Glacier: Logan Pass

Showing posts with label Logan Pass. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Mountain Goats in Glacier National Park

Mountain goats animals are not true goats but close relatives. They are properly know as goat-antelopes. Rocky mountain goats typically weight between 100 and 300 pounds and have long black horns.

They are amazingly surefooted on rocky slopes. Mountain goats have cloven hooves with two toes that spread wide to improve balance.

Mountain goats are our favorite in Glacier National Park. Each year when the Going to the Sun Road opens we love spotting the goats and in early summer their beautiful white coats still have some shedding to do. They are a favorite to photograph as they almost seem to pose sometimes. We always find them up at Logan Pass, on the Highline Trail, Hidden Lake Trailhead, Goat Lick and many other areas.

Glacier National Parks Weather Makes For A Short Season

The Going to the Sun Road will be gated September 19th at Avalanche Campground to allow construction crews to work on the highway reconstruction project.

The west side of the Going to the Sun Road didn't open this year until mid-July, leaving a short two-month period for use this year.

If you want to visit Logan Pass you will have to enter from the east side before Oct. 19th, weather permitting.

If you want to hike or bike on the west side of the Going to the Sun Road beyond Avalanche campground to Haystack Creek it will be open into October, but there will be restrictions in construction areas.

Check West Glacier Weather HERE

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Glacier National Park Going to the Sun Road

Glacier National Park "Going to the Sun Road"

About 52 miles long, winding around mountain sides and wait until you see the views!

The proposed route was first surveyed in 1918 and completed in 1932. Building this transmountain road, which was literally carved out of the precipitous mountainside for 12 of it's 50-mile length, was a challenging and dangerous task.

The winding road gains more than 1400 feet in 32 miles and crosses the Continental Divide.

West Glacier Gift Shop

Glacier National Park Entrance

Driving along McDonald Creek

Heaven's Peak

The Weeping Wall

Logan Pass

Continental Divide

Elevation

6646 Ft

Logan Pass Vistor's Center

Early 1900's automobiles

Logan Pass Hidden Lake Trailhead Glacier National Park

We left our home in Kalispell with company from Bozeman, headed for Glacier National Park-Logan Pass-Hidden Lake Trail.

The Hidden Lake Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Glacier National Park. The trail to the Hidden Lake Viewpoint is about 3 miles roundtrip. About half of the trail is a boardwalk and remember no going off the trail. Glacier National Park wants to avoid damaging the plant life that grows there.

Logan Pass is on the Continental Divide and the elevation is 6646 feet.

The Mountain Goats are our favorite!!

Logan Pass Vistor's Center

Arrive early for a parking place or you might have to keep circling the parking lot looking for someone leaving.

There is a small gift shop/bookstore/information desk but no food or drinks at the Logan Pass Visitor's Center.

"No words can describe the grandeur and majesty of the mountains, and even photographs seem hopelessly to dwarf and belittle the most impressive peaks."

George Bird Grinnell, (Father of Glacier National Park) 1901

George Bird Grinnell (1849-1938), American anthropologist, scientist, conservationist, publisher, writer and explorer who helped establish Glacier National Park.