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

 

Alaska – Canada Travels 2014, Cody, WY to Glacier National Park, MT. June 9th to June 11th.

 

A memorial to the Nez Perce at Dead Indian Pass.

We leave Cody and travel to the Yellowstone NE entrance by way of the scenic Chief Joseph Highway. At Dead Indian Pass we learn about the escape of the Nez Perce who came over this pass in their flight. There's a sculpture here on the mountain to the memory of the people and time when their lives changed from one of bounty to one of uncertainty. 

 

Plaque at Dead Indian Pass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The scenic Chief Joseph Highway.

The Chief Joseph Highway is a beautiful scenic drive with very little traffic.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Riding up Bridger Canyon.

We intended to stay in Yellowstone but the campgrounds were full so we departed by the west entrance, found a forest campground outside the park and headed north for Bozeman, MT the next day.

North of Bozeman we take time for a 27-mile bike ride up Bridger Canyon along the Bridger Range.

Our camp at Battle Ridge.

We camp at the top of the pass at Battle Ridge, a small Forest Service CG in the pines, no services, old fashioned pit toilets, cost - free. 

Wildflowers at Battle Ridge Campground.

The wildflowers have begun blooming and they're a feast for the eye.

More wildflowers.

The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.

Full scale model of a portage around the Great Falls.

On the way to Glacier we stop at the National Forest Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Grand Forks. This excellent facility recounts this grand expedition and the accomplishments of these intrepid explorers. This is a must see. The Center overlooks the Missouri River that was their route. It rolls serenely along except for the interruption of the many falls they had to portage around. The auditorium offers 20 minute films about the expedition.

The falls.

 

Our campsite at the Lake St. Mary KOA.

We arrive at Lake St. Mary KOA late in the day, in time to watch the sun set behind the mighty peaks of Glacier.  We spend 2 nights at this fine KOA with an outstanding backdrop of peaks.

Tomorrow we'll spend the day hiking up the Swiftcurrent in Many Glacier basin.

Until then,

Jackie

Alaska - Canada 2014. Jackson to Cody, WY. June 5th to 7th.

"Chance Encounter" - a sculpture at the Jackson Visitor Center.

Our ride along the Grand Tetons.

At Jackson we park at the Visitor Center to ride the most beautiful paved bike path in the county. It goes up the valley for 20 miles, past the National Elk Wildlife Refuge and a parade of slate colored Grand Teton peaks that make no apologies for their dominion over this valley. What a panorama and we get an unobstructed view of them as we ride up the valley. At the turnouts along the way people are taking their pictures with the movie star peaks looming large over their shoulders. We do the same. The path ends at Lake Jenny where we have lunch then head back for Jackson.

A view of the Teton's from Lake Jenny.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Sandhill Crane family.

Before we get back to the Visitor Center we stop at one of the turnouts to watch a pair of Sandhill Cranes forging with their chicks in the marshes. The chicks follow after the parents learning their skills. May your life be bountiful little Sandhills.

Our camp at Flagg Ranch.

By mid-afternoon we head down the road and decide to stay at the Flagg Ranch on the south side of Yellowstone instead of going into the park because it would be colder higher up. The Flagg Ranch had a nice campground and great showers.

Our bike ride at Yellowstone Lake.

 The next day we drive into Yellowstone and parked at Yellowstone Lake Village to take a 30-mile bike ride around the north shore of the lake. The lake is a sheen of sparkling blue with a backdrop of snow-covered mountains.  It’s a funny thing about turnouts in Yellowstone. When we pull into one where no one else is parked a few minutes later it’s filled with cars. Everyone passing by thinks there’s something going on and they don’t want to miss it. That’s how we got someone to take our picture. 

Our camp at Rex Hale a Forest Service CG.

We left Yellowstone by the east entrance and before we get to Cody, WY, we camp at Rex Hale CG, a nice little forest campground on the bank of the North Fork Shoshone River near the east entrance to Yellowstone. It’s a favorite of ours, a quiet place in a meadow without trees, but as cool as it is the sunshine is appreciated as well as the mountain views.



We stayed one night in Cody, WY to visit the highly recommended Buffalo Bill Museum of the West. We strolled around the grounds to see the sculptures that bring to life the historic people of the West.

Raptor presentation.

We were in time to see a raptor presentation with 5 birds from a raptor rescue sanctuary. Due to their injuries these birds will not be released back into the wild so they’ve become ambassadors for education and conservation. 

The young Bill Cody, "Hard and Fast all the Way".

Five sections make up the museum: Western Art, Plains Indians, Natural History, Art & Photography, and the history of Buffalo Bill Cody. The building invites exploration and each of the sections are designed to create an environment to immerse us in its content.

The Buffalo Bill section is engaging, entertaining. There’s a humorous animated short film on how Buffalo Bill became a world renowned performer. 

We don't often see him portrayed as a young man but this statue in front of the museum says it all.

"Sacagawea"

In the Natural History section the path takes you curving around and down through different levels and environments as birds sing, wolves howl, or elk rustle through the forest.

In the Plains Indian section the displays take you in circles so that as you wander through you see things from different perspectives. A very beautiful, personal and moving connection to the native peoples.

There are many beautiful statues and gardens throughout the museum grounds.

"Buffalo Prayer"

"Tumbleweeds" by Clyde Aspevig.

Landscape study by Remington.

We loved this exquisite painting by Aspevig in the Western Art Gallery. There is a Remington exhibit with a recreation of his studio. Here are two gorgeous landscape studies by Remington.

This museum was highly recommended to us and we highly recommend it to you.

Until next time.

Jackie

Landscape study by Remington.

 

Alaska – Canada 2014, Silver City to Jackson, WY

 

Our camp at Devils Canyon, UT

We’re traveling big this summer, a 5-month trip to Canada and Alaska. We’ve never been on the road this long so this is will be an adventure. Our travels will be leisurely as each day we plan on hiking or bicycling and visiting parks, monuments and museums along the way. We have a basic travel plan but it’s flexible. The only firm commitment we have is to be at Denali by the 1^st week in July. This will be an awesome trip.

Getting the chicks across the road.

We leave Silver City, NM on May 31^st and head north along the west side of the Rockies. Here are some of the highlights.

At our camp at Devils Canyon south of Moab, UT a Turkey hen and her 8 chicks walk by our Sprinter. The balls of down on little legs scurry around her so fast it was hard to count them. She makes sure all of them are safely across the road and into the protective brush.

Riding down main street bicycle sculpture.

We camped at Grand Junction KOA, a very nice campground, level sites, big shade trees, great showers and welcoming staff and owners. The downtown main street was filled with whimsical public art. A sculptor was truly inspired when they created this cast metal stature of a cute casual bicyclist.

View from the Rim Road.

Bicycling in Dinosaur National Monument.

The next day we bicycled the 36-mile Colorado National Monument Bicycle Loop. We started at the south entrance and 30 minutes and 4 miles later we reached the Rim Road at the top of the 2,300 ft. climb.  The Rim Road was an easy 20-mile ride to the Visitor Center at the north entrance. It follows as close to the mesa rim as a road can possibly get with dizzy aerial views over the cliffs to the valleys below. The decent off the mesa was a fast 10 minutes. What a ride.

Our next destination is Dinosaur National Monument to ride our bikes on the Canyon View Road on the Colorado side of the Monument. The road is a roller coaster of steep ups and downs. Crowds of spring wildflowers lined the roads to cheer us on.  We saw a Golden and a Bald Eagle during our ride.

Wild flower bloom at Dinosaur National Monument.



Lunch on a ledge.

After the ride we have lunch on a shady cliff ledge with a view not to be found at any restaurant on the interstate.



Our camp at Mann's Campground in Flaming Gorge.

That night we landed at Mann’s Campground in Flaming Gorge. This is a very nice spot with 6 sites, no hookups but other amenities like a stream, lots of birds, and an incredible view of the jagged fault ridges.








Sunset on the jagged fault at Mann's Campground.

Fossil Butte National Monument.

As we traveled on towards Jackson, WY, we stop at Fossil Butte National Monument. The fossil quarries here are world famous for their fish fossils. The Visitor Center brings this bountiful ancient lake to life again through its excellent displays. We hiked the Historic Quarry Trail to the first quarry. It’s an interesting history about the desert rats that had a passion for fossils.

The stairway at the fossil quarry.

Alpine Campground, WY.

We camp at Alpine Campground on Alpine Lake near Afton, WY, then take the highway up the Snake River to Jackson stopping for a look at the Big Kahuna Rabid, a big exclamation point in any raft trip down the Snake.

Our next stop will be Jackson, WY.

More to come.

Jackie

Big Kahuna Rapid on the Snake River.

Sorry for the quality of the photos. It seems to be a google problem as my photos are high quality and only look this bad in this program. - Jackie