September 18, 2009 Glacier NP Wildlife Safari

CORRECTION: The MacDonald Lake mentioned yesterday is really McDonald Lake.

MMG and I decided we had shown you enough scenery and that it was time to find some wildlife to keep you (and us) entertained.

With that in mind, we went back up to Logan Pass to take a hike on the Hidden Lake Trail which was touted as being only about 1 1/2 miles long and only a 450 foot gain in elevation on the way to beautiful medium sized alpine lake back in the mountains. The trail, it is claimed, wanders through prime wildlife, particularly Mountain Goat, territory.

These two veteran hikers will testify that Hidden Lake trail is longer than 1 1/2 miles, rises far more than 450 feet, but does indeed pass through some beautiful scenery and does provide a chance to see some wildlife.

But to get to Logan Pass we had to drive through all that magnificent scenery and we couldn't help but take a few pictures:

Here's the early morning sun breaking through the mountains.

For those of you who have been seeking, here it is!

Hackberry Ridge

Glacial Bowl

Some Mountain Greenery

These Pillar Flowers will eventually

completely cover this Pillar. We'll never see it because this plant is on a part of the Road which will be closed after Sunday night.

Now! On to the wildlife! It seemed for the longest time as if the total of our efforts would be this addition to the MMG World Famous Collection of Wildlife Butts!

This is definitely a Mountain Goat (YEA!), but if you click to enlarge you'll see it's pointed the wrong way (again!).

Then, our luck changed. These Marmots are definitely up to hibernation weight!

If one Marmot is good, two are better.

Then we hit the jackpot. This Mountain Goat took lots of time to pose for us!

Full right side.

Face first.

Heads up, face left.

More profile.

Then it was time for lunch. Here's today's lunch view:

Look familiar? Yep, we liked it so much we went back again today!

On the way back down the mountain, we had a chance to observe people doing a job of which we want no part. Here's a picture of their office:

The workers climb into the "office", then dangle about 1500 feet above the canyon floor as the work on the retaining wall and rock guard rail that will be parts of the new Road.

Here they are at work:

Going Down!

And finally, here's a true alpine flower that was growing along the trail today:

Not a very impressive flower bed, eh?

That's it for today. Stay tuned!

Love,

MMG and DDG