Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter GNP 2017-18

[PeteE]

Spring 2017 doesn't officially begin until Monday.
However, with DaveParker and the the moderators permission, I'm going to begin my annual running Trip Report today.
I think posting this way has worked out alright. Last year I visited the park on some 100 separate days during calendar year 2016.
Doing separate reports every time I drove over would be unwieldy and clutter up the Trip Report section of the chat.

I have fun trying to keep everyone posted on what's going on in the park--albeit from my own perspective.
It's my hope I can continue providing that perspective this coming season.
Comments and suggestions are welcome.

And so it begins....

Last week I became a new member of the Glacier Mountaineering Society.
I believe there are number of chatters who are GMS members and I feel honored to join them.
I'm not much of a "mountaineer"; I'm a "rambler and scrambler".
However, I'm gonna give it a go!

Among the items on my bucket list for this year are doing as many peaks in the Logan Pass area as time, weather, and circumstance allows.
First on my list is the true summit of The Dragon's Tail. The Dragon's Tail (if offered) would be my first choice for a GMS event during GMS week.
I'm kind of obsessed with getting up there after failing my solo attempt last year.

I'd also like to do Reynolds, Bearhat, Clements, Pollack,Piegan from Lunch Creek. Done Piegan 3 times, but the "long way" via Piegan Pass. And done Oberlin twice.
I do not expect to do all those peaks with the GMS However...
I believe I believe can learn a lot about these peaks from GMS members and get them done somehow this season.
And then, hopefully, I can pay it forward somehow.

The first event of the season on Sunday, the 19th will be my first event with GMS.
We'll be doing a short snowshoe trek on the Autumn Creek trail up at Marias Pass.
The weather should be nice although chilly and maybe windy--low thirties and wind 10-20mph and possibly gusting higher.
I just hope the snow is firm!


Today, Saturday was forecast to be rainy which it is...
So I begged boss lady for Friday AM off to get a little snowshoeing in before Sunday.
I wanted to get all my gear checked out, etc. It'd be embarrassing to show up for my first event and not be ready.

Here are a few shots from Friday's walk on the South Boundary trail.
The snow was good for snowshoeing although thin, patchy, and icy in places, two feet deep in others.
Since I had to get back to work in the afternoon, I just went out 2 miles to a nice spot for a picture and snack.
So 4 miles RT and about 350ft elev gain/loss.

I saw three people. Met two guys my age at the first switchback who were on their way back.

I'll get to the third person below.

I'll have some pics up asap. Photobucket is acting up on me att

pete

Friday, March 17th 2017. The trail begins over in the housing and Administration area of the park.







Looking back from the old bridge towards the "new" bridge.




I thought about jumping this lil creek but decided to step over using that log you see lower right. I'm not as frisky as I once was. I video'd it.


Some parts of the trail were kind of lousy like this. Normally an easy trail, but a little tricky in icy/crusty places. Falling would ruin your day.


Just above the 1st switchback going up this ridge. That is one of the two fellows I met who had gone out ahead of me.


Up the switchback.


I stopped here at 2 miles in on this nice overlook to snack and then head back.




A look at the river

[PeteE]

I was genuinely irritated when this dog showed up.
The dog collared, well behaved and never made a sound.
She took a look at me, turned around, and headed back down trail.
5 minutes later the owner, a nice gal, showed up with her dog.
I politely but firmly told her that dogs, especially unleashed, were not allowed in this part of GNP.
And...she risked a hefty fine if caught. This area of the park is a winter range for elk and other animals from December1-may 15th.
You are not allowed to go off trail during that time. Never mind allowing a dog to run loose.

She told me she must have been "misinformed" and her dog would never chase an animal.

What is it with "dog people" that they always say that?

Dog owners like this one miss the point.
The mere "presence" of a dog in a winter range can stress out animals like elk and deer.
Deer, elk, moose females are pregnant. Babies come in May/June.
They don't need the added stress of dogs in their environment.
Please don't take your dog where they aren't permitted!!!

pete

[PeteE]

I swung by Lake McDonald on the way back to work.
I think the lake is beginning to melt out.


Another dog person showed up while I was post holing through the snow to get the picture above. At least she had her dog on a leash.


I stopped briefly to see my two knuckle headed friends.



I stop at the Cenex gas station all the time for coffee. Today they had home made baked goodies out for sale. $4.50 but this piece pie weighed 12.5 oz on my scale. And I'm telling you it is DELICIOUS! A dieters nightmare I ate a small hunk last night. Gotta ration it out as I'm a Type II diabetic



pete

[davidwayne]

Pete. thanks for the pictures...I really enjoyed them. And I agree with you on the dogs. No excuse for having them in restricted areas of GNP. I even get irritated on hiking trails where dogs are allowed when the owners let them run free because "they will not hurt anyone". I shouldn't have to wonder to worry about an unleashed dog approaching me on a trail when the owner isn't even visible. Hey, it may be your 'child' but I don't appreciate your kid roaming free and causing me to weigh my options of it acts up.

[PeteE]

What a fun day!!
I attended my first GMS event today-- a little 6 mile snowshoe hike along the Autumn Creek trail.
15 people signed up and all showed.
This was a fun group of people. Most fun I've had in a long time.

I was clearly the rank amateur in this group.
And so I was very humble, and properly so, considering the company I was in.
I met a couple folks who I may be able to hook up with to do a couple of the easier summits later on.

I found out that one guy loves doing the Dragon's Tail. So I believe we'll hook up after things melt out this summer.
One of today's event planners lives in Kalispell. We talked about doing some hiking/climbing this summer.
Yeeeehawwww!
These are great folks.

The difficulty will be trying remember all the names. Sometimes hard to recall faces when everyone you meet is geared up in winter attire.
The car shuttle worked fine.
We started at the trail head at Marias Pass. Going that way makes it a about 450ft gain and 1000ft loss back to the road.
The other trailhead is between MP193-194, 2nd pullout on the right after MP193.

The day turned out pretty much as forecast.
Snowing lightly early from Paola Creek to Marias Pass.
Cleared up though before we began. Chilly, right at freezing but with a brisk breeze. Wasn't bad once we got in the trees.

The views were awesome once we got out in the open. The air was cold and clear
The beginning was a gradual climb up some 450ft over about 3 miles I think it was.
We stopped in a clearing around that time to snack and take a break.
Fun time chatting with some of the others.

The snow so far had been pretty firm. Some post holing but not a lot.
And so I figured going downhill back to the trail head would be a snap.
Well it didn't exactly turn out that way the last mile or so.

I had fallen 2-3 times up to then.
Post hole, lost my balance. I felt stupid until I saw just about everyone else falling like I did.
And then it got worse. It seemed like there were long stretches where every 3rd step I would go to my knee(s) in snow.

The worst of my falls turned into a comedy of sorts. The gal in front of me fell. And so as I stepped forward to help her up--I fell.
And I got all tangled up in my long legs. My snowshoes were stuck in the snow in an awkward position.
At first, I tried putting both a tick and my hand down to try to lever myself up.
Trouble was the snow was soft and way deeper than my stick would reach with the pressure I was putting on it.
Same deal when I put my arm down to push with; it disappeared down to my shoulder in the snow!! LOLOLOL!
I ended up rolling on my back and my "Dragons Tail friend" got planted and gave me a hand up.

There were a couple stretches in the woods near the end where you did need to step with care.
The snow was fairly steep and falling might not have ended well.
Fortunately the snow was soft enough I doubt you'd go far. Tumbling into a tree would hurt though.

Told ya I was the true "rookie" in the group!

pete



Here are some pictures. I have video but it won't be ready for a couple days.

Early morning driving over



Starting out


Not far along you get this view of Little Dog and Summit mt(I think)


There were a half dozen creek crossings.


Nice mountain views when the trees opened up. I didn't mind the trees. Kept the wind down.


Break time and a look up at the view



Trekking onward!


I believe this is Elk Mt.


Pano shot


Out in the open heading roughly SW


I was surprised that the grizzly bears are out this early up this high, but clearly they are. I believe these early bears are the big boars. Sows stay with cubs longer. These tracks were recent too, else the recent weather would have covered them


Good Grief! What a kind of ****eatin' grin is that?


Last look at Little Dog( I think), the pointy, snowy peak in the distance.


Crossing the RR tracks about 1/4 mile from TH


The end. Trip took just undedr 4 hours. 6.16 miles on my GPS. 2:00 moving 1:55 stopped. Moving avg was pretty good, at least for me. at 2.9mph.

[Jen]

GMS is hurting for climb coordinators for this summer. You should definitely sign up! I might coordinate something once I get my full plan in place!

[Jen]

No, I definitely meant actually coordinate a hike! Didn't anyone hit you up today? They really need to get more hikes on the summer schedule. As I understand it, It does not need to be an actual summit either. "Family friendly" hikes are always appreciated. DO IT!

[teapot57]

Looks like you had a great trek, Pete, with lots of laughs thrown in for good measure!

Postholing is pretty typical this time of year. You'd think the snowshoes would prevent it but if the snow is soft enough . . . down you go. The last time I went with my husband, he punched all the way through to the top of his thigh, and he's 6'2". Then his snowshoe was preventing him from being able to pull his leg out of the snow. It took two grown men to pull him out while I stood there and took photos and had a good laugh.




I love the photo of the bear tracks.

I'm with Jen-- coordinate a hike! You'd be great.

[PeteE]

Hey Tina!!
Well now I don't feel so bad.
You're right about the soft snow. It's a helpless feeling when you're flailing about trying to get some "leverage" to stand up!
It was fun though. I guess it's mean to say, but I did feel a little better when I saw some pretty experienced people go down in the snow.
Just part of the game huh?

No, I definitely meant actually coordinate a hike! Didn't anyone hit you up today? They really need to get more hikes on the summer schedule. As I understand it, It does not need to be an actual summit either. "Family friendly" hikes are always appreciated. DO IT!

Hi Jen!

No, nobody said anything about a shortage of coordinators. Those folks had never laid eyes on me before.
So I wouldn't have expected anything like that. I also didn't realize they do "family friendly hikes".
What's a family friendly hike? It'd have to be a hike I'm familiar with.
Would something like the "walk up" route I've done 3 times to Piegan's summit qualify?
Or do they do some of the "regular day hikes" listed for the park?

I may not sign up for anything for myself this year.
I always worry about holding people up on a group hike, even a group of two... and that would be especially so with a GMS group.
Someone always has to be last. I know that. But it's really a bummer and embarrassing to always be the one everyone's waiting on.
The GMS week schedule won't be set for a while yet. I'll have to give it some thought---and whip myself into better shape.

Thanks for the info. I'll ask one of yesterday's event coordinators who lives in Kalispell about it.
I know where he works.

pete

[Jen]

Pete,
The Sunday of GMS week is always family day. Something like Shangrila would be perfect! Just think on that.

[PeteE]

Pete,
The Sunday of GMS week is always family day. Something like Shangrila would be perfect! Just think on that.

Hi Jen
I decided to wait and volunteer later on. I didn't want to make a commitment that I may not have been able to keep.

Headed out to Polebridge after I finish typing. Nice Spring day. I haven't been out there since Thanksgiving.
No hiking though. I fell off my utility trailer Friday. Left calf got a nasty big bruise. A couple nice abrasions in my old, candy-ass skin
Hurt like a merfer but...
Could have been worse.
I came close to snapping my tibia as I fell off backwards, across the trailers side, the side acting like a "fulcrum".
My foot was hung up under my snowblower.
Long arms saved me once more! And you don't want to see pics of my leg or my hand.

Later.
Nice now. Hopefully it won't cloud up too much. Afternoon is better light out there for what I want.

pete

[PeteE]

Hey Doug:

It was nice when I first got out there with blue skies and nice clouds.
Then the clouds moved in though before I got any decent pics.
Had I gone up on Glacier view ridge when I first got there, I may have had better luck.
But I was hungry and drove on to Polebridge after a brief stop and these pics.
The Merc had ONE hot pocket meat ball sandwich left and not many pastries when I arrived at 2:15PM.
So I ate the meatball sandwich and drove on back to Glacier View Peak. By the time I got back there, the sky had gone pale and clouds were moving in.
I said to heck with my leg and hiked up about 1/2 mile and 500ft vertically because I was there.
And while I was on a little rock outcropping that I take pics from, Chris Peterson and his son hiked by on their way down.
I saw them out here on Glacier View Peak last year in the same place !!
The sky turned grey/blue and washed out, so I came down.
On the way home, I stopped at the casino for coffee and found two TICKS and I HATE ticks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glacier View Ridge used to be fun to hike. Every year the ticks seem to have both gotten worse and come out earlier

Here's a few pics from the day.

Nice when I got to the Camas Rd bridge



Private land on the way to Polebridge.


Around The Merc






I have a few more from up on Glacier View Ridge I'll post later , but nothing great.
I have a bit of video too.

later

pete

[mattB]

Great Pictures Pete!!! I'm loving the running reports, and the "sh%$#-eating" grin was great!! That must have been a fun outing, at least based on that smile!!

What is the Lunch Creek route to Piegan Mtn like? Is it a pure bushwack? Or is it an old abandonded route?

[PeteE]

Great Pictures Pete!!! I'm loving the running reports, and the "sh%$#-eating" grin was great!! That must have been a fun outing, at least based on that smile!!

What is the Lunch Creek route to Piegan Mtn like? Is it a pure bushwack? Or is it an old abandonded route?

Hey Matt:

Thanks for the compliment. I like doing the ongoing report
I'm going to check with "Boss lady" today to see if I can go to the East Side tomorrow. It's snowing there now.
Maybe get some pics for everyone to look at.

The Lunch Creek route is really the primary route to the summit for most people.
It's half the distance and less elevation gain/loss compared to the way I've been going via Piegan pass from Siyeh bend.

I've looked at the way up from Lunch Creek a 100 times from below. It's pretty straight forward.
I guess technically it's a bushwhack, but everything is right in front of you. No trees or anything to inhibit view.
Once you get through the ledges at the beginning, you just have to traverse far enough to the south to get around the upper cliff bands.
There's a couple class III routes through the ledges for folks who can do them. Then it's just a "steep walk" up.
It just looked too steep, but in retrospect, I believe I can do it.
I'm going to try it because if I can summit Piegan using that route, maybe I'll have enough confidence to do something harder

You coming down when the road opens?

cheers

pete

Maybe my lil friend will photobomb me again going up there. His sharp lil claws gave me goose bumps.

[PeteE]

I did make it to the East Side today.
Got off a bit late. Work raised its ugly head.
Had to get on my knees to top off a couple tires on boss man's big trailer.
It's 10pm and I'm tired so I'll put a few pics up and a link to all of them.

Most are just "snaps" to show what it looks like over there right now---in a word---beautiful.
Approaching the Rocky Mountain Front from the East--as early visitors did--is an incredible sight in late spring.
It's easy to see how the name "Crown of the Continent" came about when you see the endless stretch of jagged snow capped peaks.

I'll have a little more written report tomorrow. The video may take a while yet.
I'm trying a new editor to make videos look better.

pete

Marias Pass this morning on the way over.


"Pie For Strength" is the motto everywhere over here


The tunnel under the tracks has some WORLD CLASS potholes right now


East Glacier Village is beginning to show a few signs of life but still snowed in.












Leaving East Glacier for Browning.


After leaving Browning and heading towards Kiowa Junction on US 89.


If I can't get a road out of a picture easily, then I try to at least make it an interesting part of the picture. There would be some great views from the road were it not for the power lines






Between Kiowa Junction and St Mary








I think that is White Calf Mtn. Divide is just out of the frame on the right. The wind was whipping as you can see. I almost missed the airplane heading south.



Looking towards upper St Mary Lake in these next few. The lake is barely visible here in center frame.


Another road shot East Flattop and Otokomi on the right overlook the Rising Sun area. I think that is Goat Mtn over on the left of those two.
It has a small cirque on top of it?


Fussillade is the "knife edge" looking mountain at center frame. Part of the Dragons Tail on the right.


Lower St Mary Lake still partially frozen over.


I like these. Fusillade is dead center for reference.





Zoomed in. Looks like they still have a wee bit of snow up towards Gunsight Lake


Turning left from the above pic and looking more SW


The wind was really blowing hard. The snow coming off East Flattop in this shot looked like a "water fall" in the video


I would like to do Divide this year.


More road show as I was leaving St Mary




Looking east over a small wet land


Firebrand Pass--decent food in the middle of nowhere