There is nothing like snowshoeing in Glacier National Park on a crisp winter day with sunshine glistening off the snow to force all the gunk out of your lungs and make your muscles feel fantastic.
I've been sick for a couple of days, just a cold I think but I felt pretty good yesterday (the cold medicine helped) and decided to get out and do a little snowshoeing. It felt amazing! My lungs weren't up to going a great distance but the trail we completed was wonderful: great snow, beautiful sunshine, awesome lake and a yummy lunch of homemade pizza as a reward.
My one lesson from yesterday, when you have an open blister on your heel, be careful how you hop into a hot shower - wow, that hurt like hell!
Showing posts with label Glacier National Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glacier National Park. Show all posts
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Monday, December 15, 2008
Oooh baby, it's cold outside...
Woo hoo! Over the weekend we got snow. And more snow. And even more snow. It's not too deep in town but the drive to the office Christmas party of Friday night was interesting and the snow kept on a coming. You know what that means, right? 
Hehe, it's time for snowshoeing in Glacier Park, woo hoo!
Any outside activity right now requires lots of layers because as you can see by that little temperature gauge down to the right - go ahead and look, I'll wait - it is DAMN cold! Still I am so excited that it's finally snowshoeing time.
Grab your gear, grab your thermos full of hot chocolate and Brandy and let's go!!
Hehe, it's time for snowshoeing in Glacier Park, woo hoo!Any outside activity right now requires lots of layers because as you can see by that little temperature gauge down to the right - go ahead and look, I'll wait - it is DAMN cold! Still I am so excited that it's finally snowshoeing time.
Grab your gear, grab your thermos full of hot chocolate and Brandy and let's go!!
☮
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Why is it among the most glacial mountain peaks I find the greatest warmth?
Another beautiful weekend spent in Glacier Park. Moose and I drove up to stay at the cabin we rented at Stanton Creek Lodge. After a long drive we were both eager to stay in a cabin surrounded by snow and wilderness and just have some time to relax. Imagine our surprise when we arrived to see this...
The lodge was completed snowed in. Nothing had been plowed, there was no way in and over 2 feet of undisturbed snow rested on the roof of each cabin. There wasn't even a place to park the car other than the side of the road. We decided to drive back to West Glacier where we had cell service and call the National Park Service reservation desk. The kind ladies informed us that the owners of the lodge were in Florida. It was so considerate of someone to inform us that we wouldn't be able to stay at the place where we had confirmed reservations.
Undaunted by this predicament we pressed on and the park service managed to reserve us other accommodations - at the Super 8 in Columbia Falls. Not exactly the cabin we'd had in mind with access to snowshoeing right outside the door but oh well, it was warm and dry.
The next day was spent snowshoeing in Glacier Park. The snow was clean and white, the sun was bright and it turned out to be a beautiful day.
Before we left Glacier we walked down to Lake McDonald for some photo ops and trail lunch.
Our last day began early with a drive to Missoula so Moose could get inked.
There were a few minor set backs and a few disappointments but the good definitely out weighed the bad and overall we had a great time.
The lodge was completed snowed in. Nothing had been plowed, there was no way in and over 2 feet of undisturbed snow rested on the roof of each cabin. There wasn't even a place to park the car other than the side of the road. We decided to drive back to West Glacier where we had cell service and call the National Park Service reservation desk. The kind ladies informed us that the owners of the lodge were in Florida. It was so considerate of someone to inform us that we wouldn't be able to stay at the place where we had confirmed reservations.
Undaunted by this predicament we pressed on and the park service managed to reserve us other accommodations - at the Super 8 in Columbia Falls. Not exactly the cabin we'd had in mind with access to snowshoeing right outside the door but oh well, it was warm and dry.
The next day was spent snowshoeing in Glacier Park. The snow was clean and white, the sun was bright and it turned out to be a beautiful day.
Before we left Glacier we walked down to Lake McDonald for some photo ops and trail lunch.
Our last day began early with a drive to Missoula so Moose could get inked.
There were a few minor set backs and a few disappointments but the good definitely out weighed the bad and overall we had a great time.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Monday, July 09, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Friday, October 06, 2006
Do you see why I love it so much?
May the sun bring you new energies by day, may the moon softly restore you by night,
may the rain wash away any worries you may have. May gentle breezes refresh your soul
and all the days of your life, may you walk gently through the world and know its beauty.
Indian paintbrush and Mount Reynolds
Indian paintbrush
Bear grass
Heavy Runner Mountain
Granite Park Trail
Fireweed and Bird Woman Cirque
Monkey flowers with Mount Clement in the background
Going-to-the-Sun Mountain
Single Shot Mountain named for George Bird Grinnell's taking of a sheep with a single shot.(photos by Robert Zavadil)
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
You didn't wear sunscreen?
Nope!
Went hiking in Glacier Park last weekend and didn't wear sunscreen! That night I almost glowed in the dark so this is a day out. I had to get that first burn on my arms and shoulders over with though.
(Check out the great Glacier photos below, they are the real attraction)
(Check out the great Glacier photos below, they are the real attraction)
Happy HNT kids, play nice ;)
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Marmots and ninny goats and moose, oh my!
I had a great opportunity to spend some time in Glacier National Park last weekend, hiking to the Granite Park Chalet. (click on the images to get a better view)
What an incredible hike! We got a very early start and got to see the sunrise over Glacier.
And the ninny goats were out on the trail to meet and greet us. (yes, I know they aren't really called ninny goats but work with me people).
Isn't he cute and all mugging for the camera.
We had beautiful scenery for the entire hike. When you are there it's easy to think it can't possibly get any better.
And we met another marmot along the trail. This one was much friendlier than the one I encountered at Sperry Chalet and stopped to pose for pictures. He was just the cutest thing.
After about 4 hours of hiking we made it to Granite Park Chalet - totally worth every step.
The views from the chalet really have to be experienced. It is a long hike but so worth the effort.
The wildflowers were in bloom all over the hillside. That was definitely a cool experience walking through a carpet of wildflowers.
And we got to see Rachel flowers (shut up, I liked them and so that's what they were called).
I got to see the remnants of a glacier for the first time and learned a lesson on firsts - case of beer was it?
A beautiful view of the lakes below - that's where we're headed.
On the hike down we saw ripples in one of the lakes below and got out the binoculars. A moose was swimming across the lake, keeping cool from the hot day. Further down on the trail we got another view of a moose wading around in one of the lakes we passed. Another first, but not for me this time.
We saw many waterfalls along the way but I liked this little one the best I think because of the great colors in the water and the fact that it made this really cool swimming hole.
The last falls we saw along the trail down. Off to the right of this photo the water falls over a series of rock steps. There were a couple of young guys climbing which looked like fun but at this point my feet wanted to go down, not up.
Remember the lakes from back up the trail? This is the last of them and it was time to strip down and jump in (no, I do not have pictures of me skinny-dipping in my underwear but some little Japanese tourist does).
All in all it was a fabulous hike, I had a great time and can't wait to go again, whether it be this hike or another, I'm ready!
Moose, I'm looking forward to next weekend, can't wait to see you!
What an incredible hike! We got a very early start and got to see the sunrise over Glacier.
And the ninny goats were out on the trail to meet and greet us. (yes, I know they aren't really called ninny goats but work with me people).
Isn't he cute and all mugging for the camera.We had beautiful scenery for the entire hike. When you are there it's easy to think it can't possibly get any better.
And we met another marmot along the trail. This one was much friendlier than the one I encountered at Sperry Chalet and stopped to pose for pictures. He was just the cutest thing.
After about 4 hours of hiking we made it to Granite Park Chalet - totally worth every step.
The views from the chalet really have to be experienced. It is a long hike but so worth the effort.
The wildflowers were in bloom all over the hillside. That was definitely a cool experience walking through a carpet of wildflowers.
And we got to see Rachel flowers (shut up, I liked them and so that's what they were called).
I got to see the remnants of a glacier for the first time and learned a lesson on firsts - case of beer was it?
A beautiful view of the lakes below - that's where we're headed.On the hike down we saw ripples in one of the lakes below and got out the binoculars. A moose was swimming across the lake, keeping cool from the hot day. Further down on the trail we got another view of a moose wading around in one of the lakes we passed. Another first, but not for me this time.
We saw many waterfalls along the way but I liked this little one the best I think because of the great colors in the water and the fact that it made this really cool swimming hole.
The last falls we saw along the trail down. Off to the right of this photo the water falls over a series of rock steps. There were a couple of young guys climbing which looked like fun but at this point my feet wanted to go down, not up.
Remember the lakes from back up the trail? This is the last of them and it was time to strip down and jump in (no, I do not have pictures of me skinny-dipping in my underwear but some little Japanese tourist does).All in all it was a fabulous hike, I had a great time and can't wait to go again, whether it be this hike or another, I'm ready!
Moose, I'm looking forward to next weekend, can't wait to see you!
Monday, June 19, 2006
Sperry Chalet
I got the chance to go hiking this past weekend in Glacier National Park to Sperry Chalet.
It was my first time hiking the Sperry Trail, my first time to the chalet and what a great experience. The hike was fabulous, all 13.2 miles of it.
Glacier Park is one of my favorite places and once again it didn't disappoint. The views were amazing and I got to see a part of Glacier that I've never seen before.
It was my first time hiking the Sperry Trail, my first time to the chalet and what a great experience. The hike was fabulous, all 13.2 miles of it.
Glacier Park is one of my favorite places and once again it didn't disappoint. The views were amazing and I got to see a part of Glacier that I've never seen before.
Beaver Chief Falls
It was incredible to see Glacier in a way that many people don't. Tourists often come to Glacier and drive through but there really is so much more to the park that I now can't wait to explore.
The last bridge before the chalet. We crossed some snow on the trail before this point but not that much. This is where the snow got interesting.
My first view of the chalet
Check out the view from this back yard
Amazing from every angle
A marmot that paid a visit as well
The return trip was very exciting. About 1/3 of the way down the trail we noticed a marmot starting to squeal and thought it was making noise because of us. It turned out that marmot had another reason for squealing.
We were on a very rocky section of the trail so I was busy paying attention to where I was planting my feet when I get this sharp tug on my pack and hear "STOP!"
The two grizzlies on the trail ahead of us scattered, one going down and one heading up hill. I didn't manage to take the photos since I very quickly went for the bear spray (not gonna mess with the bears). Fortunately he got some pretty good shots as they made their way back to the trail. We decided to move back up and give the bears their space. About 10 minutes later we were able to move along down the trail.
The rest of the hike down was beautiful and we managed to avoid any more grizzlies. We did however, get to see a cute fawn barely able to walk. It was definitely an "awwww" moment.
It was an amazing trip and I loved every minute of it!
(Interesting article on MSNBC re. Glacier National Park and parks in general.)
It was incredible to see Glacier in a way that many people don't. Tourists often come to Glacier and drive through but there really is so much more to the park that I now can't wait to explore.
The last bridge before the chalet. We crossed some snow on the trail before this point but not that much. This is where the snow got interesting.
My first view of the chalet
Check out the view from this back yard
Amazing from every angle
A marmot that paid a visit as wellThe return trip was very exciting. About 1/3 of the way down the trail we noticed a marmot starting to squeal and thought it was making noise because of us. It turned out that marmot had another reason for squealing.
We were on a very rocky section of the trail so I was busy paying attention to where I was planting my feet when I get this sharp tug on my pack and hear "STOP!"
The two grizzlies on the trail ahead of us scattered, one going down and one heading up hill. I didn't manage to take the photos since I very quickly went for the bear spray (not gonna mess with the bears). Fortunately he got some pretty good shots as they made their way back to the trail. We decided to move back up and give the bears their space. About 10 minutes later we were able to move along down the trail.
The rest of the hike down was beautiful and we managed to avoid any more grizzlies. We did however, get to see a cute fawn barely able to walk. It was definitely an "awwww" moment.
It was an amazing trip and I loved every minute of it!(Interesting article on MSNBC re. Glacier National Park and parks in general.)
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