August 20: Glacier National Park, West

August 20

We're up early but we still miss the second express shuttle and wait for the third at 7:36 am.  The shuttle buses are free but only hold 15 passengers and the express goes right up to the top, Logan's Pass.  The fires have gotten worse and the smoke in the air makes it harder to breathe.  Check out "the red rubber ball", also known as the sun at 8:50 am.

Clements Mtn as we head up to Hidden Lake.

See the little bird, only 3' away

Wildflowers next to the path

Where water is found, more flowers

There's this huge rock in our path.

Hidden lake below Bearhat Mtn

Directly behind us as we look at Hidden lake

As we look around from the observation deck, we see six mountain goats, two mommas, a teenager, a set of twins and a little one.  They head towards us, cross the path, back across, no, wait, cross again and walk the path, eat the tops of flowers, go across the waterfall, and finally cross over the slide rock and disappear.

We see this little ground squirrel, darting right next to the path, stops, pulls the flower heads down, and then eats the seeds.  Not afraid at all!

Since that was only a 3 mile hike, we decide to do one more over to Avalanche Gorge.

And on to Avalanche Lake.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

Lots of trees, standing and on the ground.

Waterfalls coming into the lake

The lake.  A nice beach with at least 75 people

This was a 6 mile hike with a 500' elevation.  We say goodbye to Glacier National Park.

Dinner is baby back ribs with coleslaw, baked beans, red baby potatoes and fry bread served with honey and butter; it's delicious!  Brown Ale and Moose Drool Brown Ale finish the feast.

August 19: Glacier National Park, East

August 19

We stayed in Saint Mary's last night and it was suggested that we head back to Babb and check out the Many Glacier area, the northeast section of the Glacier National Park.

We join a volunteer guide giving an interpretive walk along the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail.

SnowberryPearly Everlasting

Corn LilyBaneberry:  white & red berries

AsterFireweed, magenta flowers, then red pods that burst and have fluffy seeds that float up to 50'in the air

We learn that aspens grow in groves; each tree is connected by the roots to the others.  I believe it is in Utah that they have determined a grove is 80,000 years old despite two forest fires over the area.  Beavers love aspen trees; here is one cut down in the last two days.

 After felling the tree, they cut off the branches and drag them to their storage area.

Notice the stripped off bark; larger mammals eat bark too

We continue around the Swiftcurrent Lake to Josephine Lake.

 At the end of the Swiftcurrent Lake is the Many Glacier Lodge.

As we head back to our car, we hear this rustling and look up to see this beautiful black bear lumbering by us, then stopping to eat some berries.  The picture is isn't great but we did NOT get any closer to him; we basically froze and got the best shots we could.

We then get on the road known as "Going to the Sun" which is now open.  Several weeks ago there was a fire, caused by a backcountry camper who did not completely put out his campfire.  We cannot stop at any viewing centers but this is what we saw.

We go over Logan's Pass, the highest pass over the Continental Divide in Glacier.  We drive on a road with sheer cliffs on both sides.

There is a waterfall right above us.

Notice the smoke in the air; you should see more mountains in the distance.

Dinner is at local Chinese restaurant serving Pig's Ass Porter by Harvest Moon Brewery in Belt, Mt.

August 18: Waterton Lakes National Park

August 18

Today was a special day beginning with visiting the Bison Paddock.  Check out these babies!

Then the drive down Red Rock Parkway, “Where the Mountains Meet the Prairie” and follows the ancient Buffalo Trail used by first Nations hunting parties. 

We do the hike to Blakiston Falls

and the Red Rock Canyon Loop (1.6 miles).  As we walk, we see a chipmunk and two different kinds of squirrels. These red rocks are a deep maroon color.

Our next hike is only 1.8 miles long but goes up 738 feet giving us this spectacular view of Upper Waterton Lake.  The far end of the lake is actually Montana.  

Prince of Wales Hotel

Middle Waterton Lake

Upper Waterton Lake

We were on top of the Bear's Hump.

After that strenuous climb, we stop at Welch’s Chocolates, Ice Cream & Desserts for a double scoop of black cherry and tiger (orange with licorice swirls) ice cream.

Our final hike of the day is a 1.9 mile hike thru a “snow forest” beside a scenic subalpine lake.  A snow forest is just white pine trees that get a lot of snow that lasts until lake spring.  But it’s pretty and at the end of the lake, you can again see Montana.  The end of our trail is filled with grasses, berries and flowers and is known as the grizzly garden.  We do not (nor are we allowed to) go any further.  

 I can’t help but take another picture as we head back to the Prince of Wales Hotel.

Crest over the front door

Prince of Wales Hotel

inside the hotel

 Check out the view from the restaurant!

Leaving the park, we stop to view the Maskinonge Lake.

Our drive out of Alberta takes us by Chief Mountain.

Dinner is Montana beef burger followed by huckleberry pie!