Floral Park Traverse

Glacier National Park, Montana

Early start to get vehicles ready for the end of the day shuttle. Made it to the Logan Pass parking lot as the predawn light was getting good. Just a few others at the pass this early and almost all were heading on climbs or cross country routes. One tourist drove up and got out in flip flops then asked if it was so warm out because of the fires. Closest fire was many miles away. Can't make this stuff up! The local Bighorn population was out and getting ready for the swarm of visitors. The biggest one came right up to us. From 6 inches away those are pretty big looking horns. The park service calls these "wild" animals, this one has lost a bit of his wildness I think.

After he tired of visiting with us, Bryan and I headed up the Hidden Lake Overlook trail so we could catch the sunrise from a small pond on the pass. It was fun watching the sunrise glow through the smoke from nearby fires but we had miles to go so soon we were off to Hidden Lake.

On the way down the trail to the lake I had another close critter encounter. This young marmot wanted to see what my camera was. I had to back up to get it in focus. As long as a bear isn't wanting an up close photo I was OK with it. Going to be a unique day.

Once at the outlet the official trail section of this route was over. Enough people go around the lake that there is an unofficial use trail that goes most of the way along the south side of the lake. It fades out in a few places but overall is easy to follow. Because we had dropped so suddenly from the pass into the hidden lake valley we got to experience sunrise a second time for the day. Was just as pretty the second time around. This small island in the lake caught the sun quite well.

Eventually you have to climb out of the valley and up through the cliff bands. You can easily see where you need to go, so we picked a line and did a climbing traverse that got us through the steepest part. Views back to Hidden Lake are pretty good when we would stop and catch our breath.

Near the top of the ridge high above Hidden Lake another much bigger marmot was hanging out looking back down the way we had just come up. Probably wondering what we were up to.

This was his view, I took it after getting up to his rock perch. Then it was back to finish this part of the up.

Once on top of the ridge you can look down into Avalanche Lake. That is a long way down. Bryan is just about to get that great view.

You also get this view, while a wonderful sight, it also shows just how far we have left to go. Our route  will take us to the pass on the far side of the glacier to catch an established trail that goes down to McDonald Lake. Lots of ups and downs left for today.

From here the route drops into Floral Park and a small lake in the bowl. It looked pretty steep as we were coming down a chute in the face of the slope. When I looked back on the route later it looked worse. At the bottom of the chute was Floral Park. A bit late in the season this year for the massive blooms but still quite a few to see.

This white Indian Paintbrush was really a different color than all the others around it. It was more of a green bloom. I thought it was prettier than it's neighbors.

After a longish break looking at the flowers it was back to going uphill again and finding a safe scramble route towards Sperry Glacier. As we worked our way up the clouds really began building. Looked like a bit of rain was in our near future. With so many crevasses visible on the glacier we wanted to cross higher up to avoid them. With last winters snows melted off we could at least see them.

Once at the ice it was time to get the crampons out of the pack to ease the travel across the ice. Something weird about wearing shorts and wearing crampons. It worked for this route but not something I normally do.

With the sun behind the clouds the ice took on unusual shades. Of course the most dangerous places in the ice are also the most visually appealing. Took a bit to get around this spot.

I crawled down into this slot a ways. Even with the glaciers melting away, there is a lot of ice left there. We went over a mile across the face of this glacier.

After a short bit of rain the skies started clearing again. Looked like a break in the clouds but more were coming our way from the southwest.

Just after crossing the ice I had a great view back the way we had come. The route was the right hand chute in the vegetation across the valley. From this angle it doesn't look doable. I don't know if I would want to go up the way we came down.

The natural cleft in the cliff we had to go down had been modified with steps back in the 30's. The cable was added a short time
later. It really is as steep as it looks. Once we came onto those steps we were back onto established trail and the going was much easier.

To put the steps in perspective…the dark line in the cliff to the right of center just at the top is where the steps are located.

Another break for food and water now that we were in sun again…and the animal encounters continued. This time some mountain goats wanted to say hello, although not as close as the bighorns had done. This was just one of the 3 that came up to us.

This little guy had one ear that was always up and the other was limp. Made him look a little crazy but he hung around us most likely hoping we would drop some bits of food that he could scoop up.

With only 9 miles to go, and all of them downhill we set off again. Clouds started to look ominous but we were headed back towards the trees so I felt safer about lightning.

Shortly after this picture the clouds rolled in and settled down to a soaking rain. The camera went into my pack and stayed there. Didn't want to risk ruining it. Typical of a Montana mountain summer day, sun, clouds, rain, more sun, and more rain. At least it didn't snow!

Highline Trail

Glacier National Park, Montana

Drove to the loop parking area on Going To The Sun Road and caught a park shuttle bus up to Logan Pass. Being the height of the tourist season things were really crowded at Logan Pass. I quickly started on the high line trail to the west in the hope of getting away from the throngs. Was mostly successful but still saw lots of tired people in the first few miles. The exposure and sharp drop offs in the first mile keep many away from this trail. The cable along the cliff face isn't really needed, I think it is more of a crutch because of the numbers of people in the Logan Pass area. This year they even had covered the cable with garden hoses so it was easier on the hands of those who grab them. This is also the section of trail where a park visitor captured a great video of another visitor scrambling off the trail because a gris was on the trail. Pretty funny video.

Haystack Butte sits on the south side of the trail 3 miles in. By this point most have turned back for the pass, or are stopping at the saddle where the trail passes along the butte. I decided to have lunch on top. It takes less than an hour to summit. Skirt the cliff bands and then pick a line to the top.

The top is a nice rounded ridge line with a definite high point. Lunch is always better on the top of some mountain. Today was no exception to the rule.

Continuing along the trail views of Granite Park Chalet pop up. Look on the distant ridge towards the left.  This is one of only two remaining chalets from the early days of the park and the Great Northern Railroads influence. Its a 4 mile uphill from the loop or a 7 mile jaunt along the high line from Logan Pass. You have to hike in, no other way to this one.

Just prior to the chalet there is a mile long spur trail that leads up to the ridge where a view of Salamander Glacier and it's melt water lake can be had. In places this trail is steep, and at the top there is a big drop. Every time I have hiked this section of trail I always make it up to view the salamander.

Even I can tell the glacier is lots smaller than in past years. Still a pretty view though. Now I have to figure out a route so I can get on this glacier prior to it being gone.

What used to be a 4 mile downhill stroll through the trees is now an exposed hike through the remains of a burned over forest. At the bottom is a wonderful creek with good tasting water. Just a short way on and I was taking the trail back to the loop and my truck. Took my time and had a nice afternoons hike.

Carlton and Little Carlton Lakes

Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

Blue skies, no wind and perfect temps in the high 60's as I made my way up to Carlton Ridge. You just don't get many better mornings than this. This is the approach to Lolo Peak so being a Sunday there were other cars in the lot and by the time I made it to the ridge I had passed a handful of others who were headed for Lolo Peak's summit. I however was headed over the ridge and back to some of the areas high altitude lakes.

It is always fun to come up this trail, while it is a steady climb the trail is maintained in perfect shape by the forest service and it sees lots of use to help keep the tread clear. It is also one of the few places where both Western and Alpine Larches intermix. The University has on ongoing study of the trees here. They have to earn the right to study the trees as it is a 4 mile one way hike to get to them and it is at 8,000 feet in elevation.

Once at Carlton Lake I was amazed at how low it is. While it always gets low by the end of the summer it is still a shock after seeing it in the springtime when snowmelt has in brimming. Clouds were starting to build up from the west as I was taking pictures of the lake with the south summit of Lolo Peak in the background.

I went over to Little Carlton Lake and had lunch then worked my way down the outlet stream to see what flowers were blooming. These Explorer's Gentian were out in several places but were about the only flowers in bloom. A few asters that were past their prime were out still as well but not worth taking any pictures of.

On the way back to the trailhead and the truck, the clouds started letting loose a bit of the rain they were holding. There is nothing like the small of a summer rain in the mountains. I put the camera away and in the last mile of the trail I was wet enough that I might have been better off stopping and putting on my rain gear. Kind of fun hiking in the rain though so it was good the way it was.

Bass Creek and Lappi Lake Scramble

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

After the weird weather of the past two weeks in western Montana, today was a normal hot summers day. No better way to enjoy it than a romp in the woods. What started out as an easy 10 miler turned into a cross country route to Lappi Lake at 7,000 feet. Along the approach trail the crags were standing out against a perfect blue sky just asking to be climbed. This really is a fun valley.

Then it was time to find a way across Bass Creek and head up through the trees and brush and up onto the rocks. This is the mess of downed trees in the creek that I used to cross without getting wet feet. Yes, I took this picture while in the middle of the crossing.

My choice of routes up through the trees and shrubs trying to get above the thick part of the trees was most likely not the best or quickest. But I had fun with it. So many downed trees that I was just walking along one to the other in a zig zag way. Kinda rough on the bare legs but scratches heal. Eventually I made it to Lappi lake right at 7,000 feet.

The water is crystal clear and cold, but there are no fish in it. It was a great place to refill my water bottle and have lunch. I found a perfect campsite for the next time I am up here. I really wanted to get to the unnamed high point on the ridge above the lake but time was not on my side. I did take the time to scout the route up to the top for the next trip.

Just as I started down I had a great view of Stormy Joe, one of the last peaks I had climbed in the area this past year. Sure does look a bit more formidable from this angle than it did going up the ridge.

As I started on the trail this morning I saw thousands of Pine White Butterflies all along the early miles of Bass Canyon. It was a massive hatch. By the time I was coming out of the canyon most of them were dead or were having a hard time flying. I have never seen anything like it. If you didn't get out into the mountains in this little area you missed it. Really is amazing the things you see if you look…and get outside. This was one that i picked up near the truck so I could get a photo of the wing pattern. I then looked up what kind it was, that's the only way I know it was the Pine White.