This is the first of a series of five posts pertaining to a week-long trip of Glacier National Park in August 2013.
Date: August 11, 2013
Location: Glacier National Park, MT
After flying into Kalispell on August 10, I set out the next day to hike the Logan Pass area. I was staying in West Glacier and walked 2 miles to get to the Apgar Transit Center at around 8:40 a.m. I had to wait till 9:30 a.m. to get the hiker shuttle due to a long queue, and then we made our way along Lake McDonald with stops at Apgar Village, Lake Mcdonald Lodge etc., and a transfer to a smaller shuttle at the Avalanche Creek Campground. After a scenic ride, I was finally at Logan Pass by 11:00 a.m. and made haste to set out on the Highline Trail which I wanted to hike up to Haystack Butte and then return to do the Hidden Lake Overlook hike.
The trailhead is across the road from the Logan Pass Visitor Center. Near the trailhead, I met a group of four hikers (Pat, Hoby, Keri, and Judy) and ended up walking and conversing with them up to Haystack Butte. Pat and Hoby stopped as frequently as I did to take photographs and so our pace matched well too!
At Haystack Butte (3.5 miles from the trailhead), I parted ways with my companions who were planning to hike up to Granite Park Chalet and then descend to the Loop (incidentally that was a hike I had once contemplated while planning the trip, but then decided against it in favor of a portion of the Highline followed by one to the Hidden Lake overlook). I stopped to have a bite and then made my way back to Logan Pass, stopping frequently (as usual) to take photographs of squirrels, wildflowers, and panoramic views!
By around 3:10 or 3:15 p.m., I was back at Logan Pass where I rested awhile before starting on my second hike of the day -- to the Hidden Lake overlook.
Date: August 11, 2013
Location: Glacier National Park, MT
After flying into Kalispell on August 10, I set out the next day to hike the Logan Pass area. I was staying in West Glacier and walked 2 miles to get to the Apgar Transit Center at around 8:40 a.m. I had to wait till 9:30 a.m. to get the hiker shuttle due to a long queue, and then we made our way along Lake McDonald with stops at Apgar Village, Lake Mcdonald Lodge etc., and a transfer to a smaller shuttle at the Avalanche Creek Campground. After a scenic ride, I was finally at Logan Pass by 11:00 a.m. and made haste to set out on the Highline Trail which I wanted to hike up to Haystack Butte and then return to do the Hidden Lake Overlook hike.
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| Hike track |
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| Elevation Plot |
The trailhead is across the road from the Logan Pass Visitor Center. Near the trailhead, I met a group of four hikers (Pat, Hoby, Keri, and Judy) and ended up walking and conversing with them up to Haystack Butte. Pat and Hoby stopped as frequently as I did to take photographs and so our pace matched well too!
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| The trailhead |
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| Pollack Mountain |
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| The trail descends. Mt. Oberlin is to the left. |
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| The notorious scary section is not so scary after all... (GTTS road is visible below) |
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| Valley view |
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| The trail winding its way towards Haystack butte; Gem glacier is also visible as a white triangle behind the Garden Wall |
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| Mt. Oberlin; beargrass stalks visible in the foreground |
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| A brilliant patch of Fireweed next to the trail |
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| Haystack Butte |
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| Edge of Gem Glacier is visible behind the arete formed by the Garden Wall |
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| Common yarrow |
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| Subalpine spiraea |
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| Mountain goats near Haystack Butte |
At Haystack Butte (3.5 miles from the trailhead), I parted ways with my companions who were planning to hike up to Granite Park Chalet and then descend to the Loop (incidentally that was a hike I had once contemplated while planning the trip, but then decided against it in favor of a portion of the Highline followed by one to the Hidden Lake overlook). I stopped to have a bite and then made my way back to Logan Pass, stopping frequently (as usual) to take photographs of squirrels, wildflowers, and panoramic views!
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| Monkeyflower |
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| Squirrel nibbling at a stalk |
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| Looking towards Logan pass; the trapezium shaped summit is Reynolds Mountain |
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| View of nearby summits (using a telephoto lens) |
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| Indian Paintbrush |
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| Alpine Aster |
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| Fireweed |
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| Mountain Buttercup |
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| Brown-eyed Susan |
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| Fringed Grass of Parnassus |
By around 3:10 or 3:15 p.m., I was back at Logan Pass where I rested awhile before starting on my second hike of the day -- to the Hidden Lake overlook.
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