The Ultimate Adventure Report

[Gallowbraid]

Ok, let's talk Montana. So since my stay in California I've had a couple weeks off and two weeks straight of 14 hour work days in Kalispell Montana. The project is beginning to wind down now though and I've had some time to go exploring.

Two days ago I hit up Hungry Horse reservoir in the early evening. What a fantastic area! In the two weeks I have left here I'm definitely going to go back out there for some more exploring. First I checked out the dam. Construction began in 1948 and was completed in 1953. This dam blocks the flow of the Flathead River to form the Hungry Horse reservoir.

The reservoir is surrounded by recreational areas, boat launches and campgrounds. A very cool place.

 

[Gallowbraid]

Yesterday I discovered they had re-opened the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park after completing some road construction a few weeks ago. I jumped at this opportunity to make a complete run of the road! Words don't do justice to the magnificent views inside the park so I won't even try.

Didn't see much wildlife inside the park but when I exited St. Mary's on the east side and headed down Hwy 2 I spotted this guy grabbing some last minute lunch off the side of the road.

 

[Mr. Leary]

Breathtaking scenery. I love the pictures!

 

[TangoBlue]

Montana is an amazing state... must go back.

 

[richard310]

This is an awesome trip report; keep it coming! Man, I'm super jelly!

 

[bob91yj]

My wife grew up in Hungry Horse, right on the Flathead River, sadly we haven't made it back up there since she left in the early '80's. It's on the to-do list. Love the pics, great report!

 

[Gallowbraid]

Packed up this morning and decided to hit up the West side of Glacier. I had intended to check out the Quartz Creek campground but unfortunately Inside North Fork Road was closed on the south end at Camas Creek and at the North end outside of Polebridge. Drove up to Bowman Lake instead and looked at that campground and the lake. Absolutely beautiful. This solidified my plans for this coming summer and the family and I will be returning here in June. On to the cell phone photography!

The park describes this road as primitive, rough and potentially dangerous. They should come drive some of the dirt roads in North Georgia. This road is like new asphalt by comparison!

These were taken from the bridge that crosses Camas Creek. The road was closed just past the bridge. When I reached Polebridge via the Outside North Fork Road the road was closed at that end as well and some large equipment hauling trucks were coming out. NPS must be working on the road now that it's the off season.

More fantastic roads!

Bowman lake is gorgeous. This side of the park doesn't have many marked attractions on the visitors map other than Bowman Lake and Kintla Lake. These lakes seem to be off the beaten track and probably something that most visitors never bother to venture out and explore. This lake not only solidified my travel plans for the summer it also has me searching Craigslist for kayaks! Only about 1/2 the lake is visible in this photo, it continues around the bend on the horizon of the photo.

After admiring the sites I jumped back on Outside North Fork Road and headed for Columbia Falls. I came across a late model GMC truck that was limping along down the road. As I pulled up beside I saw that the front drivers wheel was at a horrible camber. The driver explained he'd been traveling down the road at speed when he heard a horrible noise and the truck jerked to the side. I offered my assistance (with no tools in the rental truck I'm not sure what I could have done) but the driver said he was just going to limp back into cell phone range and call for a tow. I wished him luck and continued on my way.

Some work commitments will probably tie me up for the next couple days but then I have two friends flying in to Kalispell and we're going to do some hiking in the park. Can't wait!

 

[Gallowbraid]

Video of the lake. Could have sat there for hours.

 

[TangoBlue]

Great shots. I recall a similar road going through there, maybe even the same one... travelling through a heavily forested area which then crested a ridge dropping into a valley and was greeted with an area completely deforested by fire - like all vegetation was wiped clean that went throughout the remaining valley. Such power...

Keep them coming!

 

[Jeremy M.]

Looks like a great trip.

 

[Gallowbraid]

My friends flew into Kalispell on Saturday and we've been taking in the sights. First up was a return to the Hungry Horse Reservoir to do a little more exploring. We headed up Lost Johnny Creek Road to the top and did a little climbing around while watching for bears.

After that we headed over to Glacier National Park and went up Going to the Sun Road to the Logan Pass Visitor Center. The remainder of the road is now closed for the season. We stopped along the way and took in the sights.

 

[Gallowbraid]

We headed down late in the day and were treated to some great color from the setting sun.

Today we headed back up into Glacier and hiked the trail from the Logan Pass Visitor Center down to Hidden Lake. We were hoping to see some wildlife but only managed to see a ferocious chipmunk.

My friend John trying to look majestic.

 

[Gallowbraid]

Some photos from my friend John.

Hungry Horse Reservoir:

NO IMAGE FOUND

Some shots from Going to the Sun Road

NO IMAGE FOUND

My friend Jeremy and I admiring the hill where the herd of bears would stampede down from to devour us.

NO IMAGE FOUND

 

[Gallowbraid]

Yesterday we decided to check out the other side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir. We went through Martin City and drove out to the road up to Firefighter Mountain. A nice drive but I really wish I could have aired down the tires on the rental truck to smooth out the ride a bit.

After hitting a gate about a mile or so from the look out tower we struck out on foot and took in the views.

Today we hiked the trail up to Apgar Lookout.

A deer came to visit while we were up at the look out. Didn't seem to care that we were there at all.

Spent most of the hike just soaking in the sites but did get a couple good shots on the way down.

 

[Gallowbraid]

Breathtaking scenery. I love the pictures!

Thanks!

Montana is an amazing state... must go back.

Having now spent a month there and returning to the south I'm trying to figure out why I don't live in Montana.

This is an awesome trip report; keep it coming! Man, I'm super jelly!

There's more coming!

My wife grew up in Hungry Horse, right on the Flathead River, sadly we haven't made it back up there since she left in the early '80's. It's on the to-do list. Love the pics, great report!

Hungry Horse was one of my favorite areas while I was there. Almost an endless system of roads and trails around the reservoir not to mention the areas you could explore via kayak.

Great shots. I recall a similar road going through there, maybe even the same one... travelling through a heavily forested area which then crested a ridge dropping into a valley and was greeted with an area completely deforested by fire - like all vegetation was wiped clean that went throughout the remaining valley. Such power...

Keep them coming!

From the picture I'd say it was the same road, Inside Fork Road. Various parts of the road were closed during my stay but everything I saw there was impressive.

Looks like a great trip.

Best. Trip. Ever. (yet)

 

[Gallowbraid]

So my Montana visit is over and I'm back home. Well, I was home for about 11 hours and then I drove to Charlotte where I'll be for the next three weeks. Not sure what sort of exploring this project will afford me but I can reminisce over one last day in Montana.

On our last full day in Montana we decided to head back into the park and visit John's Lake and Avalanche Lake. We got there early in the morning and hit the trail just as the sun was beginning to clear the peaks. This made for a brisk and invigorating walk to John's Lake down a great forest trail.

We quickly made the short hike to John's Lake and were treated to a smooth as glass surface with the rising sun just hitting the peaks on the opposite side.

After admiring the view and debating the family tree of some ducks on the lake we hit the trail again.

After about 4 1/2 miles of lush forest, more moss than I've ever seen and trees that had been shredded by grizzly claws we made it to Avalanche Campground and the trail head for Avalanche lake. If you visit Glacier National Park and aren't into hiking this is a great place to pull off the road and see some awesome sites without walking 20 miles in a day. Immediately adjacent to the campground is Trail of the Cedars, a handicap accessible walkway that winds through the trees and gets you close to the amazing Avalanche Creek as it cuts its way through the rock.

We kept moving up the trail until we reached Avalanche Lake. If you Google images of this lake you'll notice they're mostly taken in the spring when the snow melt and run off make the waterfalls in the back ground a site to behold. This time of year the water falls are reduced to a trickle comparatively, but the site is still impressive none the less.

This area is one of the more heavily used areas in the park and the trail and shoreline are well worn. The park service is trying to invest funds here to strengthen the shore and protect it for future use along with laying out some long term maintenance projects for the trail. If you have a chance to visit the park throw some donation dollars their way at the visitors center. They're doing some great things to preserve this area for future generations.

 

[Gallowbraid]

Upcoming trips:

First week of January, Houston TX. (Boring)

First week of February, Big Bear CA. Very excited to go back here...I'm sure there will be snow involved.

 

[BlkWgn]

Remind me when it gets closer and I will try and meet you in Big Bear, assuming you want company

 

[richard310]

Big Bear should be great, but hopefully this "el nino" will bring some great weather that we haven't seen much of lately.

 

[Gallowbraid]

Remind me when it gets closer and I will try and meet you in Big Bear, assuming you want company

I'm here! Actually I've been here a week, but seismic permits are kicking my butt. This project is going to be a scramble to the finish, but I might have some free time come Sunday if you're around? Otherwise it'll probably be Wednesday or Thursday of next week. Just let me know.