Chief Mountain, Glacier National Park, Montana
©2004 Duleepa Wijayawardhana
Album Notes
My "explore-Canada-and-the-world" trip for 2004 (usually centered around my coveted Canada Day on July 1) concentrated on Waterton National Park in southern Alberta and the adjoining Glacier National Park in Montana (yes I realize it was Canada Day). I had read in a book of world's greatest hikes that Glacier was a place not to be missed.
The three day Glacier and Montana tour took us to Okotomi Lake near St. Mary's in the park, up 4,350 feet to Mt. Brown Lookout near Lake MacDonald, Two Medicine Lake in East Glacier and Apgar Village at Lake MacDonald. Of course one should not forget the aptly named and unbelievable stretch of mountain road called the "Going to the Sun" Road that climbs and circumnavigates Logan Pass (elevation 6000+ feet).
The Okotomi Lake hike is an 8km trail into the heart of the park. We were surrounded by mountain flowers the entire distance. I would heartily recommend this hike to anyone, it is relatively light hiking and on a good sunny day, very enjoyable. The lake itself, though nice, was not that spectacular.
Mt. Brown Lookout is marked "strenuous" on the hiking list for obvious reasons. It is a straight 5.4 mile, 4,350 ft climb up the side of Mt. Brown. We got to the top in three solid hours of hiking only to be met by the guardian of the lookout, an errant mountain goat looking for human companionship. He sat down to try and have lunch with us and even sniffed my boots. The next time I climb this, I fully intend to do the entire Mt. Brown. We ran back down the entire stretch in a record one hour. Very well worth it. Oh and by the way, it is strenuous.
After Mt. Brown and beset with rain we headed straight for East Glacier to see Two Medicine Lake and the plains of Montana, returning to a spectacular sunset at Apgar Village, capped with fresh lake trout at Eddies Restaurant and roasted marshmellows by our own campfire.
Glacier National Park - recommended by Dups to one and all!!! :) Of the 300 photos I took around Glacier, the following best capture just a few of my memories.
On this trip -- Bill and Jill Olmsted and Delphine Lagard.
