This was not an intended ski day, but since hiking trails from Logan Pass were still closed or snowbound and we had our ski gear it was our most attractive option for the final day or our trip. Glacier National Park was a good place to be during the western heat wave, which never affected us through the end of June. We were warned that our 14 mile RT hike over 6,900 foot Swiftcurrent Pass from Many Glacier on June 30 would be cold and windy but it was very comfortable. When we crossed to the west side of the park on July 1 it was 93F at Lake McDonald. And after skiing July 2 it was 96F when we arrived in Whitefish.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is always slow and busy on nice summer days, but this year there is also a construction project on its west side with ~20 minute delays. Thus we were not geared up for our hike at the Logan Pass Visitor Center until about 10:30AM.
We could dress light as it was probably close to 70F.
We also stopped for awhile because here’s what we saw at the top of the stairs.
These guys were no more than 50 yards away from the steady stream of tourists hiking over the snow SW to the Hidden Lake overlook.
We headed more due west toward the base of Clements Mt.
There was one short strip of scree to cross.
The snow was soft but supportable for hiking. Nonetheless we hiked in footsteps of a couple resting near where I planned to ski. Liz hiking with Garden Wall and Going-to-the-Sun Road in background.
The Highline Trail remained closed because during the previous week someone slipped on the shaded snow patch above and just right of Liz in the picture, slid all the way to the road and died.
It turns out the couple from Whitefish were not skiers but had snowbikes which they were using as comfortable chairs to admire the view and look for wildlife with binoculars.
One of them took our picture when we arrived.
To our south was Reynolds Mt.
Hidden Lake overlook hikers are barely visible on a dirt strip lower center.
Liz starting to ski.
I skied a NE facing diagonal line.
The snow was moderately suncupped but so warm the suncup edges were not firm. My ski route in red.
My line was not continuously visible to Liz, so she traversed/skied far looker’s left in the above pic and then descended among the Hidden Lake hikers.
Total skiing was 750 vertical feet.
After a hike or ski from Logan Pass on a warm day, the Weeping Wall is a good place to cool off.
Logan Pass is not nearly as good a ski destination as the Beartooth Highway. But the scenery is impressive, and if you’re going to hike in snow, why not use skis for the descent? This was Liz’ first July ski day in the Northern Hemisphere. She skied in Chile after the July 2010 solar eclipse.
We were quite impressed with Glacier National Park, as well as Waterton across the border in Canada. I’ll hopefully get around to the non-ski reports later this month.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is always slow and busy on nice summer days, but this year there is also a construction project on its west side with ~20 minute delays. Thus we were not geared up for our hike at the Logan Pass Visitor Center until about 10:30AM.
We could dress light as it was probably close to 70F.
We also stopped for awhile because here’s what we saw at the top of the stairs.
These guys were no more than 50 yards away from the steady stream of tourists hiking over the snow SW to the Hidden Lake overlook.
We headed more due west toward the base of Clements Mt.
There was one short strip of scree to cross.
The snow was soft but supportable for hiking. Nonetheless we hiked in footsteps of a couple resting near where I planned to ski. Liz hiking with Garden Wall and Going-to-the-Sun Road in background.
The Highline Trail remained closed because during the previous week someone slipped on the shaded snow patch above and just right of Liz in the picture, slid all the way to the road and died.
It turns out the couple from Whitefish were not skiers but had snowbikes which they were using as comfortable chairs to admire the view and look for wildlife with binoculars.
One of them took our picture when we arrived.
To our south was Reynolds Mt.
Hidden Lake overlook hikers are barely visible on a dirt strip lower center.
Liz starting to ski.
I skied a NE facing diagonal line.
The snow was moderately suncupped but so warm the suncup edges were not firm. My ski route in red.
My line was not continuously visible to Liz, so she traversed/skied far looker’s left in the above pic and then descended among the Hidden Lake hikers.
Total skiing was 750 vertical feet.
After a hike or ski from Logan Pass on a warm day, the Weeping Wall is a good place to cool off.
Logan Pass is not nearly as good a ski destination as the Beartooth Highway. But the scenery is impressive, and if you’re going to hike in snow, why not use skis for the descent? This was Liz’ first July ski day in the Northern Hemisphere. She skied in Chile after the July 2010 solar eclipse.
We were quite impressed with Glacier National Park, as well as Waterton across the border in Canada. I’ll hopefully get around to the non-ski reports later this month.
