off ice cold clean water to wash up in. Some bad words may have escaped from my lips when I tumbled.

Anyhow the views of the surrounding mountains were worth it. I love these high valleys.

The water rushing down the lower canyon coming from this lake was impressive as well. Nice to watch the water rush by.

With my pride hurt from my fall I went to find a campsite for the night. A Park Ranger told me of a good one available in Fish creek and it was great. So after dinner i once again headed out to explore the west side of Lake McDonald. The trail has changed so much from my last hike there. The fire a few years ago really opened it up, but also made it a dead forest for the standing dead trees. This one looks as if it was in agony as it succumbed to the fire. At least I see a contorted face in it.

Logging Lake, Hidden Meadow and Bowman Lake

Hiked out from camp along Logging Lake and found a spur trail to the eager patrol cabin at the foot of the lake. Whoever built these years ago did a great job because they have lasted through some tough winters and still are going strong.

After making it back to the truck it was time to find new trails. The Hidden Meadow Trail is short but sure has a great surprise at the end with a a small lake. So many birds calling the whole time I was walking along the trail and by the lake. Very little elevation gain and few views other than the meadow when you get to it. I went past the end of the trail and explored the forest nearby. A fun walk.

Logging Lake Trail to Grace Lake

Glacier National Park, Montana

Stopped at the Backcountry Office as soon as I got to Glacier looking for a snow free overnighter. Never having been all the way to the end of the Logging Lake trail I went with their suggestion, especially as it led me up into the North Fork area. The valley leading to Logging Lake had nice open views mixed with treed sections. The trail was in really good shape for this early in the season, I figure the trail crew has been here already.

A few muddy places further up the valley contained some interesting tracks, mostly deer and elk, and this black bear track from earlier in the day. I will take black bear tracks all day long and feel good about them.

I set up my camp at the Adair backcountry site. Sure was happy with my tent location. No rain fly as I didn't expect any inclement weather, only used the tent as I expected to have mosquitoes as camp guests. Once done with setting up camp then it was up to the end of the valley and Grace Lake. Without a pack you sure can cover some distance.

With my off trail adventuring up at the end of the valley I wound up with 18 miles for the day. Not bad as I started hiking at 1 PM. When I got back to my campsite it was getting on to dark and the views over the lake were nice. Ate my dinner with this view. Makes any food taste like a 5 star restaurant.

Grizzly Basin

Lolo National Forest, Swan Mountains, Montana

Started this morning with a plan to summit Pyramid Mountain, but due to visible steep snow pack high up on the mountain the plan shifted to a nearby trailhead and the quest to find my way into  Grizzly Basin. Why I would intentionally go search for an old unmaintained trail going to a place called Grizzly Basin is a whole different discussion. One of the ponds on the approach trail had lots of activity, but this one duck was cruising around keeping to itself just having a grand old time. He had some class.

Beautiful blue skies with a few fluffy clouds made the day really nice. Found a waterfall that was unexpected as I neared the basin, right below the snow line. Pretty sure I also found the back door to 3 different mountain summits that define the border of the Bob Marshal Wilderness. I will have to make another trip up there and spend the night so I can get to the summits. It would be to far for a long day trip for my old legs.

 The drive home was full of wildlife, from several deer on the side of the road to Eagles and lots of smaller birds, then finally a band of Bighorns that I thought were going to run out into the road. I was past them by the time I could get the camera out and get at least one picture. So I got their backsides while they walked along the road…but at least they were facing traffic! Not many folks have to worry about all the critters we have here as traffic issues. But thats why we live here, and it's great.