Wednesday, July 24, 2013

No Bull? Yes, Bull this time

"The under water buffet is delicious!"

Pine needles / cow parsnip / pine sap

Water flows over rocks and moss

It's tough to stand tall in Glacier with all the wind
WEST GLACIER, MT - - The only difference between Glacier and Ormond Beach lately is the lower humidity here.  So we took off for Swift Current Campground and Many Glacier...again.  It is cooler over there.  Not much, but you can tell the difference at night.
     We didn't do any real hiking.  I was going to post a photo of my big toes and their black nails to show why,  but that seemed a bit gross.
     We were very successful in our hunt for moose this time.  We saw one early in the morning on our way through the park.  We took a short hike up to Fishercap Lake and, after about an hour wait, here came MR.  BULL MOOSE!  And later Mrs. Moose and two youngsters. Five moose in one day is a record which will be hard to top.
    Other excursions nearby were spent looking for birds, but ended up being 'beauty' shots. 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Youngster, oldster

Trying to out run anxiety

One more 'smile, please' and I'll run over you

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

What goes up, must come down

Iceberg Lake sits in a caldera fed by the snow pack around it.

The icebergs break off from the main mass. The pack is not glacial in size, mass or movement.
WEST GLACIER, MT - - We headed back to Swift current campground again on our days off this week.  Unlike last time, when we reached Logan Pass the light was good and the bighorn sheep were out and we also spotted a doe and fawn playing in one of the lakes we visit near the campground. See Lydia's blog (link on this page.) for photos.
    In between, we spent most of Saturday on a hike to Iceberg Lake:  5 miles up (not too bad); 5 miles back down (Not too good).  Two hikes with my new boots and I have both big toenails turning black from too much contact with the toe-box front.
     How cold was the water?  Not cold enough!  As you can see in the bottom photo, the line between bravado and stupidity is very thin.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

The end of the Royal Household

The Queen (top) and The Princess share a sunbeam.
WEST GLACIER, MT - - It is with sadness that I note the passing of the Queen, the head of the Royal Household.  The Queen, at nearly 17-years-old, was in failing health and had slipped from a robust 16-pounder to a skinny 5.5 lbs.  Regretfully, we had to have her put to sleep.  We lost the Princess last May.  The Royal Household is no more.

Sunday, July 07, 2013

Our first days off

Chasing a reflection in Fisher Cap Lake

Heavens Peak

Sometimes you just gotta have a drink
WEST GLACIER, MT - - After 4 days work, we get 4 days off.  But it's Fourth of July Weekend so where are you going to go?  Not too far.  So we headed up to Logan Pass to do some photography...and we just rolled on from there.  Our escapades are described in Lydia's blog (see link on this page).
       However, I did get in on a little action.  The reflection of a nearby mountain on Fisher Cap Lake with Lydia in the foreground about sums up our quest for moose photos.  We see Heavens Mountain every day and it is one of the major features along our route.  Some of the snow cover lasts all summer.  
     Another frequent sight lately on the Going To The Sun Road are the mountain goats and the newbies.  The goats are shedding their winter coats so they look a bit ragged.  This momma in the bottom pic only stopped for a moment, but it was enough time for junior to move in to quickly top up his fuel tank.