Montana

Tue 20th Sept. First hike in Glacier National Park and it was excellent however very chilly. Got down to 3.2°C overnight and it was about 5.5°C and cloudy when we set off for our hike, with fresh dusting of snow on the mountains - certainly had to break into our winter wardrobe. The hike went alongside Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine before starting to climb steady above the emerald colour of Grinnell Lake. Again I loved all the reds and greens of the rocks, and with the white dusting of snow was just so picturesque walking up the valley. Near the top, there was a black grizzly bear quite a distance away, so wasn't able to get a good photo. The end of the hike was at Upper Grinnell Lake (1992m), with Grinnell Glacier behind it. Definitely one lake I had no intention of swimming in, with the water temperature measured at 1.9°C, and the air temperature at 5.3°C, it was gloves, hat and three upper layers of clothes. On the way back down we went along the top of Lake Josephine and took the track to Grinnell Lake and a little side detour up to Hidden Falls. Then back we went continuing along the south side track past the Lakes and coming out at the massive Many Glacier Hotel, which was opened in July 1915. It is only open about 12 weeks of the year - July to September, it is already closed for the season, as it can get up to 60 ft of snow here - up to the third floor of the hotel. As we were heading back to the van at 4.40pm the sun finally decided to make an apperance but it was still cold about 10°C. Normally we look forward to a can of Pepsi when we get back from a hike, today all we wanted was a cup of hot chocolate. Hike stats: 24.65 km, active time 5 hrs 48, elevation gain 747m. Steps V 38722. It is now 9.30 pm and the temperature outside is 1.4°C burrr.Read more