Glacier Park - Three Weeks After Opening Day

Last Thursday, August 4, I headed back to the top of the "Going to the Sun" Road. It had been 3 weeks since the road opened and I had made this same journey. I was doing another Loon survey at Lake Sherburne, and I wanted to take advantage of the trip to see how much snow was remaining at Logan Pass. As a volunteer at the Apgar Visitor Center, I'm asked many times about the pass, how much snow is there, and can they do the hike to the Hidden Lake Overlook.

So I thought I would make a comparison between the day the road opened, July 13, and this day. To answer the question -- there is still plenty of snow at Logan Pass. But not so much as on opening day.


(The same flag pole -- then and now)









And yes, our visitors can probably make the hike to the Hidden Lake Overlook. But still hiking through the snow. At least the first third of the trail is open and you can see the paved path.....after that, they are on their own.



(The Pass on July 13 and August 4 -- still a lot of snow!)








The other trail that I wanted to see is the Highline Trail. The trail opened at the end of July, and we were still telling people that the trail was snow covered and dangerous. And I had also heard about "the ledge" -- the dreaded ledge that turned people back after about a quarter of a mile. It's been described as "a narrow ledge high above the Going-to-the-Sun road". Well I can say that the trail does change dramatically -- from a dirt path through meadows and pine, to a stone path that seems to be carved into the side of the Garden Wall. And it is well above the road.

(The start of the Highline Trail -- if you look at the mountain in the background, you can see what looks like a line drawn across the face. That is the trail)


But I didn't think it was that narrow. Everyone I saw on their way down the trail never even slowed down when they came to the change. And the "narrow ledge" is probably about 5 feet wide. Of course, if you do have a fear of heights, it will probably slow you down. However, there is a hose that is anchored all along the ledge, which can give confidence to those who are concerned.




(And here is the "ledge". Not particularly wide if you drop off the side -- but you also don't have to hug the wall and shuffle across)








(Lots of visitors are headed down the ledge of the Garden Wall as they hike to Haystack Butte)



Now let me tell you a little side story. Since I did not have time to continue down the Highline, I saw a little meadow covered with Glacier Lilly's. The light was all wrong, but I thought I might be able to move to a point where I could get the shot. I walked down a narrow path, climbed onto a boulder, and decided this was not going to help. So I turned around to leave.....and there is a full grown female mountain goat standing behind me. I was startled.....never heard her walk up. And then my brain said, "are these animals aggressive? After all, they do have sharp horns."

The goat gave me a look that said, "what are you doing on my boulder? I wanted to be there!" -- and then she just walked around the boulder and into the meadow. And then my brain said, "SHOOT....SHOOT". I'm standing with my camera in my hand -- and I'm sure I'll never be this close to a mountain goat again. So I did get off one picture. I hesitate to put it here, as my photography teacher said don't put pictures on Facebook that aren't great. This photo is really in focus (an achievement for me), but certainly does not have any type of composition looked for in great photos. But nevertheless.....here it is.