7/21-7/26 2013 Trip Report

cntrygrl05 · Post by **cntrygrl05** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 12:36 pm

We had the privilege of going to Glacier this year after missing it terribly since of last trip, summer 2010. Thanks for the trip reports that kept me from going insane those three years without going to Glacier; it definitely helps!

Anyway, this was my fourth trip to Glacier and the third trip with my husband, who became a Glacier addict back in 2008.

We also brought along three of my friends (a couple and a single guy) for their first Glacier experience. We warned them that we are used to getting up early in the morning and being at the trailhead by 7:30 and also that we pretty much do nothing but hike, sleep, and eat.

It was definitely a little challenging bringing other people since we are used to being able to do what we want and hike as much as we want in a day. Two of the other people wanted to do just one hike a day no matter what time we finished, where as my husband and I would often go do another short hike depending on the time of day we finished our main hike of the day. Overall it was a good experience, although I think my husband and I like hiking just the two of us the best.

We have always had good weather on our previous trips and this time was no exception, about 75 and sunny every day! The 50 degree mornings felt great too, especially after coming from central Illinois where it had been 90 degrees. We had to do some of the classic hikes that we probably wouldn't have done if we had been by ourselves.

We stayed at a VRBO on Duck Lake, definitely our favorite location to stay, the closer to Many Glacier the better for us!

Sunday: Grinnell Glacier and Grinnell Lake - We hadn't been to the Glacier previously so it was neat to get that far. We definitely got a shower on the trail to the glacier! Being at Grinnell Lake is one of my favorite places, as the lake is just gorgeous! We got up early enough that we got back from the Glacier before the ranger hike even got there so it was definitely quieter at the glacier that it would have been. We ate at Swiftcurrent for dinner and the pizza was good and the hamburger was ok. The huckleberry ice cream was great!

Monday: Since it was a clear day and not knowing what the rest of the week would be like, we decided to do Hidden Lake overlook and were bummed that we couldn't go down to the lake because the trail was closed. Here again, another early morning before many people were there. We then continued to the west side to do Avalanche Lake and show the others a little of the west side. I was reminded how much we dislike all the traffic there and on Avalanche Lake trail! Definitely not doing that hike again unless it's really early morning!

Tuesday: We decided to do Iceberg lake. This hike is just awesome all the way around, easy hike with great views and destination! The flowers were amazing, but not much bear grass.

The lake wasn't quite as open as it was the previous trip, but still beautiful. The others said this was their favorite hike so far. We stopped at Swiftcurrent Lake on the way back to the house to relax on the shoreline, such an awesome place to be! We went to Leanin' Tree Cafe for some hamburgers for dinner. It's between Babb and Duck Lake. They were really good and so were the sweet potato fries!

Wednesday: We started the day driving my husband and one of the other guys to Logan's Pass to hike over Swiftcurrent Pass and meet us on the other side at Bullhead Lake. I love driving the Sun Road early in the morning! So, that left the other couple and me to hike to Bullhead Lake. After we got past Red Rock Lake we didn't see anyone at all! But...we heard something make a loud sound in the brush near the trail and then saw WET, FRESH paw prints on the trail and bear sign! I had my bear spray in my hand at this point and we were clapping and singing! I don't think I would have been so scared if my husband would have been there (the one who wants to see a bear so bad!). We made it to the lake safely though! We only waited about an hour maybe until right at noon when they got to us right on time! We stopped at Red Rock falls on the way back, although there were so many people that it was kind of hard to get a picture. My husband and I had been to Red Rock Falls before, but never to Bullhead Lake. Bullhead Lake is a nice lake, especially if you need a nice flat hike to do. He really enjoyed Swiftcurrent Pass, but I knew I couldn't keep up with them!

Thursday: The couple decided to stay at the house today, lots of blisters on the feet! So, my husband and the other guy decided to do a hike in Cut Bank, where we hadn't been before. Medicine Grizzly Lake looked doable for me as my knees were in pretty rough shape, definitely buying hiking poles next time! It was a nice hike and lake, although probably not one I would need to do again unless maybe we needed a hike to do in June before some of the other trails were accessible. We did see three moose though, and no people except one couple at the lake! We saw a female moose walk across the trail in front of us and then on the way back we saw two huge bull moose. One was standing on the trail so we just waited until he moved and then about a 1/2 mile later we saw another one! We thought it might have been the same one but we saw some people that were on their way to the lake and said it was indeed two different ones. We did see some bear sign too and this is definitely a trail through some thick brush! We talked to a ranger when we got back to our car and showed him the picture of the moose and he said that is definitely a large moose for Glacier and he had been told that there was a big one seen recently in that valley. Wow, talk about a rough gravel road to get back to the campground and trail head! Tonight we decided to try our Johnson's at St. Mary for dinner. Wow, we didn't know what we missed out on before! Everyone loved their meals and then we got what we thought was going to be just regular huckleberry ice cream like at Swifcurrent.

We were shocked when they brought out the ice cream pie! It was really awesome, but pricey. Oh well, we saved a lot by eating at our house most of the time!

After dinner, we drove the Many Glacier Road looking for bears. We saw one, but couldn't get a good picture.

Friday: Since the others were feeling pretty good, we decided to do Piegan Pass for our last day. The flowers on this hike were awesome! It was a really nice hike and not too strenuous as I thought it might be. I'm not a fan of the exposed portion of the hike, however, and the snowfield that we crossed. If I had poles, I might not have been such a wimp. I just kept telling myself not to stop and just keeping looking at the trail! Of course, no one else had any issues at all.

I kept imagining I was on Iceberg Lake trail where it isn't scary.

I made it though and am still alive! I got to see my first pika too!

Overall, great trip and hopefully I will have more time to train next time and buy hiking poles to save my knees! No Cracker Lake this year, which saddened me, but I heard the color wasn't great that week we were out there, so that made me feel better.

Now that my husband did Swiftcurrent Pass, he thinks he needs to do more hikes like that.

Maybe one of you can hike with him next time?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99602477@N07/9459268306/

cntrygrl05 · Post by **cntrygrl05** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 12:38 pm

Sorry, I guess you'll have to click on the links.

cntrygrl05 · Post by **cntrygrl05** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 12:39 pm

Is there a way to get them on there like Toddnick does using Flickr? or do I have to do links to Flickr?

toddnick · Post by **toddnick** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:10 pm

I post them to photobucket and link from there....

cntrygrl05 · Post by **cntrygrl05** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:18 pm

Do the links at least take you to the picture, Toddnick?

toddnick · Post by **toddnick** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:19 pm

yes...

cntrygrl05 · Post by **cntrygrl05** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:20 pm

k, thanks, that's better than nothing, I guess

Glacier National Park Chat

7/21-7/26 2013 Trip Report

7/21-7/26 2013 Trip Report

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Re: 7/21-7/26 2013 Trip Report

Re: 7/21-7/26 2013 Trip Report

Re: 7/21-7/26 2013 Trip Report

Re: 7/21-7/26 2013 Trip Report

Re: 7/21-7/26 2013 Trip Report