Twitter and Facebook
May 27, 2009

Today's blog is pretty simple, short, and sweet. How should Glacier National Park use Facebook and Twitter to communicate, connect, and reconnect people to the park? How would you like to us use these social networking tools? What information would be of benefit? Are you currently using these tools? E-mail Us 

David Restivo

Grizzly bear track and a Glacier lily

Grizzly tracks, Glacier lilies, and great views - a hike up Apgar Mountain
May 18, 2009

When the sun shines and the temperature is pleasant, the rule around here is that you get outside and do something. Yesterday was one of those perfect days to do something outdoors, and I took a hike with a few friends up to the Apgar Fire Lookout on Apgar Mountain.

I won't go into the history of fire lookouts because Mitch Burgard's Blog from March 20th, covers that nicely. But I will say, however, that the hike up Apgar Mountain is one of my favorite hikes because it is a great hike to gauge how well I stayed in shape over the winter. All that cardio work on the treadmill paid off.

What really made the hike fun was seeing right off the bat, some Grizzly bear tracks in the mud not too far from the trailhead. As we continued to hike, I was taken aback at the number of Glacier lilies I saw lining the trail. Most of the Glacier lilies I've seen at Logan Pass have white or yellow stamens, but the ones I saw yesterday were red, a very nice contrast against the yellow petals.

The real treat from the hike was the view from the top. Even if you have never been to the top of Apgar Mountain, you have probably seen a view from the Web cam located up there. No matter where you look, the view is gorgeous, but my favorite view is the view looking southeast. I love seeing Mount St. Nicholas dominate the skyline of the Lewis Range.

If you're coming out to the park in the future, consider this hike. Information about miles, elevation, and trail conditions can be found here.

David Restivo

Avalanche Gorge and the Trail of the Cedars boardwalk.

Avalanche Creek
May 11, 2009

Saturday (May 9) was a perfect day to visit Avalanche Creek, Gorge, and the Trail of the Cedars. Cedar and hemlock boughs dripped with water from a brief passing shower, and the aroma of the forest was very strong.

This area is dominated by water. But why is it so wet here? If you travel from almost any direction to get to Glacier National Park you pass through vast areas of sagebrush, grasslands and lodgepole pine; species adapted to the dry conditions of the Rocky Mountain west. What's different here? Just to the east, the barrier, formed by towering peaks of the Continental Divide, wrings tremendous amounts of water from passing clouds. This extra moisture allows species much more typical of forests on the Pacific Coast to flourish here, hundreds of miles inland. The Avalanche Creek area is the furthermost eastern extent of this type of cedar/hemlock forest.

To learn more about this area, take a virtual tour of the Trail of Cedars and Avalanche Lake.