Category Archives: Uncategorized

Trip Report: Mt. Yale

Posted on by

Mt. Yale summit

Arriving at zero dark hundred, we pull into the barren parking lot, our headlights illuminating the one other car already there.  That in itself is an atypical start to a summit hike up one of Colorado’s 54 14,000-foot peaks.  But it is a Tuesday in September, and it did rain most of the day yesterday.

As we pull on our jackets, and don our headlamps, hundreds of stars sparkle over our heads.  Orion’s belt appears, signalling the start of winter.  We strap on our packs and head up the trail.

Though I’ve hiked up this trail just a couple of months ago on our way to Hartenstein Lake, it feels totally different.  In the dark, it’s hard to get my bearings of the where the trail is and where it twists and turn.  I stare at the ground, being mindful to not trip over a rock.

Before we know it, we come to a stream with the crude log bridges.  Four logs of varying width are laid side by side, providing a rudimentary bridge across the creek.  The logs are still wet from yesterday’s rain storm, making them slippery as we edge onto them.  I make like a duck, turning my feet outward to gain a more stable stance, jabbing my trekking poles into the water for balance.

Coming upon the junction, my headlamp illuminates the wooden sign “Mt Yale” with an arrow to the right.  Onward we go, passing through groves of silent Aspen, as the first rays of light begin to seep through the woods.

And then the switchbacks begin.  Most trails are built with switchbacks to make the grade less steep.  But these switchbacks incorporate lots of climbing in between each one, until we have finally broken out above the trees.

The winds pick up and though I am sweating from all this climbing, I feel chilled.  We don our Nanopuff jackets, and I even put on my winter hat and gloves.  It’s around 7 a.m. by now, and the temperatures are probably in the 30s.

We continue our ascent towards granite peaks to our north and east.  It’s wide open now, and my thoughts are interrupted only by the sounds of the scurrying pikas — meep!  meep!

Trying to spot the trail, Bryon gestures to our right.  Yep, it’s heading up what looks like a very steep pitch to a saddle.  Mt. Yale is off to the saddle’s right.  We gauge that we are going to climb about 900 feet over the next half-mile to reach the saddle.

This final climb up yet more switchbacks are the worst yet.  We are now above 13,000 feet and I am feeling the altitude.  Yet, I feel it’s important to keep moving, so I adopt the heel-to-toe slow plod, trying only to focus on making it to the next switchback.  The description in our Fourteeners.com app calls this the final grind, an apt use of words.  Why is it they always make the steepest part of the trail at the end?  

My heart is pounding as I tap my poles and silently shuffle along.  Finally, the saddle appears, and having summoned all my energy reserves to keep moving, I stop to catch my breath and survey the scene.

We have 300 feet to go, and a scramble through the boulders to attain the summit.  Our task is made a bit more daunting by the fact the rocks have an icy glaze to them, courtesy of the moisture from yesterday freezing overnight.  I decide to go with four points of contact, abandoning the poles, opting to crawl more like a cat, using hands and feet.  Finally, after taking a haphazard route following various cairns, there is no more climbing left to do.

The vistas are breathtaking.  Our app says you can see 30 Fourteeners, and I believe it — as wave after wave of massive peaks encircle us.  It feels like we are on top of the world as we survey the beauty of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Mt. Yale, you are ours!

House swap?

Posted on by

“Where are you from?” I queried the older couple who just walked into the museum.

“Well, we’re from Texas but we’re staying in Boulder, Colorado for three weeks.”

“Are you visiting friends or family?”

“No, we’re house-sitting some people’s house through Housecares.com.”

Huh?  With Colorado being a very desirable vacation destination, and lodging at a premium, more and more tourists are turning to “alternative” forms of lodging.  As written in a prior blog post, in mountain towns throughout Colorado VRBO and Airbnb rentals are on the uptick.  But then again, so are other venues.

When friends have come to visit us in our log home, many mention what a desirable vacation home our house would be.  As one friend said gleefully, “You literally live on a mountain top!”  Well, not quite a mountain top, but we do live on a ridge and have a lovely view of the mountains.  Couple that with the rustic, cozy feel of exposed logs, a nice guest room and a large wraparound deck, and I can see why people would think of this as the perfect alpine getaway.

Housecares.com matches tourists who are looking for nice vacation lodging on the cheap with home owners looking for free pet care.  The couple I spoke with got a lovely home and even the use of a Lexus for three weeks for the sum total of taking care of a Labrador retriever.  They’d never met the woman before and just provided a couple of references along with their application.

As a pet owner, I know pet care doesn’t come cheap.  We pay our dog sitter $30 per day per dog.  A week’s vacation cost us over $400 in pet fees.  Cat care isn’t much better.  This past winter, we paid a woman in our neighborhood $20 per visit to check in our senior cat who was ill.  You can start to understand the appeal of someone living at your house, taking care of Fido and Kitty, and you’re not paying a thing.

Then there’s the house swap.  On homeexchange.com, you find someone who’s interested in your location, and you literally agree to take vacations during the same week with each of you staying at the other’s residence.  If you live in a desirable location like an island in Hawaii or in our case the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, this can work quite well.  And the cost of lodging in a highly sought after tourist mecca?  Zip.

But still, there’s something about these arrangements that makes me uneasy.  How well do I really know my dog?  He seems great around the family and neighbors, but what if something sets him off and he bites the touristas?  Or in our case, what happens if a wildfire breaks out?  We have a set evacuation plan down of what to take and where to go to get out within 5-10 minutes.  But how will Bill and Barbara from Iowa handle that kind of situation?  In the moment of high drama, would they manage to drag Fluffy out of the car and pack our fire boxes?

Also, sure you check references, but how much do I trust someone I don’t even know with MY STUFF?  It’s one thing to give your neighbor the key, the same neighbor that you will see day in and day out upon returning from my trip.  But it’s another to give some faceless couple access to all that’s near and dear to me.

So what do you think?  Is free lodging on your vacation worth opening the door to your home to complete strangers?  Is saving hundreds of dollars on pet-sitting fees worth it?

Maybe I’m just not that trusting…

The little pika that could

Posted on by

Pika in the Rocky Mountains

Hiking up the endless switchbacks, we have now left the trees behind.  Mountains come into view — vast soaring peaks of 14,000 feet and more of granite.  The terrain is covered in boulders with an occasion scant piece of grass or wildflower in it last stages of bloom before the first hard freeze kills it. The farther we head up towards our destination, Mt. Yale, the fewer forms of life there seem to be.  After all, what could possibly survive up in this harsh environment?  I can only imagine how incredibly cold, windy and snowy this place will be comeDecember.

Then a blur of something furry catches my eye.  It zips by so quickly I can hardly see what it is.  Is it a mouse?  It can’t be a marmot, because they are usually chubby and slow.  But whatever this thing is, it is on the move.

There it goes again.  For a split second I catch a better look, small, compact body, gray fur and small ears set close to its head.  Meep!  Meep!  I hear it calling out as it scurries in and out of the rocks.  I catch another glance — it looks like it’s carrying something.  In fact, it’s got a bundle of greens hanging from its mouth.  Running underneath the boulder, it pops back out.  The greens are gone and it is zipping over the tops of boulders once again.

The pika is that rarest of animal that can actually survive in the alpine environment.  During our recent summit hike up Mt. Yale, pikas abounded.  In fact, they were pretty much the only living thing I remember seeing above 13,000 feet other than the few other hikers we encountered.

The pikas are busy.  The old saying is “busy as a beaver”, but I don’t think any living thing could be more in a constant state of motion than the pika right now.  They are battling the deadline of winter weather coming.  At 13,000 feet, it won’t be long until the snow starts flying (maybe within the next two weeks).  And once the snow starts piling up, “haying” season will be over.

Pikas are part of a group of wildlife that “tolerates” their environment during winter.  They don’t go to sleep, they don’t migrate down to the plains, they stay put in one of the harshest, inhospitable places where few things can stay alive — the alpine tundra.  And they do it, by spending a few short months, gathering every green plant they can find and taking it back to their den to build up their food cache.  Because that food cache is how they will eat and survive during the long winter ahead.

Their window to “hay” is short.  Up on the tundra, the growing season only lasts a few weeks, really late June to early September.  Then the temperatures start to drop sub-freezing, and the jig is up. Pikas are so industrious that they can cache up to a bushel of plants in preparation for the winter.  For such a small animal, I find that amazing!

As the world around us warms up, the pika’s habitat is threatened.  With winters getting warmer, trees are creeping higher and higher up the sloeps, making the tundra habitat smaller.  The pika can only live on the tundra.  As a rodent, it makes for desirable prey for foxes and coyotes, and if the woods encroach, so will the other critters that will eat the pika.  If you can’t get behind changing behavior for climate change for yourself, do it for the pika.  How can you possibly resist this fuzzy little creature?

So as I try to put in my last hikes in during these past few weeks, I listen for the tell-tale call.  Meep!  Meep!  I know the pikas are hard at work and won’t rest until they’ve gathered every last plant they can.

 

Best fall foliage scenic drives

Posted on by

Fall colors along Guanella Pass on September 11, 2017

Well, it’s started.  The pops of yellow and splotches of orange made me marvel and feel the exhilaration over the fall colors.  It may seem early, but in fact, at elevations of 9000 feet and above, it’s starting to get good.  If you are savvy about it, you can actually catch the colors starting now and by finding the right scenic byways, you can enjoy them for the next four weeks.

So what’s the best places to go to enjoy the fall colors in the Rocky Mountains?

I’d like to first give a shout out to the western slope.  So many of us focus on place near the Front Range, but one of the most beautiful Aspen drives I’ve ever driven runs from the tiny town of Hotchkiss, south of Grand Junction, to Curecanti National Recreation Area.  As the road winds and curves, every hillside is covered with an ever larger grove of Aspens, bursting with color.  And because it is so off the beat and path, you won’t have to share it will thousands of other people.

The Grand Mesa hosts Color Sunday on September 24 this year.  If you haven’t taken a drive on Highway 65, it is the largest mesa in the United States, and is filled with not only Aspen groves, but mountain lakes.  Hit it right, and you will be amazed by the views and the colors.

We made a trip today down to the Collegiates to get one last Fourteener hike and the colors along Guanella Pass are pretty spectacular.  This old mining road is another road that is seldomly travelled, other than those going to climb Mt. Bierstadt, but offers views of peaks, Bighorn Sheep, and yes, colorful Aspen trees.  If you really want to have a fun-packed fall day, you can pair this drive with a ride on the Georgetown Loop railroad.

Closer to home, I’m always looking in anticipation for the colors to change on the Peak to Peak Highway that runs from Idaho Springs to Estes Park.  The mixes of pines and first with so many groups of Aspen always leave me marveling at the beauty.  And when the grove north of Nederland peaks, well, it’s like magic.

My last recommendation is down south near Colorado Springs.  Pikes Peak is unique in that the road stays open year-round, when just about every other high peak road closes after Labor Day.  Many years ago, my father-in-law visited and wanted to go to the Pikes Peak Summit.  It was late September, and the colors along the Pikes Peak highway produced many “oohs” and “aahs”.  All that beauty will come at a price, $15/person or $50 for the car load.

If you have a federal America the Beautiful Pass or Senior Pass, you can still drive the Mt. Evans Highway up to Summit Lake until Sept. 25.  Whenever we have visitors from out of town, this is one of our favorite drives for the views of the high peaks, the colors, and to scare the heck out of them!

Don’t let the next 2-3 weeks go by without getting out for a drive — to me this is one of the prettiest times of year in the Rockies and we are so lucky to have all this splendor to enjoy in our home state.

 

 

Signs of fall

Posted on by

That pop of yellow among the blue-green pines and firs.  Frost on the windshield of the car.  The sound of an elk bugling in the distance.

Signs of fall are all around.  While some lament the passing of summer, I’m not among them.  I’ve never been a fan of hot weather, but it’s the sights and sounds of autumn that excite me.  I once told a co-worker that my optimal hiking day is during a crisp fall day in the Rockies.  Give me a sunny, but cool day with that nip in that air — a high of around 50 and a low hovering right at the freezing mark.  The cool weather invigorates me — I feel like I can hike forever.  It feels good to put that extra jacket on, or perhaps even don a knit hat for the first time in months.

But it’s the colors that really get to me during autumn.  As someone who lived in New England, I heard over and over again the best fall colors dot the hillsides of Vermont and New Hampshire.  And yes, I’ll grant you the maples and oaks do produce a spectacular color display.

But there’s something about the backdrop of deep green pine, fir and spruce with brilliant yellows and oranges mixed in that makes me say, “Wow!”  Add in a peak lightly dusted with snow, and to me you have the perfect  calendar photo for September.  Theses days, I can an eye on the calendar and make a special trip to Estes Park just to take in all that gold, orange and red.

For four summers, I worked seasonally as a Park Ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park.  Living in Nederland, I drove almost 45 miles each way, totaling more than an hour of driving.  Some days that drive seemed really long.  But come September, I relished every curve, every mile of that road.  Because every day brought a new vista of fall technicolor on full display.  So many times I would find myself stopping by the side of the road, taking it all in.  Photos didn’t do it justice.

Fall in the Rockies is magical.  Whether it’s the color change or the antics of the elk rut, it leaves me spell bound.  One day, a large bull elk bugled right outside the building I worked in.  I walked outside, and not 20 feet away, he stood.  Feeling as if I invaded his personal space, his rite of passage to speak to the cow elk, I stood quietly.  It’s one of those moments you feel lucky to witness.

If you’re lucky enough to live here, or even just be visiting during this very special time of year, enjoy.  Take some time to drive the Peak to Peak Highway, to hang out in a meadow and watch the elk, or to even go for a walk at Brainard Lake.

The grand finale to the greatest show is just about to begin…

The power of chocolate milk

Posted on by

After running the BolderBoulder this past Memorial Day, I patiently waited in line to receive my swag bag, and refreshments.  Many of my friends quickly gravitate to the free beer, but instead I picked up a chocolate milk.

Chocolate milk may seem like a strange post-race drink, but I had recently read an article stating chocolate milk rates as a more effective recovery drink than Gatorade or other energy drinks.  I struggle with dehydration after vigorous exercise, so much so that I sometimes get the chills and can’t sleep at night.  It’s always a challenge to find the right way to pick myself up after a hard run, long hike or a day of skiing.

As a woman, I’m constantly being told to up my calcium, and drink more milk.  But true confession, I hate the taste of milk, and find it a challenge to drink, more so now that I’ve given up cookies and brownies.  Before drinking that chocolate milk at the BolderBoulder, I hadn’t had chocolate milk since I was a kid.  The last memory I have is stirring powdered NesQuick into a glass of milk, and drinking it down.

Now, I don’t just use chocolate milk to recover, but to start my day off right before a big hike.  I’ve found that a banana, some oatmeal and a glass of chocolate milk give me way more energy to get up those Fourteeners that can be oh so challenging.

For those of you who are still skeptical, one more thing.  Today’s chocolate milk is nothing like that nasty Ovaltine or Nesquick of our childhood.  During my newfound love of chocolate milk as an energy drink, I’ve sampled many brands.  Some of them taste like drinking a chocolate milkshake straight down — yummy!

For those of who love Colorado because of the chance to engage in recreation year-round, it’s important to find the right nutrition to keep us going and recover from our pursuits.  I feel like I’ve found the key for me as the ideal sports drink, but in an unconventional jar and label.

Drink up!

An orange moon

Posted on by

While doing dishes at the kitchen sink in our Nederland home, I love gazing out the back window looking at the tops of Mt. Meeker and Longs Peak.  It always gives me a sense of awe and reminds me of why I love living in the mountains so much.

But this evening, there were no mountains to look at.  Not because of clouds or an impending storm, but rather the thick smoke that covered the area today.  It seems that the smoke we saw during our recent trip to Montana, Idaho and Washington has been blown into Colorado, creating air quality warnings throughout the front range.

On a day when many frolic celebrating the last of summer by hiking, or mountain biking, it was just plain gross.  The temperatures were hot as in mid-summer hot, with Denver and Boulder reaching the mid-90s.  Normally, people flee the plains for the mountains in search of relief.  Clearly, many did as Rocky Mountain National Park and Brainard Lake Recreation Area were teeming with visitors.  But today, they had to contend with breathing in nasty smoke while doing so.  Yuck!

As night descended, the almost full moon appeared as an orange moon, the smoke muting its normal yellow.  Tonight, a cold front is coming in, and is supposed to push out a lot of the smoke.  But the respite will be brief, with warmer temperatures coming back by next weekend and probably more smoke, as there is no let up in the many large fires burning to our north and west.

I’m done and over summer, and after two weeks of driving and hiking in smoke, I’m done with that too. I’m sure residents of Montana badly wish an epic snowstorm or rainstorm would come in and put an end to their misery.  As a former Park Ranger with the National Park Service, it is heartbreaking to see the pictures from Glacier National Park, where the Sprague Fire blew up this past week, claiming the historic Sperry Chalet.  The Chalet was built in 1914, and it such an iconic part of the park’s history, it’s painful to see it lost to fire.

It’s days like today that make me so ready for cold weather, snow capped peaks and some clear blue skies, something in short supply right now.

While it doesn’t look like the cool weather is coming anytime soon, there may be some relief in sight as over the next couple of weeks, some wet weather works its way down through the Pacific Northwest.  Hopefully some rain can ease the terrible fire situation and move us towards more typical fall weather.

 

 

A free ride

Posted on by

Kootenay Lake Ferry

Note:  This post is about a recent vacation in the Pacific Northwest to Idaho and Montana.

As we drove curve after curve, the lake appeared endless.  I wondered when we would ever make it.  The speed limit signs kept tripping me up too.  The 80 made me want to drive faster, when in fact, I should be driving slower, as the 80 referred to kilometers per hour, which roughly translates to 50 miles per hour.

Not sure when the next boat would be leaving, I pressed on, afraid to even stop for a bathroom break.  I didn’t want to be stuck waiting for an hour for the next one.  Every now and then, I glimpsed the view of the lake and the mountains on the other side.  At the parking areas, trucks with trailers jammed every spot and it is easy to see why.  On this hot August day, boats are plentiful out on the water.

Finally, after driving what seemed like forever since we came across the border, we finally arrive.  Lines of cars, trucks with trailers, and motor homes are lined up in lanes.  I see cones across the lane, and for an instant fear that there is no room for us.  It looks like there is another lane, but unfamiliar with ferry loading protocol, I’m not sure what to do and I don’t want to look like an ignorant American.

When I realize there are three more lanes vacant, I pull up to the front of the line.  I glance out at the water, and see our vessel moving towards the dock.  We have made it just in time.  Just in time for the longest free ferry ride in the world.

These days, there isn’t much you can get for free that provides a service.  A short cruise on the San Francisco Bay costs upwards of $30.00.  Heck, even crossing the Golden Gate Bridge or the Lincoln Tunnel costs you money.  So when I read about the Kootenay Lake Ferry in British Columbia and found it cost nothing, I was all  in.

And this is no ordinary ferry ride.  It is one packed with scenery all around you as you cross from the town of Kootenay Bay on the east side down to Balfour on the west side.  The main ferries, the Osprey 2000 can hold around 80 vehicles depending on the ability of the ferry employees to mix and match vehicles, maximizing its space.  Fascinated by what seemed like a large Tetris game, I watched with awe as they placed the trucks and trailers.  Our little Chevy Sonic rental seemed out of place, as did our US license plates.  It is clear from the ferry’s load, that most are here to enjoy the lake’s recreational opportunities.

The free ride includes a chance to stand near the front, with a cooling breeze in our faces, while enjoying the scenery.  Snow capped mountains appear in the distance, as we motor across the water.  The lake seems endless as do the views.  Children with their parents, perch on top of small posts to get a better view, seeming to enjoy the ride as much as we do.

After about 30 minutes, the engines slow down as we slowly edge our way towards the dock at Balfour.  Obviously skilled at piloting the ferry, the captain ever so carefully turns the ferry at just the right angle to bring us up to the dock.  Back to our car, we scurry, just in time to exit the ferry on our way to Nelson, British Columbia.

If you happen to be in northern Idaho, and want to experience a fun boat ride complete with resplendent views, bring your passport and consider heading up the Kootenay River to the ferry ride.  It won’t cost you a penny, but will leave you breathless from the views.

 

Hiking in grizzly country

Posted on by

A grizzly bear on the roadway at Glacier National Park

Note:  This post refers to events in Montana during a recent trip there.

I could sense there were people right behind us.  Trying to be ever the courteous hiker, I stopped along side the trail on a rock, and turned around.

“Would you like to go ahead?”

The couple looked at us, muttering, “No, no, you go ahead.  We heard there is a bear near the trail up ahead.”

Normally, this comment would not bother me.  As a Park Ranger with the National Park Service, I’ve seen hundreds of bears over my many years working in wilderness parks around the west.

Of course, those bears were black bears, or Ursus Americanus.  The name is really a bit of a misnomer, as black  ears in the west can come in all different colors, including blonde, cinnamon, light brown, dark brown, and yes, black.

I’d never had any trouble with black bears in all my years of hiking.  What I learned from working in the national parks is if are vigilant in storing your food correctly, whether day hiking, backpacking or camping, the black bears don’t bother you.

But this day, we are hiking in grizzly country.  An encounter with a grizzly bear is an altogether different concept.  One that struck fear in my heart.  For one, a grizzly is much, much larger, averaging 400-600 pounds and even more.  They are powerful creature with an ability to attack and tear things apart.

And unlike Black Bears, there have been several incidents of grizzlies attacking people that had nothing to do with human food.

As we continued along, now a group of four of us, we spotted another couple ahead.  They had stopped and seemed to be waiting for us.  As we approached, they fell in line with us — we are now a train of six people.  Everyone seemed to feel better about this fact, sensing that we had safety in numbers.

Another precaution we had taken is bringing a bottle of bear spray with us.  Fortunately for us, our bed and breakfast had ample bottles and allowed us to check out a bottle while hiking in Glacier National Park.

With black bears, as a Park Ranger, I didn’t normally advocate for people to carry bear spray, only because it can cause more problems instead of helping people.  The main thing is that it a) encourages people to get closer to a bear than they should and b) in the excitement of trying to use it, people often spray themselves instead of the bear.  The goal is to do everything possible not to get close to a bear, and with black bears I have found that throwing rocks, waving arms, yelling as loud as possible usually drives the bear off.

But with grizzlies, I am in unfamiliar territory.  They act differently.  Despite their size, they can lumber across the tundra quite quickly, and I am worried about being surprised by a bear.  The Park Service advises to play dead with a grizzly, lying on your stomach.  The literature says don’t let the bear roll you over.  Easy to say, but I imagine much harder to do when you are a 130-pound woman and the bear is 600 pounds.  This helpful piece of literature claims the bear will lose interest and leave once you have convinced him you are “dead.”

So off we went with our train of hikers and armed with our bear spray to Grinnell Glacier.  Part of me didn’t want to worry about an encounter, but the other part of me secretly hoped to see one of these amazing creatures.  After all, living in Colorado, I’d pretty much seen everything else, but the last grizzly died in Colorado in the early 1900s.  To see one, would be one of the most exciting moments I’d ever had in a national park.

All my consternation proved to be for naught, as we didn’t see any grizzly bears.  It may have been because the three trails we hiked were heavily trafficked by hikers, hundreds of hikers.  And as the literature said, they don’t tend to approach groups of people.

Totally unused, we returned our bear spray.  Perhaps when we finally make our trip to Alaska.  Until then…

Smoke on the Water

Posted on by

Note:  This blog post is about a recent road trip to Montana, British Columbia and Washington states.

As we drove through the entrance gate, the smoke hung over Lake McDonald.  If my nose hadn’t belied the fact that it is indeed smoke, I would have thought it to be fog or a low-lying cloud.  Then the orange signs confirmed it “Smoke ahead on the road.”  The smoke had settled into the valley thickly, casting a haze against the towering mountains ahead.

It seems as if all of Montana is on fire this summer, with the smell of smoke evident as soon as we crossed the state line.  I had been looking forward to this trip for months, as Glacier National Park is one of my all-time favorite destinations.  I remembered my last visit 13 years ago vividly.  The green meadows with wildflowers popping.  The clear blue skies and the awesome grand peaks, glaciers, and lakes.

Visiting in late June, 2004, that visit, fires had never crossed my mind.  Instead, snow and a landslide had been our biggest challenge. Towering banks of snow lay on either side of Logan Pass.  We couldn’t even hike to Hidden Lake as feet of snow buried the trail.  And we spent a whole day at St. Mary’s Lake waiting for a rock slide to be cleared from the Going-to-the Sun road so we could return to our campsite at Avalanche campground.

This time it’s not just the smoke that reminds me of how things are changing here at Glacier, it’s the acre upon acre of forest that’s burnt, trees scorched like matchsticks, especially on the east side of the park.  Conversations with park rangers confirm that summers are getting warmer and hotter in a land that was once sculpted by enormous masses of moving ice.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking sign of climate change affecting this crown jewel are the photos.  Founded in 1910, Glacier has 100 years of photos to remind us what once was, and our eyes to confirm to us what is now.  During a recent hike to Grinnell Glacier, I stopped by the Many Glacier Hotel.  The hallway is lined with black and white photos taken shortly after the park’s creation of its famous glaciers.  Then photos taken in the last several years at the very same location.

It’s shocking.  Many of the glaciers have receded to the point they are almost gone.  Others are a tenth of the size they once were.  All of this over the course of the last several decades.  A park named for its landmark topography is looking at a future where there will be no glaciers left.  And at the rate the glaciers are shrinking, it’s going to be in the not too distant future.  The sadness I feel viewing these photos is overwhelming.  I contemplate a day when children will come to visit and wonder how the park got its name.

And it’s not just in Montana at this one park.  I spent a day in British Columbia just north of there and talked with the locals of Nelson, who said this is the driest, hottest summer they can remember.  Now, I know one summer doesn’t confirm human-caused climate change.  But combine that with the fact, that 33 million acres of forest were damaged or destroyed through a pine beetle epidemic in the 2000s.  And contrast that with the fact that until 2000, British Columbia had never had a mountain pine beetle outbreak because their typically cold winters keep populations in check.

Something is afoot…

I want the the next generations of children to have glaciers to marvel upon.  I want them to enjoy the smell of pine forests instead of smoke.  I want them to have a planet that contributes to our good health, rather than destroying the living things around them.

Even if you have doubts about the causes of climate change, the evidence is overwhelming.  We need to take action now to insure the future of our national parks, our forests, our lakes, and our glaciers.

It’s up to all of us.  Let’s be part of the solution, and not part of the problem.