Wednesday, June 24, 2015

St. Mary Falls Trail, Glacier

Our last full day in the park we hiked the St. Mary Falls trail, down 
in the valley east of Logan Pass.  The trail passes by numerous 
waterfalls on the St. Mary River and on Virginia Creek, terminating
at Virginia Falls.

St. Mary Falls

Disney again overdid it with the blue-green dye.

This guy before Virginia Falls was nice 
enough to let me take his picture.  I didn't 
get a close up of his painting, but you can 
zoom in.  Nice little rendering.

The uppermost foot of Virginia Falls.  The 
cool misty blast was delicious after a hot 
uphill hike and made us literally hold onto 
our hats.

Sculpted strata beneath Virginia Falls.


Megan spied this gal hopping around in the froth of the creek.  
The American Dipper, Cinclus mexicanus, rare species which 
nests only in vigorous mountain streams.  moment later she 
flew up to . . .

. . . her nest!  I think this is just about the loveliest home I've ever
seen.  Go back a couple of pictures to see if you can spot it
from afar.

On our way back to camp we stopped for this mama crossing the 
road with her two cubs.  We got to watch them for a while tearing 
up plants and munching on the roots.  Best traffic jam ever.

After a bit she lumbered off down the hill, and her little ones
eventually followed.  One . . .

. . . two.