Thursday, July 23, 2009

Glacier National Park – Part 8

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Our destinations for today’s hike were St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls.

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Virginia Falls seen from the trail at the beginning of the hike.

The trailhead is along the Going-to-the-Sun Road near the head of St Mary Lake. The first part of the hike descends through a dense forest to the St. Mary River.

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Yes, there are BEARS in the area and yes we do carry our bear spray!

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The trail levels off as you reach St Mary River and St Mary Falls

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The falls are quite striking. Each segment is about 20 feet high.

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The water at the foot of the falls.

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Once it leaves St Mary Falls the trail starts up hill through the forest and along the cascade that is Virginia Creek.

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Finally the trail reaches Virginia Falls, which is 80 to 100 feet tall.

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We saw flora

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and fauna

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We also saw an American Dipper and Swainson’s Thrush, but I was unable to get a picture of either of them.

More pictures of our hike are on the slideshow

6 comments:

  1. There is that darn bear droppings again.......

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  2. Good morning Grant and Kathy,
    Oh what a shot from above the trees I take it that was the 260' climb!! What a glorious VISTAS you captured.
    So bear spray uhhhh...have you ever had to use it? I would probably need CPR if a bear got close enough to me requiring me to spray it. So bear scat is 'green' this time of year? That picture made me lol. All those veggies and berries are good for what ails them. Cecilia

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  3. I wanna stay at that Glacier Hotel....that area just looks soooo beautiful!!!

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  4. I have several comments about that one pic............but I won't.....

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  5. Absolutely some of the best nature photography I have viewed. Your pictures are wonderful. I want a camera just like yours!!

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  6. I really am enjoying your Glacier visit. What fun!

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