Wow - Glacier National Park

[Greg G]

Here at GNP and for this trip Going to the Sun Road is fully open. Amazing scenery. Here are just a few photos uploaded from hiking the Hidden Lake Overlook trail at Logan Pass.

 

[Greg G]

There was actually someone kayaking in the lake. That's a long treak to get your kayak down to the lake (and worse coming back up)

Greg

 

[LisaH]

Great Pictures! We are planning a trip there hopefully in summer of 2017. Where do you stay?

 

[Egret1986]

Great pics! Probably my favorite National Park that we've been to in our travels.

There was actually someone kayaking in the lake. That's a long treak to get your kayak down to the lake (and worse coming back up)

Greg

I love Montana!!!! There have definitely been some very close seconds, but this Park is a place I would love to return to in the future.

 

[Ricci]

We were there last September, it was stunning, although it was rather hazy because of the smoke from forest fires in Oregon.

 

[Lydlady]

I am planning on visiting Montana as DH's sister and her husband recently moved to that area. When is the best time to visit and for the Going to the Sun road to be fully open? I imagine it's a short season?

Edit to add: Great Pictures!

 

[DaveNV]

I told you you'd like it.

Dave

 

[Passepartout]

I came home a couple days ago and found one of these guys sunning himself on my front porch after gorging himself on apples. I knew we have had something living under a deck. (the dog went nuts there) At the zoo, they call 'em Golden Marmots. We call 'em Rock Chucks.

Jim

 

[Greg G]

Ok, may have spoken to soon. Just today they closed Going to the Sun Road from Logan pass to St Mary's due to a wild fire in the Rising Sun Area. Some 300 acre fire now. Upon entering the west side the park late today rangers indicated to me that they had closed travel to points east of Logan Pass but didn't indicate why at the time. I was going to take more pics today of points west of Logan Pass but I only got as far as the Tunnel as I was stopped by a ranger who indicated some one had rolled their vehicle just after the Tunnel. So I had to turn around (saw the ambulance pass me as I was going back down the mountain). At least we have till Friday on the West side then have 5 days on the east side. Staying in Whitefish at the Crestwood resort on the west side, and will be staying at St Mary's resort on the east side. Takes about 35 minutes to get from Crestwood to the West entrance of the park. Lydlady, when the Going to the Sun Road fully opens (i.e.able to travel its entire length) depends on the amount of snow they have to remove. This year the road fully opened around June 19th I think. Last year it was like July 2 or so due to much larger amounts of snow, which while not the latest opening date it still was pretty late in the year (I think July 23 may the latest date on record but not sure). So to be on the safe side I requested dates after July 10th for my exchange. This is in prime season so I lucked out in getting an exchange for July 17-24. They usually close the road around Sept 22 I think. Dave, yep you were right, I would like it.
Jim, if these are anything like a ground hog I imagine there are some pretty big holes somewhere.

Greg

 

[TUGBrian]

well those are some impressive pics!

 

[Greg G]

Thx for the comments on the pics. Well they've now closed Going to the Sun road from Big Bend (just after Weeping Wall) to St. Mary's. The fire is now estimated to be 2000 acres in size in the rising sun area. Per the press release today, "The fire is moving quickly in heavy timber with extreme spread potential. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning in effect from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. today for Glacier National Park. This warning means that critical fire weather conditions are anticipated, including strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures. These conditions may create explosive fire growth potential.... Park rangers and personnel are searching for backcountry hikers in the area to evacuate them and direct them to safety. The parking areas of the St. Mary Visitor Center and the Apgar Visitor Center have been established as gathering areas for park visitors that may have been separated from their group. The park is assisting visitors retrieve their vehicles that were left along the Going-to-the-Sun Road yesterday due to fire activity in the area. One vehicle was consumed by the fire. "
If you look at the St. Mary's webcam the mountains are blanketed by smoke. They are using the St. Mary's visitors center as a staging site for fire equipment. Per the press release "The St. Mary Campground is being evacuated. The campground has approximately 148 sites. The Rising Sun Motor Inn, operated by Glacier National Park Lodges, and the Rising Sun Campground were evacuated Tuesday evening. "

So I decided to cancel my St Mary lodge 4 night stay and extend my stay in Whitefish as I didn't want to scramble at the last minute to find lodging in case they ended up having to evacuate St. Mary lodge. If they do open the east side by Friday or so, I can still get to the points of interest I wanted to on the east side of Going to the Sun road albeit a longer drive from the west side to get to them. Oh well.

Greg

 

[DaveHenry]

Should have gone to the Sun on Tuesday also

We're also at GNP. We were planning to take Going to the Sun Road on Tuesday, but my 12-year old son's attitude changed our plans to Thursday. It looks as though we have missed our opportunity, unless somehow they get the road open before Saturday . . .

 

[LisaH]

Oh no. Can't believe all of a sudden so much has happened. I wish both of you well and please stay safe.

 

[PassionForTravel]

We were there about a week ago. Stayed at Meadow Lake in Columbia Falls. Tried to hike two days from Logans pass and it was to cold (high 40's and a wind) so one day we hiked on the west side down by McDonald Lake and. the next day we hiked on the east side at Two Medicine. Both good hikes but would have liked to do some from Logans Pass.

Ian

 

[Laurie]

Please keep us posted, with news and pictures. Thanks.

 

[Greg G]

No change on Going to the Sun road status. Still closed from Big Bend to St. Mary. We drove over to Two Medicine today and hiked to Astor Falls. Beautiful area. Dave Henry, where are you staying at/around GNP? The main things I wanted to see from the east side were points east of Logan pass, Many Glacier, and if time permitted , Two Medicine. I'm definitely going to Many Glacier for a day to do the Grinnel Lake trail to make it all the way to the lake this time. Ian, yeah it can be cold at time at Logan Pass.

 

[Timeshare Von]

I did a "long (4 day) weekend" to Glacier NP last September. My friend and I stayed at the Snyder Hall at Lake McDonald and loved it.

We were fortunate to see a grizzly bear in the distance near Going to the Sun Mountain, some goats near Logan Pass and this pretty big horn that ran right in front of our car.

If you go, be sure to include a day to visit the Canadian side of the park. It was a delightful day trip, in spite of crummy weather.

 

[suzanne]

Beautiful photos. Been watching the fires on the news. Please stay safe.

Suzanne

 

[Ricci]

Glacier Park grizzly

Attached pic was taken last September on the east side, not too far from the roadway.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Attached pic was taken last September on the east side, not too far from the roadway.

That's a great sighting & photo! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Greg G]

Ricci, nice shot. Fall colors really add a nice background. Was that in the Many Glacier area? So far I've only seen bears way off in the distance. Timeshare Von, unfortunately it's looking more like Logan Pass won't open back up this trip. Went up to Big Bend today and they even had the trail up the slope closed off as well.

Greg

 

[skimble]

In no way diminishing the beauty of GNP....
If you think it's beautiful, drive 5 more hours north to seek the Icefields Parkway in Banff. Drive through Kananaskis up to Jasper. It's probably the most scenic drive in the world.

 

[PassionForTravel]

We just did that drive this year. Left Canmore early in the morning. Did the snowcat out onto the Glacier mid morning. Then on to Jasper before returning to Lake Louise and then Canmore. A long day 7a till about 10pm. But with the super long days this time of year it was great.

Ian

 

[Ricci]

Here's another pic..... he was not far from Rte. 3 in the Many Glacier Area. I can't remember exactly where, but the lake was not visible from where we stopped for the picture. He was about 150 feet from the road when we first saw him......he then traveled to about 25 feet from the road.

 

[Greg G]

Ricci, you really have good luck in spotting bears.

So I drove from Whitefish to Many glacier early yesterday to do the Grinnel lake trail hike. There as a slight rain along the hike for a short period of time so I got to try out my makeshift backpack rain cover which was a black garbage bag which I had folded in half and duct taped to make it more the size of my backpack. I made this because I forgot to pack the two brand new rain covers I bought for the trip (arghh). Lucky it didn't rain much and the makeshift rain cover held up for the time I needed it. Lake area and falls at the end of the lake were pretty for an overcast day. Since I had read that the Lake color looks much better when viewed from above I had also planned on hiking up a portion of the Grinnel Glacier trail. So I did that and the views of the lake are spectacular (pictures to follow). Well I kept going up the trail a little further to get more pictures of the lake and got to talking with some other hikers who said "you have to go up to the glacier to see it and the iceberg lake there". Well I was really hesitant as that is a moderately strenuous hike and I wasn't sure I could do it as I only started hiking last year. But I'm glad I did decided to go for it and was greeted with stunning views. The sun had also finally come out making things even more beautiful. Also along the way I encountered a mountain goat right on the trail and got shots of a Big Horn ram. Man was I tired after that 12 mile 1600 ft elevation hike.

Greg