August 7th Grinnell Glacier Hike

Today on the 7th of August, Tammy and I decided to take the hike to Grinnell Glacier.  After hearing of the reduction on Glacier Ice in the park, we figured we better go see one before we can't.  It was an up hill hike all the way an elevation gain of 1600 plus feet from the bottom at Swift Current Lake to the official overlook.

Lots of bear activity reported as I figured as much with the season coming on and the bears feeding 22 hours a day (per the Park Ranger).

The scenery was spectacular!

Grinnell Falls - you can barely see the trail as it snakes around the right side.  In the background, that wide swathe of white is the actual glacier.  At this vantage point we were about 1/2 way?

The climb up took us through some dense tree growth, rocky outcroppings and finally on to a ledge where you actually look down at some of the remaining glacier pool.

The glacier pool was a milky blue and cold as if you stuck your hand down into a cooler with water and ice.  My hand hurt after just seconds of being in that water.  Let see the polar bear club try this on for size!

 Our walk down was slow because of the aged knee syndrome.  It was a shorter walk as we didn't have to stop to catch our breath.  It was really cool to see where we had started at compared to where we were.

There is another lake that isn't seen in the picture.  Lake Josephine.  That's where our hike started.  Swift Current in the closer of the two lakes seen here.  Lake Sherburne is seen in the back. 

  It was a great day!  The bottom line here is - go see a glacier before they are all gone.  I was given that advice back in 2005 as we flew back from Yellowstone.  I sat beside a gentleman in his early 70's who had just been to Glacier National Park - he told me then Go see'm while they still exist.

The Park Service predicts that by 2030, no more glaciers will exist in Glacier National Park.

Something for ya'll to ponder on....

jim