Mosaic Monday #183: Let's Go Hiking!

Summer comes slowly to high elevation mountains, the very same peaks we like to hike.  So, we have learned to wait until July to attempt those trails.  Anticipation builds; I can't wait for next week and our plan for 3 hikes over 2 days. What better way to prepare than to re-cap a trip from exactly three years ago?

Piegan Pass, our destination on July 11, 2019, is Entry 53 in my hiking journal.  "We left the house at 6.30 a.m. to ensure that we would find an open spot at the Siyeh Bend parking area.  As it was, we had to park up the hill from the trailhead.  We left the car at 9.10 a.m. and arrived at Piegan Pass at noon." 

Reading this, I am struck by how the situation has changed in three years.  Due to high visitation in Glacier National Park, a vehicle reservation system was implemented in 2021.  Today, to reach the Siyeh Bend parking area, you would need a vehicle reservation, or plan to enter the Park well before 6 am.  Sounds simple, right?  Time to read the fine print:

• There is a limited number of Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor Vehicle Reservations available for each day and demand will exceed supply. Vehicle reservations will be released on a rolling basis on Recreation.gov (Vehicle Reservations), beginning March 2, 2022, at 8 am MST.
• A portion of the available vehicle reservations will be released 120 days in advance of the effective date (e.g., vehicle reservations for July 1 are available on March 3), and the remaining vehicle reservations will be released at 8 am MDT the day before the effective date (e.g., remaining vehicle reservations for July 1 are available on June 30).

To be honest, I am a supporter of the system.  Something needed to be done to control the number of people entering the Park.  And even though the "limited number" of reservations still means you may not find a parking spot, it is much better than the free-for-all of the past!

"It was very windy and cold in the draw when we started, so we both had on our puffy jackets.  The sky above Piegan Pass was consistently threatening, but it did not rain.  The Beargrass and other wildflowers were blooming profusely at the lower elevations."

"I saw a Rose Paintbrush for the first time - it was mixed in the meadows with Glacier Lilies and Lanceleaf Spring Beauty."

"I stopped counting when I reached 20 people [on the trail].  We met a nice couple who work at the Rising Sun Motor Inn.  They gave us a tip about taking the right-hand fork toward Siyeh Pass to reach Preston Park, an area known for its wildflowers - we did this on the way back."

The picture below is the panorama that greets you as you ascend the trail on the right.

At this elevation, the landscape is covered with snow much of the year, and the wind blows non-stop.  It's no wonder these pines are stunted.  Man without Hat gives you some perspective for size, as we approach the saddle of Piegan Pass.

But the flowers are well into the bloom cycle - adapted to the short growing season, they waste no time preparing their seeds for the ongoing propagation of the species!

"At the top, it was windy and cold.  We did not linger too long over our lunch.  We descended a short way on the other side of the pass to get a view down the valley.  Several large marmots 'ruled the roost', and one sat on top of the rock foundation for the bell which used to stand there."

The picture below is the view on the other side of the pass.

"On the way down, we ran into the same two gentlemen from Washington who had told us their retirement story [on the way up].  One of them was losing the sole on his boot.  Man with Supplies helped him put our duct tape on and the hiker was good to go."  Ah, the camaraderie of the hiking community!

The two pictures below were taken just as we left the pass, beginning our return journey.  At the end of this hike, we would have walked 9 miles and climbed 1700 feet.

  

I have chills of anticipation, just musing about our hikes next week.  "Man with Hat" returns, and we can be together with nary a distraction.  Life is busy right now with his flying lessons and my gardening, not to mention the normal daily tasks.  Carefree time, just the two of us, will be joyful.  Mix in epic landscapes, with its natural flora and fauna, and it's the best of all possible worlds.  And last but not least, this is our inaugural adventure with a new volunteer opportunity - collecting data on the Mountain Goat and Bighorn Sheep populations in the Park.  Stay tuned for our report!

*** Due to our 2-day trip, I will be slow in commenting this week.  Also, there will NOT be a Mosaic Monday on July 17 - please link up on July 24!

Mosaic Monday

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