Eric Molvar - Hiking Glacier and Waterton Lakes national parks

Copyright 1999, 2007, 2012 Morris Book Publishing, LLC

A previous edition was published in 1996 by Falcon Publishing, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford CT 06437.

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Photographs by Erik Molvar unless otherwise credited.

A previous edition of this book was catalogued by the Library of Congress as follows:

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Molvar, Erik.

Hiking Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks : a guide to more than sixty of the area's greatest hiking adventures / Erik Molvar. 3rd ed.

p. cm. (A Falcon guide)

Includes bibliographical references

1. HikingMontanaGlacier National ParkGuidebooks. 2. TrailsMontanaGlacier National ParkGuidebooks. 3. HikingAlbertaWaterton Lakes National ParkGuidebooks. 4. TrailsAlbertaWaterton Lakes National ParkGuidebooks. 5. Glacier National Park (Mont.)Guidebooks. 6. Waterton Lakes National Park (Alta.)Guidebooks. I. Title. II. Series.

GV199.42.M92G5647 2006

96.5'10978652dc22

2006004805

ISBN 978-0-7627-9707-3

The author and Globe Pequot Press assume no liability for accidents happening to, or injuries sustained by, readers who engage in the activities described in this book.

Contents

Acknowledgments

This guide would not have been possible without the years of excellent service put in by the rangers with whom I had the pleasure of dealing.

I would like to thank Mr. Jack Potter, GNP Chief of Science and Resource Management, for his editorial input throughout the writing of this book.

Thanks to Dennis Divoky of Glacier National Park for providing the map of recent fires.

Dan Fagre of the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center of the US Geological Survey provided helpful information and photos regarding the retreat of active glaciers due to climate change.

I also thank Nancy Hoffman and Tom Habecker, former Glacier rangers, for their helpful comments and suggestions concerning the guide.

Clyde Lockwood of the Glacier Association provided the initial assistance in dealing with publishing firms, and I am grateful for his support of my efforts.

Randall Schwanke, Locke Marshall, Bill Thorpe, and Chrisy Gustavison of Waterton Lakes National Park provided editorial assistance for the Canadian hikes.

Thanks to Renelle Jacobsen for her hospitality and friendship.

And thanks to Little Joe Manley just for being himself.

A mountain goat stands above Hidden Lake near Logan Pass. Licensed by Shutterstock.com

Introduction

Glacier National Park was established in 1910 to preserve over 1 million acres of unspoiled wilderness. More than 730 miles of trail in the park provide access to soaring peaks and verdant forests, mountain meadows and fish-filled lakestruly a backpackers paradise. Here hikers have the opportunity to leave the hectic pace of civilization far behind and seek a form of refuge in the silent grandeur of the mountains. Tragically, most of the visitors to Glacier National Park never stray far from their automobiles, but those adventurous souls who do plunge into the wilderness discover a wealth of natural beauty around every turn of the trail.

Where the prairie meets the sky, jagged peaks rim the deep, cold lakes that form the nucleus of Waterton Lakes National Park. The park is crisscrossed with well-maintained trails that visit a broad spectrum of habitats, from alpine meadows to lowland forests and high plains grasslands. The scale of Waterton Parks trail system is diminutive when compared to Glaciers multitude of long treks; most hikes in the Canadian park can be completed in a single day. This quick and easy access to the high country makes Waterton an ideal destination for hikers with limited time to burn, as well as beginners who are just learning to appreciate the wonders of the mountains.

Beargrass and spiraea grow in Glacier National Park. Licensed by Shutterstock.com

Natural History

Geology

The rock strata of Glacier National Park were laid down more than a billion years ago as sediment on the bottom of an inland sea. The oldest layer is of buff-colored Altyn limestone, with subsequent layers of greenish Appekunny argillite and reddish Grinnell argillite being deposited on top as mudstone and sandstone. Tectonic forces brought enormous pressure on the strata in this area, causing them to fold upward and eventually break. After the break the movement continued, forcing a huge slab of rock to slide eastward a distance of 42.0 miles over neighboring strata. This geologic feature is known as the Lewis Overthrust, and it is responsible for creating the original mountain masses of the park.