Again posting this from the the Glacier Visitor Center, so I hope to update this post later in the day. East side fire still rages. The ranger who is posting new info said it s about 5000 acres and 10% contained. She did not comment on how they were fighting the fire i.e., letting it burn and just protecting park properties. Las we heard they were fighting from the air, but with the wind and the potential for the fire to move quickly, they were not putting crews on the ground.
Going to the Sun Road is still closed to Logan but open to what is called the Loop. At the Loop you can catch the Loop Trail which goes up to the Granite Peak Chalet. Folks usually do the trail from Logan hiking out the Highline Trail, 8 miles of relatively flat to the Chalet and then dropping down 2200 feet and 4 miles to the Loop Trailhead.
This one gets blamed on Marsha who thought it was a good idea to take the shuttle up to the loop grab the trail and hike up as high as we could hoping to get to the Chalet.
It was as advertised. Four miles of steady plodding up. We were out early and the days was cool. We had a nice breeze. Again after a short bit, we popped out onto a hillside of an old burn. Same bear danger as yesterday. Low open country, with berry plants growing up in the old burn. Easy country for bear to move in, berries past their peak but enough and an early morning hike when bear are out. Lots and lots of Yo, Bears on this one.
It was a tough but beautiful hike. It was a plod, and steep in parts. You always reach a point were you think that you should stop and turn around. We met a gal who had been doing workshops and she encouraged us to keep going as the chalet was worth it. We (I) sucked it up and got to the top.
The Chalet was worth it. It sits with great views over the surrounding mountains. It takes overnight guests. You bring your own food. I can see the enticement of a walk in from Logan, spend the night and then either hike back over or down along the Loop Trail.
We had lunch at the Chalet and then pounded our way back down. It was OK, but by the end, our legs were toast. Afternoon was hotter so sun exposure was again an issue. The last mile was just a slog.
It was 4 miles up, 4 miles down. The elevation change was 2200 feet up and and 2200 down so we did 8 miles with 4400 feet of change. Calves feel like somebody was playing hammer dulcimer with 3 pound hammers on them.
Off to Brownies for showers, laundry, and dinner out. We also need a place to stay tomorrow night. SO, the adventure continues. We have decided that we like parking ourselves in one place and exploring for a while. I have a much better appreciation for what Glacier has to offer after being here for a few days, much better than my last trips here.
Going to the Sun Road is still closed to Logan but open to what is called the Loop. At the Loop you can catch the Loop Trail which goes up to the Granite Peak Chalet. Folks usually do the trail from Logan hiking out the Highline Trail, 8 miles of relatively flat to the Chalet and then dropping down 2200 feet and 4 miles to the Loop Trailhead.
This one gets blamed on Marsha who thought it was a good idea to take the shuttle up to the loop grab the trail and hike up as high as we could hoping to get to the Chalet.
It was as advertised. Four miles of steady plodding up. We were out early and the days was cool. We had a nice breeze. Again after a short bit, we popped out onto a hillside of an old burn. Same bear danger as yesterday. Low open country, with berry plants growing up in the old burn. Easy country for bear to move in, berries past their peak but enough and an early morning hike when bear are out. Lots and lots of Yo, Bears on this one.
It was a tough but beautiful hike. It was a plod, and steep in parts. You always reach a point were you think that you should stop and turn around. We met a gal who had been doing workshops and she encouraged us to keep going as the chalet was worth it. We (I) sucked it up and got to the top.
The Chalet was worth it. It sits with great views over the surrounding mountains. It takes overnight guests. You bring your own food. I can see the enticement of a walk in from Logan, spend the night and then either hike back over or down along the Loop Trail.
We had lunch at the Chalet and then pounded our way back down. It was OK, but by the end, our legs were toast. Afternoon was hotter so sun exposure was again an issue. The last mile was just a slog.
It was 4 miles up, 4 miles down. The elevation change was 2200 feet up and and 2200 down so we did 8 miles with 4400 feet of change. Calves feel like somebody was playing hammer dulcimer with 3 pound hammers on them.
Off to Brownies for showers, laundry, and dinner out. We also need a place to stay tomorrow night. SO, the adventure continues. We have decided that we like parking ourselves in one place and exploring for a while. I have a much better appreciation for what Glacier has to offer after being here for a few days, much better than my last trips here.
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