Day 8, August 20

Day 8, August 20

Locations: Glacier NP: St. Mary Lake; Hidden Lake; Lake McDonald

Miles driven: 142

Click map to enlarge

I woke up a half-hour later than I planned as I either didn’t hear my alarm or didn’t set it right. I’m the furthest thing from a morning person, so I certainly didn’t mind the extra sleep, but when bringing back pictures are on the line, I have to make the most of my opportunities. The skies remained clear, but I still wanted a St. Mary Lake sunrise. I hurried on over to the Wild Goose Island Overlook since the sun had already made its way down the peaks a ways, but as I was driving up the road, the moon was close to setting on the scene I was wanting to capture. I wasn’t expecting that, so I was even in more of a hurry than I already was. At 6:50, I saw a black bear #2 for a brief moment on the side of the road. I arrived at the overlook and I got my tripod setup in the extremely strong wind. I knew the 4x5 was definitely not an option, unless I wanted to fly it like a kite, so I shot everything with the Rebel. The light wasn’t its warmest at this point, but the moon was a nice touch.

After the moon set behind Fullisade Mountain, I headed up to Logan Pass and got everything put together for a hike up to Hidden Lake. I started out on the well-traveled 1.5-mile trail which has a boardwalk for a good ways up. I was just clicking away firing snapshots left and right along the whole route. It was a beautiful day. I wished there were a number more clouds, but I couldn’t complain. At one point, I passed a couple along the ascent. I offered to trade packs as the pack the guy was carrying was small, and my pack, well, not really! They politely declined after they looked at my pack. I thought, “That’s no way to make friends!”

Just before arriving at the overlook, I passed a couple of goats enjoying their time in the morning sun. After arriving at the overlook, I briefly scouted the area where I could set up since I didn’t want to be in the middle of all the tourists that would likely be arriving soon and standing on the deck. I found a lichen covered rock just below. After I got set up on my perch, the two goats I walked by earlier came over to a ledge at eye level about four feet away checking me out to see what I was doing. They’re generally rather tame animals to begin with, but I’m sure they weren’t as intimidated as they’d normally be since I wasn’t taller than them. The couple (Bill and Kay Erdman) I had passed earlier, from Florida, were watching the event from the overlook deck along with a father (Bing Wang) and his two children from Chicago. Bill made the comment that he thought the goats liked me. I figured it was the fact that I hadn’t showered in a week and they were smelling something very fishy! We got to talking and Bill ended up asking where he could see my pictures. I guess my 4x5 drew the attention as it often does. I mentioned my site would be the easiest way to view them and handed each of them my web site business card. I had received emails from each of them after I returned home which was great to see. Bing also sent me a few of his pictures from Glacier as well which was cool.

After shooting all the pictures I wanted at Hidden Lake, I walked back down the trail to a completely packed parking lot at the visitor center. It was nuts as it always is during a summer day. I then drove down to the Sprague Creek Campground for a few hours to relax. I fixed some tortellini, washed my dirty head in the restroom facility, and changed out my first 24 sheets of film. I also shaved since I wasn’t digging the Grizzly Adams look.

It was now 4:00 and I headed over to the Lake McDonald shore below the Apgar picnic grounds. I paced the shore and had debated if I wanted to shoot here for sunset or if I wanted to head back up to Bowman Lake. Even though Bowman Lake is an awesome setting and I could shoot every sunset from there for the rest of the trip, I figured I wanted more variety, so I decided to stay put. I just relaxed on the shore for a couple of hours enjoying the view. At one point, I walked over around the point towards the Apgar Village Lodge where my family had stayed on our trip up here in 1994, and there was a church service going just in a bit from this point. I may have attended had I known there would be a service. I thought their small window view through the trees overlooking the lake on this very pleasant afternoon would’ve been something to experience. My decision to stay here turned out to be a wise choice as I had great cloud color at sunset.

After I was done shooting at Lake McDonald, I headed back over Logan, and as I crested the summit, the moon had just risen creating a massive warm glow with its immense size at this stage. Suddenly, I had a craving for cheese! And like it was two nights prior with the full moon, seeing the mountain skyline silhouettes and peak after peak was a very awe inspiring site and I’m glad I was up there to take it all in. On the way down, I stopped at an overlook above St. Mary Lake and had tried my hand at picture taking at night with the moon shining on the lake.

I camped at the spot where I had been the previous two nights along Many Glacier Road and pulled in at 11:10. I had company on this night waiting for me as there were about 10 cows sitting next to the driveway. I was thrilled with this very productive day of shooting. This is the kind of day I would love to have every day.

6:55 AM — Moonset, St. Mary Lake