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

Carbello to Emigrant on the Yellowstone

Carbella BLM boat launch

After some debate we made plans with our friends to kayak the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley. The flow had finally fallen well below 10,000 cubic feet per second so it was safe to get on the river. 

A beautiful morning to do the float with a flow rate of 7300 cubic feet per second. We decided to do a fairly long float since the river was still running pretty fast. A float longer than 5 hours feels really long and forever so we were hopeful of finishing the float in under 4 hours.

 We dropped off a car at the Emigrant boat ramp and drove to the boat launch at Carbella BLM launch site. 

As we got the boats ready to launch, we noticed the water had that odd murky blue color from snow melt high in the mountains. It looks weird, but totally normal for this time of year. As we floated down river the murkiness eventually disappeared. If you stop long enough the murkiness catches up as it moves down river.

Bill & Sandi 

Break time

When we reached the river the sun was already warm, but the air remained cool. The water always seems chilly on the Yellowstone. It was a perfect blue-sky day. In the past we have rarely stopped along the river to stretch our legs, but we've learned our lesson. 

Our last long float without stopping creating a few pains in the back & legs. It made it a bit difficult to get out of the kayak when we reached the pullout. The decision was made that we should stop every hour and stretch out legs. Now every hour or so we pull out on shore for a few minutes of walking around before heading back down river. It helped tremendously. 

It was a very busy day on the river. The takeout was full of trucks & trailers, so we knew it was going to be a busy morning. There were a number of drift boats out & everyone claimed to be catching trout. We even spotted a few getting hauled in & even some near misses.

Yellow warbler

An osprey got into the act too. It dove & came out with a fish. It is an amazing sight to witness...too bad I never get the shot. Lots of osprey nests with occupants & at least 8 bald eagles were spotted as we floated down river. We finished the float of 16 miles in just under 4 hours. 

Definitely in our top 10 days on the river.

Bald Eagle

Definitely in our top 10 days on the river.

Passage Falls

Passage Creek

Today we headed back out to Mill Creek to hike Passage Falls. The last time we hiked out to the falls was back in July of 2015 with Helen & Craig. Our memory of the hike was slightly different. Bill had it in his head that it was a 'stroll of about a mile'. My memory was it was longer than that & had a short climb just before the falls. 

All Trails claimed it was 2 1/2 miles (total of 5 miles) out to the falls with a climb about 1/4 mile from the falls. My Versa 4 (Fitbit) registered the hike at 6 miles round trip so not too far off.

Passage Falls

Taking a break at Passage Falls

Neither of us remember the sketchy decent down to the base of the falls. It was more treacherous than either of us remembered it. Looking back on my photos taken in 2015 I think the trail had a different approach to the falls that was not nearly as steep & rocky.

Burn out

It was a good bit warmer on the return trip back to the truck. Several years ago a fire burned through the area so no shade was available to us. Bridger kept his cool by jumping into Passage Creek whenever the mood struck. He has defiantly become a water dog. 

Bridger found a huge stick and decided he needed to carry it along with him. My legs got a few scratches from his running down the trail with it. One happy dog!

Bridger and Bill

Bridger retrieving & cooling off

Bridger & the Big Stick

Edith's & Sagebrush Checkerspots

Passage Falls from July 2015

*click to enlarge photos

Wildflowers at Fairy Lake

Few-flowered Shooting Stars

Drove out to Fairy Lake to check out the road conditions for a future mountain bike ride. Wow, it was a rough & bouncy ride! 

It has been a pretty wet Spring and early Summer which has led to more exposed rocks. At least the road wasn't muddy. Lots of wildflowers were blooming so I took a few shots.

Little Larkspur

Parry's Townsend Daisy

Prairie Smoke

Rocky Mountain Iris

Scarlet Indian Paintbrush

Showy Goldeneye

Streamside Bluebells

Tall Larkspur

Tall Larkspur

Yellow Columbine

*click pictures to enlarge

Lake Swimming for Bridger

Today we headed out to Hyalite Canyon after breakfast. Since it was still early morning we let Bridger off leash. Yeah, we broke the leash law in a National Forest. 

Actually, it was his first experience swimming in a lake. Last season's algae bloom killed any chance for getting him in the water at Hyalite. He'd been in some rivers, but it's been difficult finding spots deep enough to swim.

Bridger was a bit tentative at first, but quickly got into it. Cold water and a touch of snow on the Gallatin Peaks for July 4th...just a perfect way to start the day. Cannot beat a tired dog too!

Mountain Biking at Mill Creek

The view below

The day was supposed to be spent kayaking a portion of the Jefferson River. Unfortunately, the morning was chilly & the winds had picked up. We were forced to change the plan. Too much wind on such a flat river could have made for a miserable day... especially when faced with a head wind or heaven forbid gotten wet. 

The decision was made to head out with our friends and do some mountain biking. I'd rather be on my bike so was pretty happy to make the switch. We headed out to one of our favorite rides from last year...Mill Creek in Paradise Valley. 

Bill taking in the view from where we came up

The View back from our perch

The original ride we discovered in that area was up Wicked Creek Trail, but the June flood last year took out the bridge to get to the trail head. So last summer we drove out to see if we could safely cross Mill Creek & get to the Wicked Creek trail head. 

Not possible, but Mill Creek Road looked to be in good shape so we took our bikes down the graveled road. As it turned out the road had been graded & prepped for summer, but the flood had compromised a small portion of it so no vehicles could access it. 

It became one of our favorite rides. 

Sandi & me... a selfie for proof of ride

This summer we took our friends to Mill Creek Road for a mountain bike ride. Not too many vehicles to have to deal with & lots of wildflowers to see as we rode up from the valley floor into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. 

About 9 miles into the ride a gate closure kept us from continuing up into the mountains. Not too surprised with the gate closure. 

There are several closures in the area to protect trails from getting destroyed while wet & muddy. Most trails at lower elevations open June 15th and the higher ones will hopefully open July 15th. It gives us an excuse to come back and do this one when the gate opens. 

We took in the view for a bit and headed downhill...18 miles in 2 hours in the beautiful mountain air. Doesn't get much better!

Western & Pale Swallowtails

Mill Creek 

Indian Paintbrush

*click photos to enlarge!

Weather is Always Fun?!

Yesterday's forecast called for thunderstorms with the 'possibility' of hail. After having heavy clouds hang over the house all day it finally happened after dinner. Thankfully I got back from the evening walk with Bridger before the bottom dropped.

Just as I said, 'I'm surprised it is not hailing', the hail started. Bill said I'm no longer allowed to say that phrase. Probably a good idea since every time I've mentioned 'hail' it does start to fall. The size wasn't too large, but the Airstream was in the driveway while Bill is working on a few things. 

Both the truck & AS survived the experience...thankfully! 

The hail lasted several minutes...enough to gather on the road and we still have it at the downspouts this morning. I do hope the weather settles down so we can get to some mountain biking or kayaking. Hard to plan much with it so unsettled & the rivers are still running fast.