Mountain goats on Highline Trail

Picnic dinner at Bowman

Lake. Sketchy weather did

not dampen anyone's spirit.

Keith saved the day by

climbing a tree and rigging

an ingenious rain fly.

The silver lining:

We witness a spectacular

rainbow that arches over

what else but Rainbow Peak.

On the 1-10 rainbow scale,

it's a 9.9.

Kayaking down the Middle Fork

of the Flathead River.

Dinner at the incomparable

Northern Lights Saloon.

"Wilderness" shopping

at the Polebridge Mercantile

-- what a great bakery!

Maxine crawls into a wolf den

and finds a bone.

Tribal member Daryl Norman

hosts us in his ceremonial

Tipi and tells stories about

Blackfeet history and culture.

We slept in tipis like this

one. Very comfortable, but

challenging to keep the fire

going all night!

<-  We are served an excellent traditional Blackfeet dinner at Darrell Norman's Tipi Village.

Biologist from the ->

Cochrane Ecological

Institute tells us the swift

fox reintroduction story.

Defenders of Wildlife has

been a key player in the

reintroduction, and

Minette Johnson from

Defenders spent part of

the day with us.

Swift foxes - >

are about the size

of house cats,

and can

they motor!

<- Dan Carney, Blackfeet

wildlife biologist, leads the group in search of  grizzly bears and bugling elk.

The historic Glacier Park

Hotel where we spent a night.

Looking for Grizz and other

wildlife while out on a hike

in the Many Glacier area.

Wild Goose Island in Saint Mary Lake on the way to Logan Pass. If you can't take a great picture here, you should turn in your camera.

Logan Pass, 6,646 feet.

The elevation may not be

extreme, but the scenery is.

Our group assembles at the trail head to start the eight-mile hike to Granite Park Chalet on a perfect day.

Looking back toward Logan

Pass, up a classic U-shaped

glaciated valley. Incredible

views in  every direction.

Although it's a long hike,

the trail is fairly flat.

The wildflowers were outstanding, even in September. Abundant Indian paintbrush, and even a little beargrass still blooming.

The frequent wildlife sightings

kept us from focusing on our

tired legs. The bighorn sheep

was only a short distance

off the trail.

Hoary marmots kept us

company along the way.

Their high-pitched whistle

fooled some people who thought

it was other hikers trying

to get our attention.

A perfect spot

for a trailside lunch --

next to a snowbank.

A herd of mountain goats

came by while we were

eating lunch. Jordy, always

ready with his camera,

memorialized the moment.

We could see the chalet, perched on the top of the mountain,

when we were still several miles away. So near, yet so far.

Modeled after Swiss chalets, Granite Peak Chalet is on the

National Registry of Historic Places.

Looking for grizzlies from the chalet.

Marshall was tireless!

 

A spectacular sunset!

The guys hike to

Swiftcurrent Overlook.

The view made the hike

worthwhile.

Glacier wilderness guides

Keith and Stacey provided

great company. So did Karen.

Team picture.