August 8th Day #8 The end of the trip
The permit says 11.6 miles 0 elevation gain 400ft elevation loss
Google Maps says 11.2 miles 922ft up, 545 ft down.
Got a pretty good start out of Upper Kintla, nice hike along the lake, some nice views, but it was warming up quickly.. We'd seen some weather information back at Goat Haunt that indicated a heat wave was coming, and indicated that it would be in the 90's at Polebridge, but I assumed that must be a mistake and it was really for Kalispell...
The climb up the little hill between Upper Kintla and Kintla got us a bit but we trudged on. Stopped for a short rest at the Ranger cabin at the head end of Kintla and then trudged on to Kintla Lake Camp and stopped for a lunch break. Chatted with several kayakers, some were camping there, and some had just come up for the day from Kintla Campground.
It was a long afternoon... All the ups and downs along the lake was killing us... Just when we'd think we were done with them and it would be smooth sailing to Kintla campground the trail would turn up hill away from the lake. It was a cruel cruel trail that day...
Finally we sent Maia and Mira ahead, and Jen, Tina and I said we'd meet them at the car, but soon we caught up to them at a fork in the trail chatting with a man and his teen age sons!! We got them back on track and again sent them off on the fork to the trailhead and the car and told them to YELL went the got to the car..
But the cruel trail continued, more uphill, we trudged and trudge, "How can a quarter mile be this long??"...
But then we heard two shouts through the trees, and soon we had dropped our packs, kicked off our boots, and were cramming gear into the car. And then in the comfort of the air-conditioned car we were on our way to Polebridge plotting what all we would eat and drink!! Apples, Orange Juice, Root Beer, Bearclaws, chips!
I think the weather men were right, I'm sure it was 95 at the Merc when we piled out of the car..
We refueled and rehydrated, with a round of Bearclaws, and drinks!! and then were off for East Glacier. The drive from Polebridge over to Apgar and the Highway 2 is a beautiful pleasant drive on a nice summer evening! After a quick stop at Marias Pass, we were soon unloading at our house in East Glacier... We'd had great plans for meeting people at Serrano's for dinner, but we were all to tired and hot showers were beckoning, so we opted for Pizza and beers from Brownies, and Paul joined us for dinner...
The showers and beds were so nice!!
Morging on Upper Kintla Lake
Up and over the hill between the lakes
Between the lakes
Jen and Maia, at the head of Kintla Lake
Ranger Cabin at head end of Kintla Lake
Kintla Lake
Kintla Lake with oil drilling equipment and kayakers
It was only lunch time and we were tired
And we made it!!! Bearclaws and beers for everyone!!
The house in East Glacier, we were all too tired to take any pictures of the pizza or beer or showers!!