Salty Legs and Mountain Goats

The water was freezing on my bare feet. It took my breath away as I slipped into the creek coming out of Gunsight Lake in Glacier National Park. After a hot and sweaty hike from Going to the Sun Highway trailhead the water felt extra icy after taking my boots off.

The knee deep water and slick unstable rock kept me off balance and seized my private parts.  I struggled to keep my camera from getting soaked. I couldn’t believe the pain. The faster I tried to move the more I flailed making a fool of myself. I should have left my boots on.

This moderate to strenuous hike began just east of Logan Pass at the Jackson Glacier Overlook trailhead. I dropped down to the valley floor about two hundred feet and met up with the St. Mary River. This part of the forest was marshy and the heavy scented Cow Parsnips were as tall as any of the fellow hikers along the trail.

Gunsight Lake and Pass, Glacier

Hot sunny skies and humid air brought out the mountain mosquitoes that enjoyed getting behind my glasses and buzzing up my nose and whining in my ears.  On this part of the trail you feel vary hemmed in by all the vegetative overgrowth.

Still being new at the time to backpacking in Glacier all I could think about was that I was in Grizzly country. It kept my heart pumping and senses alert with anticipation.

Continuing along the trail I crossed Reynolds Creek and the juncture of Florence Creek just passed the 4 mile marker. It was at this point where the views started to open up and the air got lighter and much less humid. Both Mount Logan and Jackson pulled my spirit up into the higher country. I continued to climb along the east slope of Fusillade Mountain with wildflowers, especially the three to four foot tall Beargrass, in full bloom.

At a little under 6.5 miles I found myself at Gunsight Lake with its crystal clear waters reflecting blue skies with the glacial carved headwall and pass at the other end. After a brief rest I set up camp and glassed the trail heading up the next 1,600 foot elevation gain to the pass above.

The trail crosses the outlet of Gunsight Lake with a suspension bridge but it was washed out from the winter snow runoff. This was where I waded in shoeless nearly dumping my camera and myself in the drink. Thus I began the three mile trek up to the Pass.

Hiker mending backpack

The vistas were excellent with a steep drop off to the Lake on the right and ribboned waterfalls, cascading all along the Gunsight headwall. I glaciated down several snowfields that covered the trail and scrambled across a few patches of scree but progress was steady.

Three quarters of the way up the 6,947 foot pass several mountain goats were dinning on glacier lilies and a mineral lick. They were not bothered by me and barely moved aside as I continued on up the steep switchbacks finialy making it to the saddle of the Pass.

I dropped my pack and then myself, exhausted from the climb. Several other hikers were sunning themselves. Mountain goats were everywhere.

Salt licking goat

Looking over the pass to Lake Ellen Wilson was stunning. It was an exceptional panorama with a deep blue lake at the bottom and views stretching a hundred miles.  I scaled along large boulders and dwarfed pine trees exploring the area photographing more goats before returning to my pack in the alpine grass.

A guy from Utah was trying to mend his backpack. Marmots had chewed the leather shoulder straps off his pack while he was off exploring. His sweat left minerals dried into the pads and his fifty pound pack was left utterly useless. I gave him some rope and he tried to make due before his descent to Lake Ellen Wilson and Sperry Glacier Cabin for the night.

Mountain Goat

With lunch came more goats. Closer and closer until one started licking my legs to get at the sweaty salt. His big black tongue was like neoprene blotting at my knees and calves. The experience only added to the memorable landscape. I had forgotten the hot nine mile uphill trail with mosquitoes and the thoughts of bears that were not there.

Yes, an adventurous excursion well worth the effort.

For readers who might be interested in further travel journals on Glacier National Park and Montana Wilderness Areas check out these posts:
http://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2009/05/02/crown-of-the-continent
http://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/lee-metcalf-wilderness
http://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2009/03/28/yellowstone-national-park
http://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/absaroka-beartooth-wilderness

For travel information about Glacier National Park try these websites:
Web cams: http://www.nps.gov/glac/whatsnew.htm

Maps: http://www.nps.gov/glac/maps.htm

Natural resources: http://www.nps.gov/glac/resources.htm

Trail status and maps: http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hikingthetrails.htm

Bear information: http://www.nps.gov/glac/resources/bears.htm

Park publications: http://data2.itc.nps.gov/glac/inforequest/inforequest3.cfm

Park news: http://www.nps.gov/glac/pphtml/news.html

Park photos: http://www.nps.gov/glac/photos.htm
Frequently ask questions: http://www.nps.gov/glac/faq.htm

All images are copyrighted by Wayne Scherr, 2009, All Rights Reserved. No image may be linked to or downloaded without the written authorization of Wayne Scherr, Range of Vision Photography. Prints and or scans are available for purchase or lease. Please contact me through email: wayne@rangeofvisionphotos.com or through my web site at http://www.rangeofvisionphotos.com