Will You Be My Huckleberry?

Glacier National Park, Montana, Big Sky Country, and Big Foot

We arrived just outside of the park entrance last night. We decided to rent a cabin instead of reserving a hotel room. The places we have stayed in the Pacific Northwest haven’t had air conditioning, and we haven’t needed it. We checked in and had dinner at a local diner. For dessert, we had huckleberry pie a la mode, and boy was it good. Huckleberries grow wild in Montana and sell for as much as $60 a gallon. They say it grows everywhere so I am sure the locals pick their own.

Cute cabin with bunk beds

Cool enough for a fire

Once again there were some Big Foot sightings. As I walk through the woods I am on Big Foot high alert. He sure travels a lot.

Big foot crossing, Beware!

After a very restful night, we traveled into the Glacier National Park. As we entered the valley that was once an ancient sea. You would never have guessed it today.

The first sight we saw was Lake Mcdonald. It’s a huge lake that draws its water from the glacier melts. The water was very clear with a blue hue.

Lake Mcdonald

Looking at the bottom of Lake Mcdonald. The water was crystal clear.

Next, we decided to hike the Avalanche trail. I am going to try and take you on the journey with me. The beginning of the trail was the valley of pines. Throughout time the Kootenai and Salish peoples have revered this as a special place, with special qualities. We were among ancient trees here, some were around when Peter the Great ruled Russia (1682), and when Sacajawea helped guide Lewis and Clark to the pacific. When we walked around these trees, I wondered what stories they could tell.

The trail was about 4 miles roundtrip, with elevation gains of only 500 feet. It gets it’s name from the avalanches in the winter into the lake.

One of the first unusual pines we saw was the black cottonwood. It stood straight and tall with bark that had deep grooves.

Black Cottonwood

We then cross a wooden bridge with the river crushed between giant boulders almost creating a waterfall.

Following the river, it had a very swift current as the river takes a turn.

We continue our hike, and discover a whole mountainside of moss growing to the right of the path.

Moss was growing on the trees and rocks for as far as you could see

Continuing on, we see a forest of trees straight and narrow. Growing as close as their branches would allow.

We then hiked up and down coming on an area that looked to have some form of destruction lately. Trees were down like a powerful storm had hit. Looking around we noticed a mule deer looking at us from a distance as he ate. We stood there for a few minutes admiring his beauty with his large ears, careful not to spook him.

With more hiking to go, we continued till the river was again to the left of us and noticed a small waterfall coming off the side of a huge black rock that formed the other side of the mountain.

As we hike away from the water, the trail climbs in elevation and clears to more plants and trees with the sun gleaming out from behind the clouds.

Green Rock on trail

As we walk the trail we see a lot of red and green rocks. The red rocks oxidized years ago with iron and the green rocks were underwater with no oxidation.

As we near the end of the hike going up, we see a pathway of small plants on our right leading to some pit toilets.

Pit Toilet is what they called it

After our bathroom break, we walk down to the opening of Avalanche Lake. We are stunned at what was now directly in front of us. There are 3 waterfalls that are melting from Sperry Glacier into the lake. So, in essence, we go from the pit toilets to the view you now see from your hike up the Avalanche Trail.

Panoramic view

3 waterfalls from glacier melt in June

Glacier is hidden behind the mountains

Up at Avalanche Lake, we had 2 visitors that apparently were use to people. After asking the locals both were chipmunks, one was similar to our chipmunks and the other was about the size of a small squirrel with different stripes down it’s back.

I hope you enjoyed your 4-mile hike as much as we did. The views were amazing! So far, this has been my favorite park. Pictures really don’t give just to how it really looks. Montana is a beautiful state with lots of hiking, rafting, and canoeing. I encourage everyone to visit GNP and Montana.

Hannah and Brandee find you travel assignments in Montana, you won’t be disappointed! It stays daylight until 10 pm!

My flowers of Glacier National Park

Left is Beargrass

Also our special treat from the great state of Montana, Otter Water, has to be just for us.

Only 4.5% Alcohol by Volume

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