Lunch Creek Glacier National Park

July 18, 2008

On a prior visit to this park, I gazed forlornly up this creek at the waterfall in the distance, wanting to walk up there sometime.  Today I have coerced my bride into waiting at the parking lot while I do just that.

Roadside view of Lunch Creek and the falls

Within just a few minutes, my efforts are amply rewarded:

Lower Lunch Creek Falls

On this side of the creek I cannot scramble up beside the falls; it is necessary to detour around to the right through some trees and bushes.  Emerging from the forest, there is an unobstructed view of the falls, which remain farther away than had been anticipated.

Pollock Mountain dominates the scene

Now I must traverse a snowbank for several hundred feet.  At the other end, a marmot sunbathes unconcernedly as I plod along.

Showing no fear

Looking back at Heavy Runner Mountain and Reynolds Mountain

Rocky Ledge Penstemon
Yellow Columbine

The going is becoming rather difficult

Upper Lunch Creek Falls

Another hiker passes me here, continuing up to the right of the falls.  I wish that I could join him.  On the left is the Garden Wall, which also happens to be the Continental Divide.

This is why I go hiking

On the other side of the Garden Wall is the vaunted Highline Trail, which runs from Logan Pass to the Granite Park Chalet.  I am sure that it is in my future.  That trail cannot be accessed from this side, however; but that other hiker could be headed over to the Many Glacier area.

I would love to scramble up beside those falls

This is such a good-feeling place, deserving of much more time than I am able to give it today.  I mustn't keep My Barbara waiting too long, though; so I head back, stopping only to shoot a few more flowers.

Snow Buttercup
Bear Grass

Mountain Pasqueflower
Nice textures in the Hellebore leaves

Upon my return, I see that my sweetie hasn't missed me a bit.  She and a number of others are gazing up a mountain side at some Dall Sheep — a relatively rare treat.  Mountain goats are a dime a dozen around here, but not the sheep.

There is a beautiful pair of binoculars sitting in the car, but no

§: This walk filled my expectations, and more.  Had I known that I had been gone for only an hour, I might have scrambled up that cascade after all.

• Trailhead: Half a mile east of Logan Pass on Going to the Sun Road
• Distance: 2 miles
• Elevation: 6430' to 6900'
• Hikers: 1
• Rating: 8   (more with adequate time to explore)

Scenery
Difficulty
Personality
Adventure
Flowers
Solitude