5/29/09
If you have never been to northwest Montana the one thing that will strike you is it's beauty especially in the springtime.The Rockies still frosted with snow and the greening of everything that the melt off and the rain comes in contact with-it is quite stunning-with that said we decided to hit the trails and do our annual hike up into Avalanche country where nature wakes from her deep sleep & starts the dance of life.
Last year at this time we had a very heavy snow pack up in the Mountains with a 115 % increase of snow-a record snowfall well into april and as we headed into Avalanche country in May the heat wave was on which resulted in a lot of snow melt and flooding.
We encountered water everywhere on our journey to Avalanche lake and beyond as the hike became somewhat dangerous-downed trees everywhere on the trail-mini rivers flowing everywhere and when we got to our destination-it was iced/snowed over with a river running underneath the Avalanche chute that came from a raging waterfall that was about 100-200 feet tall.
May 29th-2009-we set out at 6.a.m.-made sure we had all of the gear we needed for the hike-
Cameras-check
tripods-check
filters and lenses-check
film and digital media-check
Backpacks-check
Gps-check
Gps-check
Food and water-check
My wife and I double checked it all-it all looked like a go so off we went-my stepson and I racing off into the Mountains for a early morning hike to Avalanche lake and beyond.
The weather was very nice but cool this time of morn-as we hit the local store for snackage up at the lake-this is bear territory and mountain lion so we best make sure we take only what we will eat without making a scene or a scent of things-yes we brought bear spray.
After getting the goods we arrive around 7.00 a.m. at Avalanche campgrounds.
Loaded up the backpacks and made sure we have everything including the walking sticks-never know when you may need one to perform martial arts on a wayward animal needing assistance.
As we headed up the trail we did notice that there was not a lot of people in the park-usually this time of year it is rather hard to find parking but it was still early-we did pass a wayward deer just standing on the side of the trail minding his own business-without even a look he ate the brush....what concentration.
The plan of the trip was to photograph wildlife and mountain scenes just to get a good idea of Avalanche lake-a two mile hike into the rockies.
The lake itself is very popular with not just the locals around here but folks travel from all over the world just to hike to a remote lake surrounded by snowcapped mountains with huge waterfalls and breath taking scenery.
As our journey was going very well a strange feeling came over me-a feeling of something not right-a feeling of I NEED TO GO THROUGH THE LIST OF THINGS ONCE AGAIN.
This was not good as it dawned on me like a baseball being tossed at 110 mph and hitting me square between the eyes that something was very wrong-I stopped and looked around-I am sure my face expressed every emotion under the sun as I was taken back 8 hours earlier in my mind to witness myself putting the battery for the digital camera on the battery charger-sweet I thought......quickly I was launched into present day and stupidity raced through my mindset-I FORGOT THE BATTERY!!!!
I looked down and shook my head in utter disbelief-I had planned this trip with all digital gear for a while and now was looking at the hopes of shooting this whole trip digitally sliding down the very mountain we were standing on...but not all was lost-for I learned early on....always have a backup plan so my trusty old slr would be used for a amazing time.
as we arrived at the lake around 8-ish the sun had yet to show her face on the east side of the mountains and we were only the 2nd people to arrive.The trail was a bit roughed up from the winter as broken and downed trees covered a section here and there.
I broke out the slr and grabbed the 18mm-55mm lens and got another jolt-the digital lens would not fit the older model camera-I was now without a normal lens to shoot the lake and surrounding areas as my other lenses were to large for the format.If I wanted to get photographs I would have to use the zooms.....arggggg!!
This was probably good news because it shorten the amount of time we were actually by the lake which was now being lit by the rising sun on the east side.
As the sun light moved slowy across the lake you could see bugs (nats)scattered on the water and everywhere you would look in the sunlight would be a kazillion bugs-they were everywhere.
We headed west towards the other end of the lake and as we walked along the lake the bugs were so thick that you couldn't open your mouth without eating a few hundred....blec!
We had reached the end of the trail but it mean't for us that we kept on going up into the mountain and west towards the snow pack and the avalanche chute. I fired up the Gps and started recording our journey so we could find the trail back as we were about to hike about a mile beyond into the hilly side of the mountain and into the avalanche chute area.
The trip now took a turn more dangerous as we hiked up and over fallen trees,through thick brush and around racing creeks swollen with snow melt.
As we arrived to the chute the sun was now heating the area and you could see the birds ever so happy and singing.
Mountain goats populate the mountain cliffs but on this day we didn't see a single one.
The roar of the waterfalls nearby filled the air-it was quite magical.
We arrived at the chute-and I figured there was probably about 5 to ten feet of snow over the river that was created by a waterfall that was about 200 feet above us.The Chute as we could tell had no ice and the snow appeared very soft-not worth risking our lives this year testing the snowpack.
Last year this very waterfall was iced over as the river run underneath the ice.
It is one of those-DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME ERRRR... UMM ANYTIME!!
Some time went by as we had a deadline so as we rested before we headed back towards home- my stepson Ray said in a cautious low tone....ummm hey? whats that?
as I looked where he was pointing it appeared that a Marmot decided to check us out.
Now never seeing one and especially not sure what this animal was watching us just 10 feet away as he slowly rose above the rock he was hiding behind I said ummmmm looks like a beaver but it didn't have the tail. 
(now we didn't have any idea what this thing was until my wife asked a ranger in Kalispell the next day)all I knew was is that this creature was pretty good size like a mid size dog but didn't seemed frightened by us but kept to his business of gathering brush and stuff for his breakfast and at this point the trusty old slr was getting used again.
After spending about 3 hours up in avalanche country it was time to hike back-now we didn't see anyone really to speak of hiking to the lake but we knew that would change as we approached noon.
One boyscout pack passed us about a mile into it and then another and before we knew it people with accents of every kind were asking us "how much longer to go?"
Even one couple who spoke with a thick accent asked us if it was worth the hike as it is a rather brutal hike if your not ready for it"I said it is breath taking" but that comment sent the couple into a confused game of whats that mean.....so I responded with amazing and they both smiled from ear to ear and we went about our business and they went the other direction whispering amazing...amazing....
After passing another 50 people or so we found the car and headed back home but took with us a wonderful time up in Avalanche country and continued our quest for awesome photography as well as a journey and to look forward to our next journey up here and hopefully remember the Batteries next time!!
footnote:we did have our gps which came in handy because our last trip took us into Many Glaciers on the east side of the mountains and I was able to locate our position and record our travels which I will use later for geotagging.
We have a big trip into Canada later in the month and while up in Avalanche was able to locate our next destination.....gotta love technology......now if someone could just remind me about those stinking batteries...(thumps self in the head)
