Montana - August 2009 - Glacier National Park

These photos are from the beginning of our Ptarmigan Tunnel hike. We did this hike on the day we had planned to hike the Highline Trail, over the Continental Divide and down into Swiftcurrent Pass. However, because of some really, really stupid people who thought it would be fun to approach a bear and got caught by a park ranger, the trail into Swiftcurrent Pass was closed almost the entire week we were in the park. In some respects, I'm almost glad it happened because we got to do this hike, which we weren't planning to do, instead and we really enjoyed it. While we weren't allowed to hike in it, we got some fantastic views of Swiftcurrent Pass from this trail.

When you're hiking, it's important to turn around once in a while and look back from whence you came, especially if you're on a trail that loops rather than returns. Even when on a return, I still like to look back because the light will be different later in the day.

Looking forward is good, too. Heck, when you're in Glacier, there really isn't a bad place to look. The views are fantastic in all directions. This is Mount Wilbur with part of the arete surrounding the Iceberg Lake cirque behind it.

We debated detouring over to Iceberg Lake, which would have been a additional 5 miles, but ultimately decided to save our legs and focus on the tunnel. It's good thing we did because I had nothing left at the end of the day. We saw lots of animals while in the park, including a lot of insects.

We also came across this man-eating, venom-spitting monster.

I was tempted to step on it, but I'm honoring our treaty. As long as they stay out of my house, they can live.