Glacier National Park - Two Medicine Lake

Hi everyone,

After our big hiking day we decided that it would be nice to take it easy by going on a boat ride on Two Medicine Lake. We took Hwy 2 and skirted around the southern boundary of the park instead of going across the Going to the Sun Road and then coming back down. Much quicker and it gave us new scenery to enjoy. A bonus, it was a gorgeous day with equally gorgeous views! 

Wait a minute. I thought you said this was an easy day and there was no hiking. I guess not cause that looks like a hike.

Yep, heading out to Twin Falls. Bear territory central. We didn't see any but it was definitely the place to see them if we were going to. Oh, did I tell you that after we got back from our hike up to Iceberg Lake the ranger told us that particular trail was called "Grizzly Bear Alley"? Wish I would have known that before heading out for my hike. Anyway, back to Twin Falls.

 

  

Another hiker let Mom borrow his wide angle lens so she could get both falls in one frame. That was pretty nice of a stranger to loan out his wide angle lens.

 Guess the hoof print. Does this look like what I think it does? Mom and Dad think it was a moose print.

What, the hike isn't over yet? Nope, on to Upper Two Medicine Lake. More snow fields to traverse and beautiful views to see.

I don't know if you can see them but just a little below the exact center of the picture below you can see a small white dot. That is a mama mountain goat and her little teeny tiny baby! It was amazing watching them walk all over the side of the rocks and the baby following right after the mama.

 

Until next time when I show you another waterfall . . .

Glacier National Park - Iceberg Lake Going Down

Hi everyone,

You can see that Mom and Dad decided to try a new method of carrying me over waterways and snow fields. Instead of tying a 550 cord to my belt, Dad just picked me up and carried me like a sack of potatoes!

The mighty amphitheater as we were heading back down, looking back from across the valley.

Ptarmigan Falls - This is where I had my break down and couldn't walk another step. After 10.5 miles I was done. Shoulder ride from Dad, piggy back ride from Mom. They traded me off every 300 steps and I walked 100 steps on my own in between each trade. We managed to make it back down the mountain by dinner time!

Big horn sheep on the rocks! Too bad Mom didn't bring her telephoto lens.

Another moose! Again, no telephoto lens so it is hard to see him. He is in the middle of the pond.

Johnson Glacier - One of the few glaciers that are left. I'm told that all glaciers will be gone by 25.

Gorgeous view, heading back down the Going to the Sun Road at sunset.

Waiting for our turn on the one lane roadway.

Who can complain about the wait with views like these!

Until next time (when I take you on a boat ride) . . .

Glacier National Park - Iceberg Lake Going Up

Hi everyone,

After we finished our first hike to Red Rock Falls we headed back to our base camp (aka the truck) and had our lunch. We decided to tackle a bit more aggressive trail for our second hike. It was only supposed to be 2.5 miles up to Ptarmigan Falls but Mom decided that we really should do a longer hike and make the trek all the way up to Iceberg Lake. The description at the trailhead was enough to make us decide to head up to the amphitheater with the 3,000 foot high walls!

Again, the obligatory picture at the trailhead sign.

Figuring out how to keep our shoes as dry as possible for the duration of the hike.

More glorious views!

 Do you see the moose? It was our first wildlife spotting on this hike. He is down in the lower middle of the picture, by the curving meander in the river. Mom and Dad weren't sure if I could see him but when I asked if it was the thing that looked like a table they knew I had spotted him. What, those tall legs and the flat backed body looked like a table from that far away!

The upper portion/bridge of Ptarmigan Falls

The first view of the spectacular amphitheater!

The waterfall looks so small in this picture but it really was quite large. This is all the way across the valley and it was really super loud, even where we were standing.

Getting closer to the amphitheater

Had to cross quite a few snow fields. For the first few Mom and Dad rigged up a 550 cord attached through my belt loops and each one took an end. This particular snow field didn't have a drop off so they let me walk unattached!

There's Iceberg Lake! Can you see it hidden under the snow? This is actually the lower portion. There is also lake above that small ridge of rocks in the middle of the picture.

Beautiful sun rays on the walls of the amphitheater.

More walls!

Looking back to the other side of the valley.

Look at that beautiful clear water! It was neat to see the snow under the water.

 Not the most flattering picture but I thought it was pretty cool to see the walls so high behind us!

A plane! We really aren't in the middle of no where!

I'll have to finish our hike in the next post because this already has WAY too many pictures!

Until next time . . .

Glacier National Park - Red Rock Falls

Hi everyone,

I'm back again, just like I said I'd be, and this time I get to tell you about my rugged athleticism! After getting up super early in the morning and driving across the Going to the Sun Road we ended up at Many Glacier where we planned to go on a few hikes. The first one, which I will tell you about today, was a somewhat easy 3.6 miler out to Red Rock Falls. The path wasn't too rugged, fairly level, and pretty good territory for bears. We made sure to do our bear yells before we rounded any corners and there were a few other people on the trail when we hiked it so we figured we'd be okay.

Obligatory picture by the trail head sign to start our hike.

Neato tree that we happened upon on the side of the trail.

Gorgeous views as we hiked through the valley toward the falls!

Same peak as above but from a different vantage point.

Rushing Red Rock Falls (Can you see us over there on the right? We look kind of tiny!)

The water was sooooo clear! You can see the rocks underneath and that water was rushing really fast and hard!

On the return trip, you can see I'm starting to get a little antsy so I have to find ways to entertain myself.

The only wildlife we spotted on our entire hike! We couldn't even get a great picture of her because she was munching on grass and then just casually went across the trail giving us her backside. Oh well!

Until next time (when I take you on our really big hike) . . .