• 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…

  • Quartz Lake Loop and Looning 2024

    Quartz Lake Loop and Looning 2024

    We wanted to go for a hike in Glacier National Park and the citizen science office needed Common Loon surveys done along the chain of lakes in the Quartz Creek drainage. So we set off to find some loons in Quartz Lake, Middle Quartz Lake, and Lower Quartz Lake. We found a lone loon in…

  • New Going-to-the-Sun Road Driving & Biking Guide now for sale!

    New Going-to-the-Sun Road Driving & Biking Guide now for sale!

    I received a fateful email in July of 2022 from a Hike 734 follower named Yolanda in reply to a newsletter I’d sent out. She explained to me that she used my Going-to-the-Sun Road Driving Guide when she biked the road in the springtime. Her suggestion of adding spring biking information to it was such…

  • The Clowny Ducks

    The Clowny Ducks

    “I’ve got two ducks” cracked the radio. “I’m on my way” I replied back to Ava. We were leapfrogging each other as we worked up McDonald Creek to always have eyes on the water as we surveyed up for this small, charismatic Harlequin Duck. Each spring, the ducks begin their unique west-to-east migration from the…

  • Trailhead Warm-up

    Trailhead Warm-up

    Primed for Adventure A scenic drive coupled with your thermos of coffee or matcha might be all you need to awaken your senses and build excitement and energy for your planned hiking adventure. However, you mustnโ€™t overlook the benefits and value of a quick trailhead warm-up. Perhaps youโ€™ve never considered a dedicated warm-up prior to…

  • Apgar Lookout Spring 2024

    Apgar Lookout Spring 2024

    With the trail being on a south-facing slope, Apgar Lookout is the easiest way to get some elevation in Glacier National Park in the spring. The forecast called for a bluebird day, so we packed our lunches and hit the trail for a lovely spring warmup. Even if Going-to-the-Sun Road was open all the way…