Highline Trail

Reynolds Mtn & Mount Oberlin

Our annual camping trip to Glacier National Park fell on one of the most beautiful weeks we've had in Glacier. Yes, the daytime temperatures were pretty hot down in the valley, but we never spend much time in camp during the heat of the day so it wasn't an issue. The nights cooled off fairly quickly. 

The only 'negative' was Fish Creek Campground was so well shaded by pines & firs our solar system never quite got fully charged after recharging our EMB's. Even with full sunny days we only managed to get up to 65% charged. We still had plenty of battery power to get through the entire trip...lithium batteries are awesome! The old lead acid batteries would not have held up without using the hated generator.

Haystack Butte

Mount Cannon & Heavens Peak

Glacier National Park's famed Going-to-the-Sun-Road heads up the mountain to Logan's Pass. It is one of the most stunning as well as 'terrifying' drives we've ever driven. On our first full day in the Park, we decided to get up before sunrise and head up towards Logan's Pass to hike the Highline.

In all of our past trips to Glacier if you were not in the parking lot at Logan's Pass by 7:00 AM the lot would be quite full. Things have changed a bit since the new reservation system was implemented a couple of years ago. 

The Park now has a system in place to drive Going-to-the-Sun-Road, but if you enter the Park before 6:00 AM or after 3:00 PM no reservation is needed. A limited number of spots were released for the month of July and those sold out in under 5 minutes this year. We were not able to snag one, but were able to get reservations to camp in the park which also counts as a ticket to drive the road.

To bypass the need for a ticket people now hit the park gates at 5:55 AM & make their way up to Logan. When we arrived at 6:45 AM the lot was pretty darn full. As luck would have it, we found someone already leaving so we parked in the 1st slot which had plenty of extra space next to the tour bus spots. Happy that it worked out so well.

Bill on the Highline

Once the sun rose high enough we got our gear and headed out to hike the Highline. This hike is one of our favorites.  The scenery is spectacular! On a clear day you can see all the way back to Lake MacDonald. 

This year the wildflowers were plentiful...except for the Beargrass. It really wasn't blooming as well as in past years & it was disappointing not to see the mountainside covered in its blooms. Lots of other flowers were in full bloom so still plenty of color to enjoy.

Beargrass

Exployer's gentian

Glacier lilies

Scouler's St. Johnswort 

Wild Chives

The Highline Trail covers 12 miles to the Loop. There is also a spur trail off of the Highline that's a short, but steep climb up to see the Grinnell Glacier. We've hiked the entire 12 miles before, but the last 4 miles is such a steep downhill that we've decided it 'not for us'. The last few years we've hiked the 4 miles out to the saddle of Haystack Butte where we turn around & head back towards Logan's Pass. The eight-mile hike is a perfect range these days.

Bill on the last turn at Haystack Butte 

Usually, we've seen a number of mountain goats on the trail. This year we found a couple of goats high up on the cliff well above the trail, but none down low until we had reached the narrow wall section of the return hike back to Logan's. 

First goat sighting on the cliff above

Getting the 'stink eye'

The first goat was on the trail grazing his way in our direction. The usual 'tourons' started getting impatient waiting for the goat to move along. 

Unfortunately, he got nervous when people started moving behind him. We decided to move off the trail & up on the mountainside out of his way in case he decided to make a run for it. 

Mountain Goat watching tourons

After a few minutes he did just that & ran right towards where we had been standing...he shot a look at us as he passed.

Nanny watching the tourons pass behind

A few minutes later we came upon a mountain goat nanny with twins grazing along the trail. Once again, the 'tourons' could not wait and started moving behind the grazing group. The nanny goat was none too thrilled about the situation and made her move away from the crazy people. Thankfully she chose to move away from us & downhill into the fir trees.

Nanny with her twins...taken with 800 mm lens

Heading downhill into the firs

Over the 8 miles of hiking we saw several ground squirrels, a least chipmunk, 6 mountain goats, a hoary marmot & a mule deer buck.

No other creatures interfered with the last mile. I got distracted by the flowers blooming & Bill headed on towards the truck. 

A pretty great first day in Glacier. Tomorrow we plan to bike on the Inner Camas Road. 

Wonder if our legs will be happy about that?

Columbian ground squirrel

Haystack Butte & saddle area

Hoary marmot

Yellow columbine with hover fly

*click picture to enlarge