Highline Trail to Haystack Butte Glacier National Park August 3, 2010

The Highline Trail starts just across the road from here.  A fellow road biking from Portland Oregon to New Jersey took this photo.  I thought I was being adventurous!  That pea soup affect was still taking place but I didn't care, at an elevation point of 2025 meters on the Continental Divide, I felt like I was on top of the world!

I will admit, along this portion of the trail, I held onto the garden hose which is secured to the mountain.  I could only see a few feet in any direction and it was the freakiest feeling.  I was feeling something.  It wasn't vertigo or fright or dizzy or scared!  Not sure what it was! 

Past that rocky section, it opened up and I could see further.  I still couldn't see mountains, even though I was on one, I couldn't see it.  There were a few other brave souls along the trail and we took turns taking photos of each other.

That is Haystack Butte, at least I could see it and made my way to the base of it.  That was about as far as it was safe to go without taking a chance of a bear encounter.  I stopped for a very late lunch with some other folks here.

After the late lunch, I worked my way up a portion of Haystack Butte.   It was easy to climb and was actually pretty up there.  It was very rocky and very green with lots of wild flowers.  This would be about as high as I got today, so placed a summit stone.  I hope whoever finds this stone, will feel joy!

There was lots of joy to be found today!  For those driving the Going-To-The-Sun-Road below me, the line up of cars wasn't all that bad.

The Highline Trail paralleles The Garden Wall and it lived up to its name with lots of pretty flowers.

Just in case, I did make lots of noise as I came to blind corners along the trail.  That didn't make any difference to this mountain goat, it was just going to continue on its merry way.  I wish it would have warned me so that I wouldn't have jumped when I came upon it.

Round trip for the hike to Haystack Butte was about 13km.  That added to the 8.5km along The Hidden Lake trail was enough for today.   I still had to drive back to St. Mary to get some groceries and then drive to the Swift Current Motor Inn where I was staying the night.  The construction delay at Siyeh Bend was longer on the return trip.  I also encountered two delays along the mile between the Many Glacier Hotel and the Swift Current Motor Inn, one was due to road paving and the other due to a mom grizzly and her two cubs crossing the road.  I was thankful to finally lay my head on the pillow for the night.  This was a packed full first day!

Hidden Lake, Glacier National Park Montana August 3, 2010

I left Calgary at 6:45am and arrived at the Logan Pass Visitor Centre at 10:45am.  I had the highway to myself, the Carway/Piegan Border Crossing to myself and construction delay at the Siyeh Bend was only 5 minutes.  I checked in with a Ranger at the Visitor Centre to get some questions answered first.  She told only a portion of the Highline Trail was open and that everything in the Many Glacier area was closed, all due to bears enjoying their territory.  Hidden Lake was opened, and I wanted to hike so off I went.   Before I headed out,  I heard a young girl say "it looks like pea soup here!"

This was the sign at the trailhead.  No worries for me, been there done that snow thing!

I could see silhouettes ahead so knew others were out there.  I knew there were mountains around too but couldn't see those. 

This was about as bad as it got!  No steep snowfields or hazardous snow, well, not for me but for those from places that never get snow and there were a few of those, I could tell this was an extreme adventure.

When it was important to be clear, it was!  Hidden Lake was visible and it looked beautiful.  The blues and greens were vibrant.  I was full of energy so headed down to the Lake even though I knew it would be a climb back up.  Things were looking up!  At least I could see the Lake.

There were no majestic mountains to see but there was majestic!  The Hidden Lake trail is famous for its mountain goats and marmots.

I spent a few minutes at the Lake and placed a stone.  I felt like I was exploring on this trip alone to Glacier National Park and I hoped to grow from it. 

The round trip distance for this hike was 8.5km.  It didn't feel like enough yet.  I went inside the Visitor Centre where a fire was roaring in the fireplace.  I warmed up for a few minutes before heading out the door again.  I just had to take a picture of getting warm by a fire place in early August!

While, I was in the area, I may as well do as much of The Highline Trail as is safe to do without coming across the bear play area.  Even though it is still just mid afternoon of my first day here, I am well into vacation mode feeling!

Just Go The Distance

If you go the distance (driving and hiking) you will be rewarded at the golden level!  We crossed the border into Yoho National Park in British Columbia.  Here we go, crossing the border again to hike for the day!  We parked just across the highway from Wapta Lake at the Wapta Lake Picnic Area.  

Only three kilometers into the hike, we came upon Sherbrooke Lake which was a TEASE of what was to come.  The clear sky and calm water created picture perfect reflections.  There is something about me and reflections! I even think reflections can be prettier then the actual thing.

TEASE

We followed the lake shore for quite some time where we got a TASTE of the many beautiful and unusual things one sees in the mountain wilderness.  If you keep your eyes wide open and be aware of everything around you, you will find a feast that will fill you.

TASTE

What we thought at first to be Niles Meadow was only the Amphitheatre.  The lush green landscape with the creek running through it all surrounded by mountain after mountain will only TANTALIZE you.  You are left wondering if the Amphitheatre looks like this, what on earth could the actual, real Meadow look like.  Well, let's go a little further and see!

TANTALIZE

We climbed to Niles Meadow and from there we had a great view ahead of mountains that were TEMPTING us.  We wanted to see the view they were blocking.  We needed to see what was on the other side and there was only one way that was going to happen.  We gave in to the temptation!

TEMPTING

We came this far, why not "just go the distance"!  We ascended an easy scramble route over a field of gigantic boulders which lead us to an overlook.  The golden reward!  The TOTAL PACKAGE!  We reached the Daly Glacier Overlook with the Daly Glacier being right behind me.  The melt from the Glacier forms this lake and then pours with a force down the side creating Takakkaw Falls.  The 3rd photo is one I took only a week ago when I hiked the Iceline Trail.  You can see the Daly Glacier up above and behind the falls.  Last weekend when I looked up and saw the Glacier, never in my wildest dreams could I ever even have imagined that I would be there one day!  "Adventure Designer!  You sure lived up to your name today"!

TOTAL PACKAGE 1 2 3 

I haven't been detailing my hikes as much as I use to through my blog.  Today's adventure was worthy of the total package.  It rated high on the "WOW" factor! It packed lots of punch!    It made me feel like I was "on top of the world"!

Iceline Trail Yoho National Park July 24, 2010

Yoho National Park is amazing!  Today we did the Iceline Trail which was about a 17km loop  with 720 meters of elevation.  There were waterfalls galore!  It is a fun thing to say you crossed the border into British Columbia to hike for the day!  We topped the day off by stopping in at the Lake Louise Hostel on the way home for a burger and beer.

Takakkawa Falls

Mountains Glaciers Waterfalls

Laughing Falls

Celeste Lake

So Far! So Good!

That is how my summer has been to this point in time!

The forecast for the balance of the summer even shows better, along with some growth!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!

Stay tuned!

Bike Ride July 18, 2010

After yesterday's hike and this morning's run, I still had a little energy to spend. The day was looking gorgeous so I went for a spin. The plan was to turn right at the bottom of the hill and I was prepared to, but when I reached the bottom of the hill I turned left instead. Not sure why! I was so thankful I did! My bike turned out to be the means to get me from one flower to the next. This is just a sample of the many wildflowers in bloom along the Nose Creek Pathway.

Old Goat Glacier July 17, 2010

If you are going to be in the mountains, today was the day to be there!  We hiked to Old Goat Glacier which is off the Smith Dorien Highway on the west side of Spray Lakes.    Pure sunshine, not a breeze, perfect temperature, thank you Mother Nature!  I like to say "the further, the higher, the greater the reward".  Today was not the furthest or the highest, yet the reward was up there, I would say in the Bronze category!  In my opinion though, any day in the mountains with friends is Golden!

Picklejar Lakes July 11, 2010

This was my second time to hike to the Picklejar Lakes.  The last time was October 2009 and we thought we saw three lakes.  As it turns out, at that time we saw two lakes and a pond.  Today we saw four big beautiful lakes!  On the return portion, we took a detour up a steep scree-like slope to Lineham Ridge.  WOW!  Some day I would like to hike the whole ridge!  

Plain of Six Glaciers Lookout July 9, 2010

I knew this one would be a safe hike to go on my own.  I didn't want to be around the tens of thousands of people in the city who are here for the Calgary Stampede but I can handle the hundreds of tourists who are here to see Lake Louise (if I get into the right frame of mind for it).  A handful only go on to the far point Lookout where you can see Abbot Pass and Abbot Hut.  The hike ends here....

...but starts here!  I love the color of the water in front of the Chateau!

Aylmer Lookout Bike & Hike July 3, 2010

This was my first ever bike/hike/bike! It was a whole new way to experience the mountains. I learned if I want to pursue this then I really should have a proper mountain bike. While I was able to complete the bike, I was at a slower pace then my friends and I had to walk and carry my bike at times when they motored on through rock fall.

After the hike, now ready to ride again!

View of Lake Minnewanka from Aylmer Lookout

Mount Allan July 1, 2010

What better place to celebrate Canada Day then on Centennial Ridge and Mount Allan. This was the most elevation I ever completed in one day at just under 1600 meters. Also, it was the longest hike time-wise ever at 11:30. I must mention though, this includes the time we took to have a potluck celebration just below the summit.