Alaska – Canada Travels 2014, Glacier National Park, MT and Waterton, Canada. June 11th to June 14th.

Hiking up Swiftcurrent Creek in Many Glacier.

With only one whole day to spend we decide to hike up Swiftcurrent Creek in the Many Glacier basin. The snowpack was good this year and waterfalls tumble down from the high places. The lakes and creeks are clear, cold gems, the color of emerald, jade, turquoise and aquamarine. On the slopes and high ledges, but too far for a picture, are big horn sheep and mountain goats. We see our first moose and calf grazing by the lake. All around are glacier-carved peaks snagging the clouds that send shafts of sunlight windmilling across the valley.

Swiftcurrent waterfall.

It’s a walk in a garden so majestic that all the spirit needs for renewal is right here . . .

Red Rock Lake.

beauty and serenity. 

 

 

Bridal veils.

 

 

The valley has a hundred brides whose white veils drape the mountainsides with sequined mists and trembling roar to marry with the valley floor, and spill into the lake.

Swiftcurrent River.

Springs first breath moves through the trees exhaled by a soft, sweet breeze as the whole wild world awakes and winters icy grip abates, to lay flowers at our feet.

Red Rock Lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lily.

 

Sadly we have to leave Glacier and head for Canada.

 

 

 

 

Approaching the Canadian border.

We cross into Canada at Waterton with only a few questions, a few minutes wait and we’re on our way. What’s great about traveling in this country are the easy-going, friendly Canadians and that everything is much like the U.S. At Waterton Townsite we picked up a talk/news radio station and find they have all the same issues and problems as well. We’re really are the same people. It’s something we understood from our association with Canadian travelers when we owned our business.

Over looking Waterton Lake from the top of the Bears Hump.

We spend 2 nights at Waterton and hike the Bear’s Hump and the trail to Bertha Lake.

The trail to the Bear’s Hump is only .75 miles but is almost straight up with lots of stairs to a very windy birds-eye view of Waterton.

Bear Grass in bloom.

The next day was drizzly and foggy and we unpacked our rain gear for a 7-mile round-trip hike to Bertha Lake. The hike is a steady 1,500 ft. climb through dense fir forest. Along the way we see the first Bear Grass in bloom. A very eloquent flower.

Lower Bertha Falls.

A foot bridge crosses the creek at the base of Lower Bertha Falls. The pounding white water speaks about the snowpack higher up. The falls thunders at us as we cross the bridge but is only a whisper compared to the bridal veil of Upper Bertha Falls, its water tumbles and smashes at the rocks.

Lower Bertha Falls.

Bertha Lake.

We arrived at the lake, crossing the snowpack that covered the last section of trail. The lake is rimed in snow and a gray mist has settled over it. Soft rain dimples the surface smudging its reflections. A single Barrow’s Goldeneye, handsome in his black & white feathering, floats serenely on the water, occasionally disappearing in a dive. The fir trees spread their needle nets to catch a thousand misty gems that shimmer on the needles edge then fall to earth again. We can’t see the peaks that cradle the lake but the mists bring a softness to the scene that is enchanting and we linger even as it rains.

We leave the lake and its mists and hike back down the mountain.



Our campsite with our additional portable solar panels.

Our camp at Waterton Townsite has large grassy sites in a large flat clearing. The campground is by lake at the end of the road through Waterton. There are restrooms and showers.

The view from our campsite.



Downtown Waterton.

It's just a short walk to the little downtown area with shops, restaurants, bike and peddle cart rentals. The Bertha Lake trail and one other trail leave from the campground. You can also take a ferry to the upper end of the lake. A very nice place to spend a few days.

Tomorrow we begin our journey north across Canada.

Until then.
Jackie