Today we hiked from Many Glacier Campground to Ptarmigan Tunnel. We did part of this hike the other day (unsurprisingly, when we saw the ptarmigans) but 3 miles in there is a junction on the right for the Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail. Our total mileage for the hike was 12 miles.
Just like the other trails it was full of fabulous flora and fauna (say this five times fast).
The Glacier National Park Travel Guide websites says that "Yellow Columbines are one of the rarest golden wildflowers in Glacier National Park," which is hard to believe being that we must have seen hundreds, on almost every trail, but I will just go with it because it sounds cool.
In the upper, right hand corner is our destination, Ptarmigan Tunnel, at 7,200' elevation. It was amazing how much the temperature changed from when we took this picture compared to when we got to the top. I was so bummed I didn't bring my gloves!
The tunnel was built in 1930 for people like us, hikers who wanted to avoid the steep terrain above, us non-mountain goat types.
This is the view from the other side of the tunnel.
Raya is a daredevil PB&J picnicker.
Eric has no problem relaxing, and waiting patiently for din din.
We ended our day watching the busy beaver family watch us.
Oh man, what a cool hike, cool flora & fauna, cool post.
ReplyDeleteYou guys really did it all. Wow.