Glacier National Park - Polebridge and Bowman Lake

Hi everyone,

We chose to make our last trip at Glacier up to Polebridge and Bowman Lake. It really is out in the middle of nowhere but so beautiful that it shouldn't be missed. The road up has a large burn area, very different from the east side of the park. There also was a cute little coffee shop/bar that we stopped at in what felt like the middle of nowhere. The owners must have felt that way too because they talked our ears off. The one cool thing was a black bear that went loping across their gravel area just as we were leaving.

Polebridge is one of the ranger stations where I could do my Jr Ranger booklet turn in. The rangers there (and bikers waiting out a rain storm) got a kick out of me. I even stumped the ranger with one of my questions!

This little lady was not phased by us at all. She stood there eating, meandered across the trail, stopped for a picture.

 

 This young buck still has fuzz on his antlers.

 He didn't want to stick around for long.

Glacier National Park has finally come to an end. I sure hope that you enjoyed seeing our pictures because I know we sure had fun on our trip!

Until next time . . .

Glacier National Park - More Waterfalls

Hi everyone,

Yep, we are still reviewing our Glacier trip. Almost done, but not quite. We are still down in the Two Medicine Lake area, catching a few last waterfalls before heading back over to our camping area on the west side of the park.

Appistoki Falls

Running Eagle Falls

Until next time (the final Glacier post) . . .

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 . . .