Elkhorn, MT ghost town

Elkhorn, MT is an old mining town nestled in the Elkhorn mountains. While it is a State Park it is not really maintained so the building are in a very raw condition which lends to a true ghost town feel. Elkhorn still has some current dwellers with homes mixed among the old buildings. Several old houses and the ruins of the large mine still exist. About a mile hike along a dirt road takes you to the old cemetery in the timber above the town. Many stones of young children are there from a Diphtheria outbreak in late 188 through summer 1889. This is the forth ghost town i have visited in Montana and it is the most rustic and original I have seen.

Mammoth Hot Springs is a unique area of the park with a wonderful wooned walkway taking you all through the ever changing features of the springs.

More Yellowstone

Bison are numerous throughout the park. They are at times uncomfortably close as they hang out near restrooms and trail heads in areas. We had the great fortune of seeing a mother grizzly with her cubs in a floow meadow, a real treat for any visitor to the park.

Yellowstone National Park 2007

Some shots taken on a couple day road trip through Yellowstone in 2007. Gyser Basin has many small spouts spraying endless mists of heated water. A beautiful colored pool near Mammoth hot springs made for a great shot. Udine falls is nestled in a timber covered area and stair steps downward while the Lower Falls are breath taking in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

Natural Bridge Falls

Natural Bridge Falls nestled in the Absaroka Mountains south of Big Timber, MT. This was a really nice park with a cool gorge with look out spots on both sides of the falls.

While Glacier National Park Sleeps

Sinopah mountain looking ominous as snow starts flying in Two Medicine. Snow covers the slopes in Many Glacier and a Baldy Eagle watches the approaching storm along the West side of the park. October in Glacier National Park

Lewis and Clark Caverns

Tina and I made a little trip to Bozeman MT stopping at Lewis and Clark Caverns along the way. The formations were incredible and we enjoyed going through the labyrinth.

Hiking Glacier-Hanging Garden and Hidden Lake

The Hidden lake trailhead is at the Logan Pass visitor center. It is a short mile and a half trek that starts with a long board walk stepping up with the slight incline through the meadow before reaching the Hanging Garden. This ia great spot for close encounters with goats and sheep as they are numerous and show no concern for the many people around them. While this is the most crowded hike I have done in Glcaier it is still a fun little hike with great views in all directions. From this area you have clear views of the Garden Wall and Hidden Lake. While this is anything but off the beaten path it offers enough to the first time adventurer to realize there is so much unseen from the road. When you crest the rise and see the lake and deep vallies you are left wanting to hike every trail to every hidden spot or secluded lake. It is a seed planting spot and for that it is well liked by me. It is what got me started with venturing to deeper areas within the park. It is just one of those spots you simply have to go to each year.

Hiking Glacier-Grinnel Glacier

Mitchell and I had hike into Grinnell lake in 2008 but I was left wanting to see more in this complex. I returned with Kurt in 2009 to hike the upper trail into Grinnell Glacier. This hike would come on the heels of our Iceberg Lake trek the previous day and we felt it. We grudgingly set stiff legs in motion and plodded the six miles of trail up along the mountain side. The views of Grinnell lake were stunning to say the least. This trail, while less eye pleasing, just slightly, than Iceberg lake trail, had some neat features to let the hiker "into" the landscape. We stepped through small streams and snaked narrowly around cliff faces and even walked through a cooling water fall at one point. The most difficult portion of the trail is by far the last mile and a half with a steady climb up rocky terrain but when you crest that last knoll and stare down at the glacier it is truely awe inspiring. It has been reduced dramatically in the past decades but we really appreciated what remains and took special stock in the fact that perhaps as soon as Kurts future kids this my be an empty rock dish and he will only be able to tell them of past hikes as a kid when it was a glorious ice pack. This is a very draining hike in the mid summer heat on tired legs but it is such a humbling and rewarding trek that we will certainly tell stories of it for years to come.

Hiking Glacier-Iceberg Lake

Kurt and I spent 4 days (30 Jul-2 Aug 09) camping and hiking in Glacier National Park. I had planned a few day hikes for this summer into areas I had not yet reached. At the top of my list Iceberg Lake. I would not be disappointed. The trail is one of the most beautiful I have ever hiked, with Ptarmigan Wall towering above on the right and spectacular wild flower meadows and vallies to the left. The trail itself is worth the hike and with Iceberg lake at it conclusion it is simply a must for anyone wanting to hike into the park. Iceberg lake was not very big but it sits in a rocky bowl and chunks of ice dot the mirror surface of the lake. It is prime for reflection photos and creates a very relaxing place to let yourself drift into thought.

Garnett Ghost Town

Garnett Montana, a little ghost town tucked in the mountains just East of Missoula.

"it just becomes mind over matter", "if you don't mind, it don't matter."

"reaching the summit is optional, getting down is mandatory"

-Ed Viesturs on mountain climbing from his book

NO SHORTCUTS TO THE TOP

Kurt and I hiked the Big Snowy Crest trail above Crustal Lake. We peaked out at 8240ft and enjoyed spectacular views. We also ventured through Devil's Chute cave which had nice ice formations from dripping water. We hiked a spur trail into Crystal Cascades which is serious of falls over layers of rock. At about 6300ft elevation the trails cut through large scree fields which have fossils of shells. Larkspur and other wild flowers where in bloom making the area even more eye catching.

We had fun on our 11.9 mile hump and the scenery was worth the soar legs. The Big Snowy mountains are a fun place to spend some time hiking or camping and I am sure I will end up there more on future treks.

From Logan Pass visitor center we picked up the Highline Trail head. This 11.6 mile trek strats off hugging the rocky clif before leading us along the Garden Wall. We moved along under the watch of Bishop's Cap and the Salemander. Portions of the trail still held snow and we encounterd many small run off streams. Goats and Sheep are encountered close up along the trail. The views are nothing short of spectacular with long vistas of the mountains and vallies.

Cedar root system! A peak of Avalanche Lake along the trail. This 2.9 mile hike has a little of everything from a nice board walk through massive Cedars, Avalanche creek pouring through a narrow gorge with beautiful rock formations, lush fern and wild flowers along the trail and of course the lake itself set in a semi-circle of peaks with mountains falls cascading down like thin white ribbons from high snow pack.

Avalanche Creek running through a narrow gorge. This is just up from the trail of cedars loop and leads to Avalanche lake.

Canoe on Two Medicine lake

Mitch and I took a canoe ride up the length of Two Medicine lake. Sinopah is th large peak just right of center here. Two Medicine is our favorite camping spot in Glacier National Park.

Makoshika State Park-East Montana

Makoshika State Park in Eastern Montana. I spent the past few days camping in these bad lands and taking in the spectacular vistas of natural wonder. This is a great place to witness first hand the effects of erosion as well as to view thousands of years of natural history in the layers of the rocks.

Kootenai Falls and Swinging Bridge

Kootenai Falls near Libby Montana and the Swinging Bridge. A great little trail and fun spot to stop.

Apgar-West Glacier

Lake McDonald seen from dock at early dawn and from Apgar look out!
This was an early season camping trip when just a few of the campgrounds are open and the peaks are still holding a lot of snow.