Day 1
Part Three
7/2/2019
After being chased off my seat by the ground squirrel, I started the Hidden Lake Trail. I read this trail was an “accessible” trail that it often partially covered in snow. I figured it would be an easy hike and one that would not take too long. Boy was I wrong!
Hidden Lake Trail
The beginning of the trail is a nice wooden boardwalk, but it has lots of stairs! It was a leg workout! The boardwalk crosses a sprawling valley meadow covered with wildflowers.
But as I was gaining altitude, the boardwalk became covered in snow! What a contrast! Now as a New Englander, I have dealt with my fair share of snow, and know-how to walk in it. No biggy. Right? Well with all the people hiking the trail, the snow became so compact and slippery! It was hard to keep your footing. Many people were slipping on the snow, and many of those heading down the trail ended up just sliding down the hill on their bottoms!
Please, Be Prepared…
Now this trail was very much like the Avalanche Lake Trail in that it was heavily populated. I think that there were more people on this trail than Avalanche Lake. From my hike, I would say that this trail has more inexperienced and unprepared hikers than any of the others I went on. Many people were ill-equipped, wearing flip flops (?!), dresses, sandals, and carrying small children without proper equipment.
There was a worrying amount of parents with their infants with them on this hike. I saw more than two couples carrying their babies up in just their car carriers (facepalm)?! There was one mother who was passing out from exhaustion and a stranger hiking in front of me had to carry their baby and purse for them, while the husband had to drag his wife up the slippery slope. Others had their infants wrapped in carriers to their fronts or backs. Normally this is not a big deal, but on the snow, this was very dangerous. I saw a mother carrying a newborn slip on the snow and wipe out! Luckily she fell on her bottom and the baby was strapped to her chest! Very dangerous!
Wildlife on the Trail
The hike up was much further than anticipated. But along the way, I was greeted with amazing views and more furry friends! Far up on the cliffside there was a family of mountain goats. I also saw lots of chipmunks scurrying across the trail, and was then greeted by some big horned sheep hiding in some nearby trees! They were only about 20 feet away! I was warned that there was a bear further along the trail, but I did not catch a glimpse of him. My goal while visiting the park was to see a bear in its natural habitat but from far away! I unfortunately never got the chance, which I guess is also a good thing!
I only hiked up to the Hidden Lake Trail Outlook, which was magical but did not continue down to the lake. If I had continued down the trail to the lake, I possibly could have seen the bear according to other hikers! But after completing the Avalanche Lake Trail earlier that day, I was beaten. The blisters on my feet were telling me it’s time to head back down, as well as the storm moving in!
After enjoying the magical view at the overlook, I made my way back down and did fairly well walking in the snow. I only slipped twice! I was also lucky to see some more mountain goats, this time up close, munching in the meadow grass!
The drive down the Going to the Sun Road was much easier than the drive up. Most likely because I was against the mountain, not close to the edge!
I would have to say I had a very successful first day at Glacier National Park! Two hikes, amazingly beautiful views, being chased by a ground squirrel, seeing mountain goats, big horned sheep, and surviving the drive to and from Logan Pass on the Going to the Sun Road!
