• Backpacking to Grace Lake – 2024

    Backpacking to Grace Lake – 2024

    Grace Lake is tucked up in the Logging Creek drainage past the long Logging Lake. Unlike Logging Lake, Grace Lake has towering mountains dropping to the edge of its shoreline and its location lends itself to more solitude. Our assignment was to do another Mountain Goat/Bighorn Sheep survey for the Citizen Science Program. Only a…

  • Pitamakan Pass 2024

    Pitamakan Pass 2024

    Pitamakan Pass in the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park straddles two gorgeous drainages filled with stunning lakes and craggy peaks… oh and the huckleberries can be really good too! We rolled up to the trailhead at Pray Lake as the sun was coming over the horizon. Armed with a scope, tripod, and binoculars,…

  • Snyder Lakes 2024

    Snyder Lakes 2024

    Tucked amongst towering walls lies a pair of lovely lakes. While no trail reaches the upper lake, the 4.5 mile trail from Lake McDonald Lodge takes you to the lower of Snyder Lakes. First through the lovely cedar hemlock forest, then through the burned area with birds and flowers galore. On a predominantly overcast day,…

  • Lake Francis Backpack 2024

    Lake Francis Backpack 2024

    After taking a boat down from Waterton to Goat Haunt, we backpacked to the stunning Lake Francis for a quick overnighter. With the tall walls of The Sentinel towering overhead and a lovely waterfall feeding the lake, it’s a perfect spot to get away. Loon Days occur around the third week in July every year.…

  • Highline Trail – 2024

    Highline Trail – 2024

    When the word was out that the Highline Trail was open, we heard the trail calling. It had been awhile since we’d hiked Glacier National Park’s epic stroll, so we gathered our packs to the high country for wildflowers, wildlife, and epic views all day. There’s something very cool about driving up to the Continental…

  • Lincoln Lake 2024

    Lincoln Lake 2024

    Since the last time I’ve hiked Lincoln Lake in Glacier National Park (over 13 years ago), a forest fire came through. The result is a hike that’s teeming with life and views looking to the surrounding mountains. While it’s still not a top ten hike, the changed landscape makes this a much more enjoyable hike…

  • Upper Beaver Meadows Loop

    Upper Beaver Meadows Loop

    We’re taking you to Rocky Mountain National Park on this Throwback Thursday blog as we continue to work through our backlog of blogs! The Upper Beaver Meadows Loop in Rocky Mountain National Park makes for a delightful day of hiking for fans of flowers, birds, and views with its variety of meadows and forested areas.…

  • Numa Ridge Lookout – 2024

    Numa Ridge Lookout – 2024

    A lovely flower and bird-filled forested ridge takes you up to a perch where Numa Ridge Lookout gives striking views of Bowman Lake and craggy summits like Rainbow Peak. We headed up to the lookout to do a bighorn sheep/mountain goat survey as part of Glacier National Park’s citizen science project and spied two goats…

  • Better Balance: Prevent fall-related injuries on the trail

    Better Balance: Prevent fall-related injuries on the trail

    Navigating uneven terrain when hiking requires good neuromuscular (brain-muscle) coordination, control, and balance to prevent falls and fall-related injuries. We’ve all been tripped up by a sneaky tree root or rock on the trail, but the difference between staying upright versus falling depends on your neuromuscular reaction time coupled with effective muscle control. The muscles…