Day 6, August 18

Day 6, August 18

Locations: Glacier NP: Many Glacier Road; Logan Pass; Bowman Lake

Miles driven: 228

Click map to enlarge

I woke up some time after 6:00, but stayed in the truck until just before 7:00 as there was a crew getting horses ready for the day directly in front of me. I didn't want to draw attention to myself by crawling out of the 4Runner if I wasn't supposed to be camping there. There was finally a break in the action and I exited out the back door and got right back into the driver's seat and took off. It was a very dreary morning with low clouds and it started to rain again just before 8:00. I didn't have anywhere I wanted to be due to the weather, so I was just going to wing it.

I drove back over Logan Pass at 9:20 where it was still raining. There was a light dusting of snow that fell overnight on the upper portion of the mountains as well just as the forecast called for. I descended the west side and pulled over at one of the large pullouts near the Avalanche area that overlooks McDonald Creek. I heated up the first of six cups of soup (beef ramen noodle) that my mom and dad had given me. I hadn't had one of these before, and it really hit the spot on this rather chilly day. I was definitely already looking forward to slurping down the next ones!

After I finished the soup, I walked down to river level where there was a pool of emerald water that had caught my eye to stop at the adjacent pullout to begin with. I then drove up short of the pass and hung out in various pullouts around the Birdwoman Falls Overlook for most of the afternoon. I spent much of the time shooting the low hanging clouds. There were a couple of patches of blue sky that were exposed around noon, and I began to get hopeful that it would clear a bit more as the day progressed. The sky gradually began to get more clear, and by late afternoon, there was quite a bit of blue sky. Along with the now possible distant views, I could tell the smoke that had been around yesterday, had cleared out. Hopefully, for good.

I was sure hoping for a nice sunset where I was planning to be at Bowman Lake. Sweet light during or after clearing storms always makes for the most dramatic images, so I just prayed that the conditions would remain favorable and that the clouds weren't in any real hurry to clear out now that the sun had a clear path through from the west.

I left my perch near the Logan summit and headed for Bowman Lake. The drive up to Polebridge was nice as I felt the warm sun enter in on the driver’s side and the sky was rich blue, which was a wonderful change of pace from the past two days. I was extremely thankful the smoke had cleared. There was the slightest touch of haze, but it wasn’t anything to speak of. Though the sunset didn’t have the drama I had hoped for, clouds remained in place allowing for some wonderful photographs. I stayed until just before dark soaking up the scene before me. There was a couple that were getting ready for a moonlight canoe ride on the lake. Now that would’ve been awesome to experience. I ended up leaving the lake just as they started out around 8:30.

I still wasn't sure where I wanted to shoot sunrise tomorrow, whether it be on the west or east side of the park. I thought about camping along the Hay Creek Road near Polebridge and possibly shoot sunrise near the pass or possibly at one of the lakes on the east side. I finally made up my mind that I would try for Swiftcurrent Lake. So, all the way back over Logan Pass I went! The sky had totally cleared by this time and the drive over the pass was breathtaking as the mountains were being silhouetted by the full rising moon. I could only imagine what the couple floating on Bowman Lake were seeing. I really wanted to stop and enjoy the view for awhile, but it was getting late and I knew I wanted to be up for sunrise.

I descended the east side of the pass and started up the Many Glacier Road. I found a spot just outside the park entrance near the Lake Sherburne dam on the south side of the road and pulled in around 11:00. I had made a mental note of the area on my first pass through here yesterday afternoon. There were two other backup alternatives, but this spot seemed best. There was a large mud hole filled with water that blocked sure access to a spot that lies in the trees. I decided not to test it, so I parked just before the puddle where 4Runner would still be visible from the road about 100 yards away. I hoped that no one would be shining their lights over my way, though with the full moonlight that was beaming down on the sheet metal, I don't think one would need any auxiliary lighting to find me. I didn’t worry about being approached to be told I couldn’t camp here as I was too tired.

9:37 AM — Rain on Logan Pass