Today we decided to hike one of the most popular trails in the park, the Avalanche Trail.  We were up early in an attempt to beat the heat and find a parking spot at the trailhead.  At 9:30 we got the last parking spot at the trailhead. Since there were numerous warnings about this being “Bear Country”, we were armed with a whistle in case we encountered Smokey the Bear.  We noticed hikers on the trail with bells attached to their backpacks and one even had two metal Sierra cups that clanged together as he walked.  These all did a great job of warning us that someone was coming up behind us, but truthfully the trail was so crowded that I expect any bears within miles had quickly retreated to someplace more quiet and peaceful.  Early on the trail we saw a beautiful waterfall and could see where over time the rushing water had carved a canyon through the rock.  Stunning!  The views of the valley and  mountains provided us with untouched beauty.

The five mile trail was a fairly steady climb of 500 feet and combined with the heat, we were glad to reach the end of the trail at Avalanche Lake with a gorgeous view of three waterfalls cascading down the mountain.

Avalanche Lake with high waterfalls in the distance

The steep climb downhill had our toes screaming as they pushed against our hiking boots, and we were glad to reach the car and some AC!  The rest of the day was spent resting and enjoying the coolness of the RV.

The next day Bill went on a half day white water rafting trip on the Middle Fork Flathead River.  I was not feeling well from the effects of the heat and some dehydration from the previous day’s hike.  Bill went out on the water with an expert guide so I didn’t worry about him too much.  He had a great time and brought home some great pictures.  I am looking forward to going with him in the future!

Middle Fork of Flathead river

Middle Fork of Flathead river