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