Mt. Brown Lookout

Two Augusts ago, Grizz and I took a trip up to Glacier and hiked to the Mt. Brown Lookout. We just wanted a semi-quick hike that wasn't too far, so we could drive home later that day. I can't remember why we were on the west side of Glacier on that particular trip. Possibly, we slept in the vehicle on the east side and then drove across on the Going-To-The-Sun-Road early before traffic picked up... but that could have been another trip, too :) I'm just glad that I finally have time to post some of these pictures that have been hanging out in my "To-Blog" folder! Earlier this Spring, Grizz started along the same trail and made it to Sperry Chalet - he went with The Glacier Mountaineering Society and most of the trip required snowshoes.

 Here we are! Hiking away the morning. It was a more strenuous hike that we thought it would be, so it was a great workout for us!

 We were so excited when we could finally see the look-out. There were so many switchbacks in the trail, that it felt like it was taking us forever to get close... but we finally made it!

We sat and enjoyed our snacks for awhile before heading back down. Of course, going down went much faster :) Here were some of the views from the look-out. As usual, Grizz spent most of the time quizzing me about the names of the different mountains. Once we made it back down, the parking lot that was empty when we arrived was then full. We enjoyed a nice cold glass of Coca-Cola before heading home. It was a tiring, yet rewarding day!

Here's to hoping that Peanut enjoys hiking as much as we do! We'll start of simple, but we both look forward to taking her along with us :)

Retrieving the Game Cam

A week ago, he went with a co-worker to install a "Game Cam" in some nearby mountains (he has an archery elk tag in the same mountains that he hopes to cash in on in a few weeks). The archery elk season starts this coming Saturday and the camera is not supposed to be used during the season. Because Grizz is gone all this week to a training, we had to go retrieve the camera yesterday... therefore, we spent a few hours hiking together :)

 While hiking, we spotted this freshly-roughed-up tree... courtesy of an elk who is still shedding his velvet antler coverings! When Grizz and his co-worker went to install the camera, they saw four bull elk. We saw one cow elk ourselves yesterday. Add that to all the droppings (fun word, huh?!) we saw, and we know that there are definitely elk moving throughout the area!

Without any further ado...  the game cam pics... you can click on them to enlarge them!

 Just the antlers

 I think he's sniffing the camera...

 I spy with my little eye... a butt :)

 Ohp, there's the butt again

 Eight hours later.. still the same guy?

 Hey, we have color now (one minute after the previous pic)!

 Just a deer.

And Bambi says... "Wait for me, Mom!"

Just in case if you are not the hunting type, but you made it through this entire post... here's a pretty picture, just for you :) Thanks for reading!

Glacier Weekend: Grinnell Glacier Trail Closed

We knew when we started that the Grinnell Glacier Trail was closed toward the top due to snow hazards. This sign shows up about two miles after the Grinnell Lake turn-off. It just explains that there are snow hazards ahead and if you are smart you would only try to cross them with crampons and an ice ax :)

We continued on after that sign just so we could see how far we could go. We went around one small snow hazard, but we stopped when we came to this spot. This stream/waterfall was easily crossed, but it was a great place to eat our 10 o'clock meal (can you blame us for eating early after waking up so early?!).

We boiled water on Grizz's backpacking stove and ate one of those dehydrated meals. This one was Beaf Stew... it wasn't horrible!

Grizz enjoyed exploring that little snowbridge, but right after that stream/snow bridge the trail goes right under this waterfall. It is something that is crossable, but only if you want to get soaked!

 Plus, after you get passed the waterfall, you have to cross this. Doable with crampons and and ice ax for Grizz, but even with an ice ax, I'm not sure if I'd try! So, we couldn't get to end of the trail, but we had fun anways - even without getting to the top, the scenery was gorgeous!

Glacier Weekend
Camping at Two Medicine
Two Bear Sightings
Grinnell Glacier Trail
Trail Closed
Many Glacier Hotel

Glacier Weekend: Grinnell Glacier Trail

Just a few of the sights from the trail :)

Grinnell Point - seen early on during the hike. 

A fun little pond, still full of snow and ice with Lake Josephine in the background.

 Angel Wing with some fun clouds... thankfully, no rain fell on us!

 Bear Grass with a background of Grinnell Lake - I just love that glacier water!

 Glacier Lily!

Angel Wing with Grinnell Lake in front. To the right you can see Salamander Glacier and Grinnell Falls. Out of view but just below and to the left of The Salamander is Grinnell Glacier which is right next to Upper Grinnell Lake. God is such an artist!

Here is Grinnell Glacier! (It's that dirty snow!).

And one last shot of Salamander Falls.

Let's review!
Salamander Falls falls from Salamander Glacier into Upper Grinnell Lake which is right next to Grinnell Glacier. From Upper Grinnell Lake falls the Grinnell Falls right into (lower) Grinnell Lake. All of this happens to the left of Mount Grinnell and to the right of Angel Wing :)

Glacier Weekend

Camping at Two Medicine

Two Bear Sightings

Grinnell Glacier Trail
Trail Closed

Many Glacier Hotel