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Two-Med Waterfalls, June 18, 2016

6/19/2016

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Two New Hikers Join Two from Eureka for Clouds, Winds, Rain, Moose

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,The GiG welcomed Spardha and Emily ffrom Great Falls and Pat from Eureka for their first hike with GiG. And it was good to see Madelon, also from Eureka, for the first time this season.

The weather had been predicted to be up and down all week, but with a 20 percent chance of rain in the morning and a 70 percent in the afternoon of T-storms, we followed the adage of "always go to the trailhead."

We left Great Falls at 5:30, and after a longer stop in Browning and a quick stop in East Glacier to pick up the Eureka gals, plus time to shuttle vehicles to the campground, we got on trail just before 9 a.m. The boat dock was just opening as we hit the south-shore trail, probably the first hikers on this section for the day, which turned out to be great, since we saw a moose in the pond about a mile down the trail. 

She showed off a bit for us but then disappeared into the bushes, probably to seek out a hidden little one.

The flowers also put on a show with buckwheat, Sego lilies (Mariposa), buiscuitroot . woods forget-me-nots and the wild anise very prolific. The bear grass was just starting, and we saw just a few fading spring beauties and glacier lilies in a shaded area. There were many other flowers too, including berries: elderberry, fool's huckleberry, thimbleberry, mountain ash, strawberry, and service/saskatoon berry flowers.

We didn't see another soul on the trail and had both Aster falls and Rockwell falls to ourselves, but on the way out of Rockwell, we ran into two rangers. (An interesting note about the hanging bridge over Paradise Creek: Pat said if she had known about it, she would still be in Eureka).  At this point, eight of the gals went ahead to attempt the full 13-miles to include Upper Two-Med lake, while three wanted to take their time encircling the main lake and bypassing the upper lake.

The gals who wanted a slower hike ended up going back they way they came and visiting the camp store, while the others hustled to fit in a long hike as it was already 11:30 with 9 miles to go.

The day had been cool and cloudy, actually a nice temperature all day but started to darken as the gals hit Twin Falls, which meant 8 miles to go.  When the thunder started, they decided to skip the upper lake to shave off three miles and just go for the 10.  Twice it sprnkled as the gals put on and then took of their raingear, but about a mile and a half from the cars, it stated raining for real. As the droplets descended, so the did the clouds, covering the view of the lake and most everything else. Our boots and pant legs got pretty wet from the soaking brush, but a half mile from the cars, the sky cleared into a beautiful sunny day.

Because we hustled down the trail in the rain and skipped the upper lake, we finished at 2:30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. And the other gals had already shuttled the other car from the parking lot and met us at the trail's end.

We decided to make the falls count  for the day go from three to four by stopping at Running Eagle (Trick) Falls on the way out, Many of the gals hadn't visited this double falls before, including Madelon and Pat from Eureka, so it was fun to see the rushing water coming over the top of the gushing cave. 

Then it was time to say goodbye to our Eureka friends while we headed to the Whistlestop cafe in East Glacier for a bit to eat.  Then it was on to Great Falls. The drive was eventful with lots of rain at time, buckets of moisture on the road and even a rainbow, but it was sunny when we arrived in Great  Falls at 7:30.  It was nice to get home early even if we did skip the upper lake.

Who went: Spardha, Emily, Sue, Gail, Mary N, Toni, Roni, Catherine, Madelon, Pat and Katie



Katie's Pix
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St. Mary Waterfalls, June 16th, 2016

6/16/2016

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Six Falls Spill Over on Gals as They Hike Reynolds Burn, See a Bear

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We wanted to see the burn and we did. Besides the falls spilling over with spring run off, we were able to see the effects of last year's Reynolds fire and enjoy the benefits of fire as well as the devastation.

Our day started at 6 a.m. and we arrived at Sunrift Gorge parking lot and got on trail at 9:30 a.m. After a quick trip to view the gorge, we headed down the Baring Falls trail and diverted to Sun Point, which is officially closed due to construction. Along this portion of the trail, we were keenly aware of the blackened trees and soil but also shocked to see all of the bright green of new growth and popping colors of the wildflowers, particularly the Mariposa/Sego lilies, the state flower of Utah.  Penstemon, alumroot, Indian paintbrush and lupine were also abundant.

We didn't stay at Sun Point long, due to high winds that blew us off our feet, so we were back on the trail, retracing our steps until we arrived at Baring Falls, where the Reynolds fire destroyed a historic ranger's cabin. Still the fire opened up the views, so we could see St. Mary lake as well as distant falls, such as Virginia, which we visited up close, and Florence Falls, which we didn't.

Then it was on to St. Mary Falls, where the burned areas were most apparent, revealing the cascades much sooner than we could ever see them before, but also exposing us to more sun than we were used to in this normally very shady area.

After our admiring the falls, we headed up the trail toward Virginia Falls, but not before stopping for lunch at an unnamed falls that trammeled down over solid rock that made a great resting ;place.  After eating, we continued past two more unnamed cataracts before making it to Virginia Falls, the grand daddy of all of them, spilling and spewing mist for many meters. The gals, and their camera lenses, were soaked by even a brief stroll near the cascading water.

After we were drenched, we moved on to the bridge over the creek, which is fed by the spilling water, and enjoyed the falls from a safer vantage point.

From there, we retraced our steps to the cars, to complete an 8.5-mile circle. On the way out of the park, we got a surprise: a black bear eating by the side of the road. After many pictures and creating a bit of a bear jam, we stopped briefly at the St. Mary Visitor Center to buy souvenirs, Nature Conservancy maps and then visit the bathrooms.

Before getting home around 9 p.m. we stopped for a fun and satisfying dinner at a GiG favorite: Buffalo Joe's in Dupuyer. Surprisingly, the construction by Choteau hadn't started yet, so the drive was better than expected along this stretch of the road.

Who went: Gail, Susan, Mary, Denise, Sue, Brenda, Toni, Nancy, Anita, Katie



Katie's Pix
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Scalplock Lookout, June 10, 2016

6/11/2016

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A Snake, Robin's Egg, Views Highlight the Scalplock Lookout Climb

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Carol made a hike! After several failed attempts, we finally were able to meet Carol from the west-side Glacier group, so we have now added her to the list of Marta, Madelon, Jackie, Kate, Tracy and Joan who have joined the GiG for a hike!

Our day started with meeting Carol at the back-country parking lot at the Walton Ranger Station outside Essex. (we left Great Falls at 5:40 a.m. and arrived at 8:35). We traveled with Tom, Katie's husband and his climbing partner Mark, who decided to go up Running Rabbit on an off-trail excursion.

The three ladies got on trail about 9 a.m. and made the 3,200-feet, 4.5-mile ascent through lovely wildflowers, especially roses, Indian paintbrush, lupine, arnica, and ballhead waterleaf, in 3.5 hours. On the way up, we encountered a handful of sprinkles before the sky cleared for good. The ascent isn't too bad, due to 20 switchbacks, except the last third of a mile from the saddle to the lookout turns decidedly steeper.  We enjoyed the fantastic views on top as we savored our lunch while sitting on the deck of the lookout.

At 1:30 p.m., Katie scurried everyone off the mountain as we could see clouds brewing in the western skies, and we wanted to be off the top and out of the exposed area back into the trees in case lightning hit.The walk down was gorgeous the first mile, with 360-degree views, but we must admit,the last few miles grew a bit tedious with so many trees and switchbacks.  We did enjoy the flowers in spots again as many had opened up since the morning. Also on the way down, we found a perfect blue robin's egg, which Carol decided to incubate in her bra to take home to try to hatch. It lay right off the trail and would have been smashed for sure had she left it.

Another interesting find was a small snake which appeared to be a western terrestrial garter snake.

We arrive back at the car at 4 p.m. and had beaten the men down.  After leaving a note for the guys, Carol graciously gave us a ride to the Izaak Walton Inn, where we had a cold drink while awaiting their return. We read the paper and had a refill before the men made it back, about an hour after us.

Then we headed to Serrano's for one of their famous dinners.  Unfortunately, it took us over an hour just to get our food, so we were late getting home: 9:30 p.m.


Katie's Pix
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Rogers Pass and Rodgers Peak

6/1/2016

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Two Hikes, One Night Feature Forget-Me-Nots, Expansive Views, Ticks

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The perfect temperature and no wind--we couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening for our hike up Rodgers Peak and Rogers Pass. We headed out from the school district office at 4:15 and were on trail about 5:40, meeting Mary N at the parking lot.

Our hike stated with beautiful meadow flowers: glacier lilies, valerian/western tobacco root, anica, huckleberries, strawberries, ballhead waterleaf, blue-eyed Marys, holly or Oregon grape, chickweed, and larkspur, but turned to the alpine flowers as we approached the timber line: douglasia and then forget-me-nots, yellowstone draba, twinpod, Lyall's rock cress, shooting star, bluebells and pasque flowers.

The colors were amazing, accented against the dusky evening sky of clouds and patches of blue. And the sweet hint of jasmine wafting from the forget-me-nots delighted our noses.

On top, we had expansive views into the Rockies and back side of the Swans. We could see Holter lake and where the mountains meet the plains, with the buttes in the background.  On top of the peak, the cairn revealed mounds of lady bugs when we disturbed the rocks. But of course, we saw a few other not-so-friendly critters: ticks, in fact, seven of them, two on Mary, one on Catherine, one on Katie and three on Cathy. Ick!

After a 15-minute snack break on top, we wove our way down, scaring up a herd of 8-9 elk, which thundered up the trail toward Flesher pass, another wonderful sight for our eyes. The way down is almost as glorious as the sight of the flowers as you have views in all directions.

We were back at the new CDT (Continental Divide Trail) sign by the cars at just after 9 p.m. and arrived in Great Falls at 10:15 p.m. 

Who went: Peak: Mary N., Cathy, Katie, Randi, Anita, Catherine; Pass: Kathy M, Gail, Allison


Rodgers Peak Pix
Rogers Pass Pix

Rogers Pass Hike

Several of the Giggers set out for a late afternoon- early evening hike to enjoy the long evening hours of sunlight and beautiful weather. The gals left in 2 groups: one group was headed to Roger's Peak, and the other group went to Roger's Pass. The three who set out to Rogers Pass included Gail, Allison, and Kathy, and the gals were on a mission to see as many wildflowers as possible.

The gals were not disappointed! The trail to the top, spattered with brightly colored flowers had the gals taking photos at every opportunity. On the way to the top, the gals spotted the other group hiking up to Roger's Peak and, "Yoo-hoos!" and "Hellos" were shouted across the highway from mountaintop to mountain top! It was easy to spot the Roger's Peak gals because of Cathy's brightly colored shirt.

F
rom the top of the Continental Divide the 360 degree views to Lincoln and the prairie towards Great Falls held the gals in awe as they ate their dinner before heading back down the trail before it got dark. As the ladies made the descent to the car Allison jumped back in surprise when four cow elk ran from the rocky ridge above and crossed the trail in front of her.

​The gals made it safely down from the top in less than 35 minutes and arrived back in Great Falls around 10 pm.
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