Here's a few snaps from Logan Pass today.
Got there at about 4:30AM. There was enough moon light to start by 5:00AM.
I didn't feel like going up too early because of the Bear Hazard warning, closing the trail at the overlook.
Snow is going away fast. The "Big Drift"(not pictured) is nearly gone.
Sunrise was still a ways off here, but it didn't amount to much imo. I have some video I'll post later on it
Looking over toward Reynolds and the Dragon's Tail from the overlook area.
The big snow field at the "corner" before heading up to the first saddle is still decent size. There are still the tops of two small ones on this side to be crossed.
Not much too them, but sliding off would be bad as the run out is steep scree. I thought about going until the clouds came in and persisted for too long.
Looking towards northwestward Stanton and Cannon. See all the smoke/haze
It went from nice to this in a matter of minutes. Wind picked up moderately and the temperature dropped 10-15F in minutes too.
It was mild at 0500. I just had two polypro T-shirts on-one long and one short sleeve. I had to put on my Nike Combat Prop "Hoodie" on when this crap rolled in.
I fiddle-faddled around for an hour or so, filtering water, talking to a few visitors, etc waiting to see what the clouds would do. I finally ran out of patience and decided to come down. Shot a few flower pics on the way down.
This nice little patch was just a few hundred yards up the trail from the visitors center
"Momma" wasn't too sure about me when I stopped here just past the lower parking area at Logan Pass. She and baby ultimately walked along the wall and crossed the road behind me and in front of car behind me.
And I went on back home.
later
pete
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-
"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat." George Carlin
macchia wrote:Here's a few snaps from Logan Pass today.
Got there at about 4:30AM. There was enough moon light to start by 5:00AM.
I didn't feel like going up too early because of the Bear Hazard warning, closing the trail at the overlook.
pete
On Friday, I was at the BaseCamp here in Billings to buy my grandson a new backpack. Yikes, they are expensive! As we were waiting to get the hip belt molded for him, the girl told us that she had hiked down to Hidden Lake last week and there were 4 grizzlies there. One of them had a baby. She said they sat and watched them for about a hour.
Awesome pics!
Deb
"There is no snooze button on a cat that wants breakfast" ~ unknown
"Today is your day, your mountain is waiting, so get on your way" ~ Dr. Suess
I was down at Hidden Lake on the 1st. I ran into a fisherman who said there was nothing (fish) on the other side of the lake. "They're all down at the outlet spawning." So a momma and two cubs were hanging around outlet with momma fishing.
She looks like a black bear to me with coloring of a griz. The people in the area were all giddy taking pictures and "getting a look." Virtually every person hiking on the trail had heard about the bear, so I can certainly see why they closed the trail.
Momma walked up on the stream bank, turned around and dropped quite a load into the stream.
Jay
The NSA...the only people in the government who listen.
Hey Jay!
Nice picture of the grizzly bear.
At least that bear sure looks like a grizzly to me.
Shoulder hump, ears, and more "dog like face".
We shall see what the "experts" here say
Most people will never see Logan Pass and especially the Hidden Lake trail virtually devoid of people.
These video clips were shot around 5:20AM--about an hour before the sun rose over Piegan Mountain.
It's hard to describe how nice it is up here without all the "extraneous noise" the hoards people and the vehicles make.
Is it worth getting up at 2:00AM and driving 90 minutes from home?
You betcha!
pete
The best part of this 5:38 is the Geezer keeps his mouth shut the entire time, no breathing, wheezing, snortin' or snufflin'.
Just the the sounds of nature....silence, bugs, birds, streams and waterfalls...
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-
"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat." George Carlin
Sounds divine, being alone with nature. I went out to a local trail yesterday around 2 PM for the same reason. Temps were in the mid 90s by then and I knew I'd be pretty much alone. 4 hours hiking and only saw 6 people. That's still 6 too many but better than most days.
Love the flower shots too. The overcast conditions really help show the colors. And yeah, I'm saying grizzly too. The humps the dead give-away to me.
For those who might believe we're engaging in hyperbole about the lack of snow this year...
Here are pictures I took July 4th 2014 Look at the same areas on this 5 minute clip from this year, July 4th 2015.
The area around the lot and visitor's center this year didn't have any, or barely any snow around compared to last year. Then look at the snow remaining in these photos from July 4th , 2014 compared to what's on the ground this year in the Logan Pass area.
Garden Wall was far from open on 7-4-2014
This one really shows the startling difference in years
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-
"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat." George Carlin
I enjoyed the video. I have to say I also enjoy your commentary. Thanks for putting that together.
Jay
hi Jay:
You're quite welcome
Here's one with some "commentary" for you
Corny and lame as I'm sure my videos are to some folks, I still enjoy making them.
I make my videos(most of them anyway) to 1) show potential GNP visitors/lurkers not only how beautiful GNP is, but 2) that many of these places are reachable by people who are just reasonably fit, average hikers.
You need not be a "triathlete" to get to any of them if I can get there---and that's not false modesty.
My "style", if that's what it is, is not for everyone. I'm fine with that now.
Recall my T-shirt from a couple years ago that says?
"Hi, I don't care. Thanks"
That about sums it up for me these days !
YeeeHawwwwwwwww!
Here's video from the 4th that is narrated
I know I look over dressed and tend carry too much stuff at times.
However...
When I got to Logan Pass about 4:30AM it was clear, dry, and almost "mild".
I began at 5AM wearing a long sleeve light weight polypro shirt with a short sleeve one over it.
Once the cloud bank blew in, visibility and temperature dropped rapidly. Humidity rose to near 100% .
And this sort of quick change in wind, temperature, and humidity happens along the Continental Divide when "weather fronts" approach the divide---as happened that morning.
I'm glad I had my Nike Combat Pro hoodie. I didn't need rain gear, but I had it if necessary.
I'm not much inclined to be running my fanny off trying to get out of the rain.
I like walking back relaxed while watching all the distressed faces of those who were caught out
pete
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-
"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat." George Carlin
I found another 3 minutes without any of my "narration"
The remaining snow this year is really a fraction of what remained at Logan Pass on July 4th, 2014.
Put in the context of a few centuries, or more...perhaps not so shocking.
Ya reckon?
pete
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-
"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat." George Carlin