Letting Go of the Bay Leaf: Twin Falls

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Mosaic Monday #76: A Silver Lining

Colored Sulphur on Broadleaf Arnica plant

Silver linings. All of us are looking for silver linings these days. As I thought about my post for this week, I chose to highlight a hike from September 2017. It is the next hike (in chronological order) that has not appeared in this blog, but perhaps more importantly, it is a reminder of the ease with which we take something for granted.

Thursday, September 7, 2017 - Upper Two Medicine Lake - 11.1 mile loop (Entry 22 in Hiking Journal)

This hike began from the Two Medicine campground, as did my last hiking post, part of a two-night camping trip to the east side of Glacier National Park (GNP).

Two Medicine Lake

Perusing the pictures from the hike, it prompted memories of the forest fires in the summer of 2017. It was for precisely that reason that we were on the east side of the park, trying to escape the worst of the smoke. And yet, the hazy nature of the photos shows we were only partly successful. As I wrote in my journal "The day was much smokier and very still, which gave a misty/gloomy/somewhat surreal look to everything."

Pumpelly Pillar
Left - this hike in Sept. 2017
Right - the same spot in July 2018 - how the sky is SUPPOSED to look

Pumpelly Pillar leads you like a beacon toward Twin Falls, which were flowing well despite the advanced stage of Autumn and the summer drought. Man with Hat had to drag me away from taking pictures of the falls, Arnica and Colored Sulphur. In these closer shots, you can almost pretend there was no smoke that day.

Throughout the hike, we encountered fellow travelers who had "just" seen a moose. Each time, we quickened our pace in hopes of glimpsing Alces alces. Unfortunately, the closest we got was a very fresh pile of scat (not pictured). Of special note was a family group of three seen near the pond just below Upper Medicine Lake. By all accounts, the moose gathering caused a traffic jam on the trail. Well, neither the traffic or the moose were anywhere to be seen by the time we passed that way.

Lone Walker Mountain at the west end of Upper Two Medicine Lake

Rock cliffs towered over the trail, which quickly led to Upper Two Medicine Lake. We enjoyed our lunch, but the fishing was not fruitful, and Man with Hat suggested we return to the pond - apparently others had gotten lucky there. I was up for that - maybe the moose would put in an appearance!

Sure enough, he caught three lake trout (all released)!

But no moose.

We retraced our steps to Twin Falls and then took the right fork toward the boat landing. Along the way, we were grateful for the pit toilet. (Can I hear an AMEN from my fellow lady hikers?) Toilets may not be an appropriate subject among polite company, but they are a reality in the backcountry and deserve a heartfelt mention for those who construct and maintain these facilities. I am often amused by the creative/humorous touches on some of them, as shown below.

Shortly we arrived at the boat launch, chaotic with people queuing for the boat that would save them a walk back to the campground. We had no plans to board, but it was clear that people near the end of the line were concerned about making it. You know that behavior - when everyone is watching everyone else to ensure that no-one cuts the line? Sometimes the tension is almost visible, vibrating in the air. In light of our current circumstances, doesn't it seem almost silly?

It was a different, serene world after the boat had disgorged a large tour group, EVERYONE who wanted a spot on the boat boarded, and the Sinopah puttered away. Man with Hat and I were left alone with the still water and a family of mergansers. While he fished (no luck), it was delightful to remove my boots and socks and plodge in the water (I promise I wasn't scaring off the fish). The temperature difference between the river (freezing) and the lake (ok) was marked, and I didn't linger in the river.

Upper right: Horsetail plant Lower: river entering the lake with boat shelter on left

The final leg of the hike skirted the south side of Two Medicine Lake. We were pleasantly surprised to discover Aster Falls and a set of beaver ponds in the final mile and a half.

Upon arrival at our campsite, we played cards while enjoying first-class appetizers with our wine and beer. Later, Head Chef would prepare a gourmet meal, and we would collapse into our tent shortly after nightfall.

I am sure that at the time, I was not completely pleased with this hike. The

views were diminished, the air quality was poor, and I didn't see any moose! However, with the benefit of hindsight, I am grateful for all of our GNP excursions, smoky or not, moose or not. Similar to many other national parks, GNP is closed and it is unclear when it will open. We've had no communication from the Backcountry Office to know whether it is processing the camping applications that we submitted a month ago. At this point, I would be happy to get any kind of access to the Park, and I am berating myself for my past childish, selfish point of view.

I dare to dream that the pandemic will come to an end. I dare to dream that we will embrace the presence of others, rather than seeing them as a threat to something we want. I dare to dream that we will have more patience, and more gratitude for the simple things (even when they are not "perfect"). That could be enough silver linings for me.

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.

Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us.

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Mosaic Monday #3 - Water, Water Everywhere

Swallowtails on the river shore

It's quite gray outside today, and I am wavering on my choice of topics for my next post. Something about the holidays? It would be timely and cheery … Trail cam photos? Probably not enough material … A continuation of my summer series? The sunny shots could warm my bones, and make for some bright mosaics as well. Ok, that's settled, then. Call this Chapter 5 of my summer 'book' - see Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4.

Pictures from first four chapters

Beargrass

How do you write your posts? Do you sit down and just start typing? Maybe you prepare an extensive outline, college style. Some of you have your furbabies compose at least part of your post!!! I usually begin by perusing the pictures I plan to use in the post. And then I wait for inspiration. Hmmmm … most of the time it works!

Foamflower in front of waterfall

Today, my photos feature water - water in the form of lakes, and rivers, and waterfalls. It reminded me of a recent comment from a fellow blogger who had noticed the predominance of water in my pictures. You know, I hadn't really thought about it before!

Water is a destination for many of us. Summer arrives and we head to the beach, or the pool, or the lake. The North Fork of the Flathead River, as you follow it north, leads you to Polebridge, and the gateway to Bowman Lake. It is a go-to day trip that delights visitors every time, and it delivered for my in-laws in July.

Looking north toward Canadian Rockies with Flathead River in foreground

Bowman Lake

Bowman Lake and Bog Orchid

I have written a number of posts highlighting Glacier National Park, mainly the west side of the Park. If you want to spend serious time on the east side, it means staying on the east side, or at least mid-way. In this case, we booked a 2-night stay at the Izaak Walton Inn (more about that in a future post), which meant we could linger on the beauty of the east side, starting with Two Medicine.

Two Medicine Lake - Sinopah Mountain on the left

Two Medicine Lake is one of three lakes in Glacier that offers summer boat tours. Taking the tour provides several benefits: in addition to learning fascinating information about the environment and local history, you cut out some of the hiking necessary to access special terrain - like waterfalls!

Left: Thimbleberry Middle: Pumpelly Pillar Right: Beargrass

Left: Elderberry Middle: Twin Falls Right: Pumpelly Pillar - Spousal Unit and his parents in the meadow below

After we returned to the boat launch site, we devoured a picnic while sitting along the lakeshore - we might have refreshed our feet by dipping them in the cool waters!

Our final stop that day was - you guessed it - another waterfall. Running Eagle Falls, also known as "Trick Falls", has a wide, well-maintained path suitable for everyone in the family. The waterfall receives its nickname, because there are actually two separate waterfalls in the same location. As you can see here, during spring run-off, water rushes over the top ledge for a 40-foot drop, while obscuring the lower falls. However, as the volume of water decreases by late summer, the upper falls 'dries up', allowing a clear view of the lower 20-foot falls.

The formal name of the falls comes from Running Eagle, a female warrior of the Blackfeet Nation in the early 1700's, who experienced a four-day vision quest in the mountains high above the falls. Running Eagle led war parties on many highly successful raids, and was the only woman in the Blackfeet tribe ever to do so, or to be given a man's name.

Scenic Point mountain

You know what? My bones are warm and the gray skies have turned to blue!

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.

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