Bowman Lake

We made the drive to this remote part of Glacier Park on our first day in the park. Due to it's remoteness and long drive down a dirt road, it is not visited to the extent other areas of the park are. Our friends had told us about Bowman Lake and we had to see it for ourselves. We were not disappointed. So if you like a little adventure and don't mind getting off the beaten path, head to Bowman Lake on the north side of Glacier NP the next time you're there. But be ready for a long drive down a dirt road and a narrow, winding road inside the park to reach your destination.

Canoeing Anyone

Saw these canoes just waiting for someone to take them out on the lake on Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park. If we hadn't been scheduled to take a boat trip already, I would have gladly paddled these around the lake on this beautiful August afternoon.

Afternoon Delight

Afternoon on Upper Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park. It's a bit of hike to get to this point in the park, but well worth the view you get when you reach your destination.

Alpine Recline

I made this shot of our friend Laura taking a much deserved break after the hike to Upper Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park. Unfortunately we had little time at the lake as we had to race back to catch the boat at Lower Two Medicine Lake for a return to the boat docks and our car. I would loved to have been able to hang around this spot until later in the day when the sun had a chance to get lower in the sky. Still a great memory that leaves me longing for another trip to this park.

Sinopah Medicine

The Sinopah coming in for a landing on Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park. The Sinopah is one of the boats operated by the Glacier Boat Company on one of the many lakes in the national park. For more information on the boating company, their boats and their tours, check out their website at http://www.glacierparkboats.com.

Last Light

I made this shot as we were leaving Glacier National Park one evening. The sun was setting behind us and cast a nice light on the mountains by Logan's Pass. This also happens to be the photo I used for the month of November in my 2015 Glacier National Park calendar.

Wildflower Mountain

There were plenty of wildflowers covering the mountainsides at Glacier National Park when we were there. I made this shot using a zoom lense to intentionally blur the background and draw attention to the pretty purple flowers that covered the hillside in front of me. I think it came out pretty nicely and warranted sharing on wildflower Wednesday.

Marmot Munching

Caught this Hoary Marmot filling up on wildflowers on the hike to Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park. By the looks of him, he's been feeding on quite a few of the wildflowers this summer. :-)

Grinnell Lake

When we were at Grinnell Lake in Glacier National Park last summer I made this shot of this family enjoying the view I was trying to capture. Of all the shots I captured of the lake that afternoon I think this was my favorite. Having them in the shot really provided a nice perspective as to how big and majestic the location was. I had all but forgotten about this iPhone image until they contacted me the other day via e-mail because of the business card I had given them as we were leaving the lake. Glad they reminded me of that afternoon and the great views we had.

Hidden Falls

We took a little detour on our hike back from Grinnell Lake to see this waterfall. It was appropriately named because if you didn't make the side trip to see it, you never would have from the main trail. The park had a railing to prevent park visitors from falling off the edge that made using my tripod impossible, so i placed my camera on the railing and held my breath. Luckily no one else was there at the time so the railing was steady. Luckily I was able to hold my camera steady on the railing as well to get this shot.

What Dreams May Come

I made this shot as we were leaving the Many Glacier in Glacier National Park. The scene reminded me of a scene in the movie, "What Dreams May Come". In that movie there was a lone jacaranda tree on a hillside in a mountain view. These two trees weren't nearly as dramatic as the flowering jacaranda tree was, but I thought the lean of the trees was interesting and really showed where the prevailing winds came from. Reminded me of the wind swept trees along the Gulf coast, with the mountains thrown in for an added bonus.

Glacier Goat

Mountain goat in the goat observation area at Logan's Pass in Glacier National Park. This goat was one of a small herd we saw coming down the mountain as we arrived at the viewing area. It was also one of the few we saw that did not have a radio collar around it's neck.

Avalanche Reflections

At first I wondered how all of these logs got into Avalanche Lake, then it dawned on me they were part of the byproduct of the avalanches the lake is named for. Trees knocked down by avalanches that eventually end up here in the lake.

Avalanche Lake

Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park. We took a ranger led hike to get to this lake on one of our last days in the park. We arrived at midday which really was pretty bad lighting for photography, but I made the most of what I was dealt at the time. I'd love to go back to this spot earlier or later in the day when the light wasn't as harsh for another opportunity to photograph this great location.

Avalanche Creek

The falls along Avalanche Creek in Glacier National Park. We went on a ranger led hike to Avalanche Lake and passed by this creek on our way to the lake. I was trying to keep up with the group on the way to the lake, so I wasn't able to stop for long on the way up, but on the return I stopped and took my time getting my shot. This was one of the shots I made that I really liked. I wish I knew who the woman was that did not move at all during my long exposure of the falls. I guess she was as awestruck as I was at the incredible beauty of this scene. I couldn't get over how blue the water was as it cascaded through the red rock it had carved.

Red Bus

If you've ever been to Glacier National Park, you've probably seen these Red Buses on the Going to the Sun Road or in areas along the road. When we visited the historic Lake McDonald Lodge, this one was parked right in front. I had to wait a few minutes to get a shot without other people or vehicles in the shot, but it paid off. I wanted to give it a feel of what it might have been like when these tour buses were first rambling the roads of the park. A return to yesteryear in living color. :-)

Lake Reflections

The only way to see this scene from this vantage point is to be on the lake itself as we were that morning. We were on one of the Glacier Park Boat Company's boats on St. Mary's Lake when I made this shot. When we had first started on our lake adventure that morning the water was rough and choppy, but as we neared our destination the water flattened out and became a mirror. I made this hand held from the front of the boat. I took lots of shot of this scene, but I liked this one the best with the little island off to the left and the morning sun reflecting off it's trees. Out of all the images I made over the week we were in the park, this was one of my favorites. Makes me want to go back every time I look at it.

Ansel Tribute

Although he has been gone for 31 years today, Ansel Adams work still influences many of today's photographers, including myself. Unlike Ansel who did his magic in the darkroom with paper and chemicals, most photographers now sit at their computers creating their magic with programs like Lightroom. I created this work in Lightroom a while back and was saving it for a special day and thought this was an appropriate time to unveil it. Heading out on my next mountain adventure today to the wilds of west Texas and the Guadalupe Mountains. Looking forward to a little mountain air and some time to make new memories.

Baring Falls

This was our first stop on a ranger led hike around St Mary's Lake at Glacier National Park in August. Another one of the shots I made on our trip that has been collecting dust. Good to look through these shots again and find some gems I had previously pushed aside.

Mountain Trail

The mountains are calling and I must go - John Muir. Getting ready for another mountain and national park adventure. Not back to Glacier NP where this shot was made, but off to the top of Texas in Guadalupe Mountains NP with my buddies Jay Blasing and Fred Sherpa. I am ready to be on the trail again!

Mountain Majesty

When I read about the snowfall in Glacier National Park this week, it's hard for me to believe the weather was this pretty just two weeks ago. I made this shot as our group hiked from the boat landing on St. Mary's Lake to St. Mary's Falls. This view struck me so much I stayed behind as the group hiked on so I could get this shot without people in it. Only thing that could have made this view any better would have been a stellar sunrise or sunset, but i'll take it just like it is.

Falling Water

The St. Mary's waterfall in Glacier National Park. This was our hiking destination from the boat trip we took earlier in the day across St. Mary's Lake. I could have spent a lot longer at this spot than we had time for in order to catch our boat ride back across the lake, but it just means we'll have to make another trip in the future to enjoy this scene again. :-)

Siyeh Bend

A waterfall on Lunch Creek in Siyeh Bend in Glacier National Park. We stopped here on our return from a boat cruise on St. Mary's Lake earlier in the day. Luckily I was able to capture this shot without other park visitors in the shot. A very pretty place and right off the Going to the Sun Road, so easy access for all.

Glacial Melt

At the end of the summer there's not much left to this stream coming off one of the mountains in Logan's Pass. The snow is gone with only the glaciers remaining to feed this stream at the time I made this shot. I can only guess as the glaciers continue to melt that it will only be a matter of time before this stream is strictly a seasonal stream only flowing when there is snow melting.

Hidden Lake

The view of Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park at sunset. I would have loved to have had more time to hike down to the lake. Guess I'll have to do that next time I'm in the park. :-)

East Meets West

Close to the Continental Divide on the Hidden Lake Trail in Glacier National Park. I made this shot as the sun was setting behind Clements Mountain behind me.

Critter Hunting

We watched this grizzly dig into the side of the mountain at Logan's Pass for a good 10 minutes. We were a very safe distance from the bear with little to worry about. Even with a long telephoto the bear was still just a small part of the overall scene, but I liked the scene enough to share. I feel sorry for whatever it was hunting, but since we saw both marmots and squirrels in the area, my bet is it was one of those. I'm just glad it wasn't using it's claws to dig me out of a hole. :-)

Missing McDonald

Happy Labor Day! After spending a week in Glacier National Park I have a couple of thousand photos to go through and determine which ones I'll share with you. Hope you don't get tired of seeing this beautiful place. I'll start off this this shot I made as we left the park on Saturday morning. This was taken on McDonald Creek along the Going to the Sun highway. We drove past this spot several times, but never stopped until that morning. The light was really nice with low clouds blocking out the harsh sunlight, making for a pretty stellar scene along the creek. Looking at this shot makes me feel like I am right back there.

Going Fall

Clouds hang low and menacing on the mountains above Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. The trees in this shot were just beginning to show that fall was just around the corner. Not quite yellow, but definitely headed in that direction. Summers are short at this altitude and latitude as this was the end of August. Two weeks later parts of the park had up to 8" of snow and this road was closed.

Mountain Grass

I made this shot as we were driving east of Glacier National Park. This is a scene from Montana Highway 49 looking into Glacier National Park in the Two Medicine area of the park. I wasn't expecting that much scenery from this area, but it turned out to be a beautiful drive and one I would gladly do again, in hopes that I will have more time to take my time next time through the area. I believe it would be great for sunrise or sunset shots, or even a midday shot like this one. :-)