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| Hiking | 3.60 Miles |
194 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.60 Miles | | | |
| 194 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I thot I had posted this triplog but apparently not. If I had, I wouldn't have had to do that last hike in 2013 to get over 500 miles ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall") . Oh well.
I had enough time before having to leave for Great Falls to get in one more hike so I chose the ranger-guided Beaver Pond hike. It was a fun choice since the wildflowers were out in all their glory. On the way I stopped at the stone bridge crossing of St Mary River to get some pictures of this picturesque area and some wildflowers including my favorite, prairie smoke.
We met at the 1913 Ranger Station which is also the TH area for the Red Eagle hikes. Also from here, you can hike to the head of St Mary Lake. There were about a dozen in our group as we made our way through the very high and somewhat wet flora. We walked through a bit of the forest that is keen habitat for the elk and bears of course. Never have seen an elk yet in Glacier Park.
You continue in and out of meadows eventually getting to see the mountains of St Mary's Lake in the distance. You pass a pond for the beavers though I only saw a little duck. I was always way behind the group taking photos... and not very good photos as the sun was way too bright  . A shame really as the flowers were out in all their glory.
Soon you round your way toward and along St Mary Lake. You can now see Singleshot Mountain in the distance. By this time I was pretty much on my own though I did encounter some other day hikers. You come to a part of the trail where you have naked trees on your left (but also a visual of the lake), forest on your right as you walk with people-high cow's parsnip and thimbleberry on both sides of you. I was narrating my video and also making sure that bears knew I was out there.
Eventually the forested sides open up and you get a tremendous view of St Mary's Lake and Red Eagle and other mountains rising up before you. It is quite a site really. You then pass another Beaver Pond before you return to where you started.
If you're ever in Glacier Park and have a couple hours to kill, this is a great little hike though during wildflower season, I think late afternoon for wildflowers would be the better time for photography (but not for the mountains). I shot a lot of video on this hike... I know, what else is new  :
Video 1: http://youtu.be/oIPfQD9r0Hw
Video 2: http://youtu.be/OWkFTn79hyI
Video 3: http://youtu.be/V_nJjh5GauY |
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Wildflowers Observation Extreme
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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