Raven Travels: August 2014

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK (JUNE 16 - 22)

We had a full day of driving through more beautiful country. We are trying to stay off of Interstates and have been pretty successful. We did have to use the I-90 around the Butte, MT, area, but not for long. It rained on and off during the day. After driving 418 miles we stopped in Kalispell, MT, so that we could

have an early entry into Glacier N. P.

Well, the rains continued and the forecast was not favorable for tent camping so we hung out at the Hungry Horse Motel in Hungry Horse, MT for three nights. We still got out for some hiking but were able to return to dry out in the comfort of the Motel. One day we visited the Hungry Horse Dam. It was completed in 1952, and at the time was the highest cement dam in the U. S., at a height of 564 feet.

Town Statue of a Hungry Horse

One of two wrecking balls used to clear forest for construction of Dam

Hungry Horse Dam

Another day we hiked to Avalanche Lake. After all of the rain the trail was quite wet, and the forest lovely and green. I regrettably had decided to take along my long, 100 - 400 lens as well. This added weight was cumbersome, and I finally had to give my backpack to George in trade for his fanny pack. I think part of the problems was that for the two weeks in Yellowstone I did no hiking as we were just jumping in and out of the car for photo ops. There were many waterfalls to see and a few to photograph today.

We do not see lichen like this in So. California

Orange Honeysuckle

Misty Slope

Happy Hikers

Many Falls

Mist and Falls

Clouds over Avalanche Lake

Kids and Water

Green

Beargrass

On the 20th we headed for the East Side of the Park, and established camp at Two Medicine which is located on the Southeast side of the Park. The Going to the Sun Highway was still closed due to snow so we had to drive around the Southern perimeter of the Park. It was a lovely drive and paralleled the railroad line. We found a very nice campsite and established our camp before taking a hike to Aster Park which climbed a bit and gave us a great view of the Two Medicine Lakes area. It was a very pleasant hike and we saw lots of wildflowers, but little wildlife.

Most of our camping gear is packed in a soft sided Thule car top carrier. It appears quite waterproof, but we were fooled. Either we had not zipped it up and covered the zippers properly or the seams need some sealing. When we unpacked to set up camp, there were a number of wet items including sleeping bags, air mattresses and pillows. We had a very dry morning so it did not take long for all to dry out, and we were ready for our adventures. We decided that when we get to Vancouver we would get some seam sealer and apply it to the seams of the carrier.

Smoking Mountain

Chickweed

Fast Water on Paradise Creek

Meadowrue

Shooting Star

Tour boat on Two Medicine Lake

We have decided to stay camped here for three nights and enjoy the countryside and good weather. We hiked to the Paradise Creek Crossing on the Rockwell Falls Trail. At that point the trail got very wet, and there was beginning to be snow pack so we stopped and enjoyed our lunch along Paradise Creek. On the way back we took the short trail to Paradise Point which juts out into Two Medicine Lake and gives a very nice view of the Lake. There actually is a tour boat that one can take to cruise on the Lake which we did not do.

Our last day at Glacier we took a hike up to Scenic Point which is 3 miles up with an elevation gain of about 2350 feet. It was up all the way, but scenic at every switchback. We did see some big horn sheep in the distance across a small valley on this hike. Close to the bottom we met two bighorn sheep walking up the trail toward us. That was quite a thrill. No time for a photo though!! Afterwards we ended up buying another flower book, “Wildflowers of Glacier National Park”!! It was worth it, and we already have put it to good use.

Blue Camas

Yellow Columbine

Tree Sculpture

Silky Phacelia

A Grand View

Small Stream

Ground Squirrel

We certainly enjoyed our stay in the Glacier area, and hopefully will get back to it. It was a lovely time, even with the rain. It was too bad that the Going To The Sun Highway was still closed, but that is another compelling reason to return.

While visiting with our daughter, Klara, in Ashton, Idaho, in mid-June we visited this beautiful State Park which was donated to the state of Idaho by Harriman Family. The Harrimans were a railroad family. Averell Harriman was Governor of New York, and a diplomat spanning about 30 years for four presidents, starting in the 1940's.

The park still makes use of the buildings that the Harrimans built for their working ranch. It is a wonderful place to hike, camp, cross-country ski, and watch nature. There is a large population of elk, moose, and bear, as well as trumpeter swan, eagles, and sandhill cranes.

We went to the Park early in quest of seeing moose. We were quite successful. We saw a moose cow across a lake along the shore. After a short hike we came across a cow moose and her probably one year
old calf. They were pretty photogenic though the were busy browsing on lots of willow in the area. Our next wildlife encounter was with a small squirrel who also was pretty cooperative.

When we got to the actual ranch buildings we could see that a storm was brewing. Klara assessed the weather and said we could have rain in roughly 30 minutes. As we did not have our rain gear we decided
to "boogie" back to our car which was about a mile and a half away. We made it just as large drops of rain and hail started to fall.

We then headed for a brunch stop at the Trout Hunter in Island Park. We enjoyed a delightful lunch while watching fishermen working the Henry’s Fork River just about a hundred yards away in the rain.