This document provides a summary of an 8-day hiking trip through Glacier National Park from August 9-17, 2009. Some of the hikes included trails to Avalanche Lake, Firebrand Pass, Red Rock Lake, Grinnell Glacier, and Iceberg Lake. Highlights included seeing quaking aspens, bear grass, wildflowers, views of glaciers and lakes, and wildlife sightings of bears and their cubs, minks, and other animals. The trip provided scenic hikes through varied terrain including subalpine meadows and glacial areas in peak wildflower season.

1. OUTDOORS IN! ADK Adventure Travel - Glacier National Park August 9-17, 2009

2. Glacier Institute Accommodations

3. Glacier Institute Guides Becca & Hilary at Avalanche Lake Day 2: Trails to the Cedars and Avalanche Lake 4.5 miles, 800 ft elevation gain

5. Day 2: Firebrand Pass Trail 9 Miles

6. Quaking Aspen We see individual trees, but a quaking aspen grove is a single organism, interconnected by a single root system. Aspen are the first trees to re-establish themselves after a forest fire.

7. Bear Lure Bears are attracted to the lure (fish guts and blood). Bears rub up against the barbed wire, which snags their fur for DNA testing. Bear lures are no longer baited near hiking trails.

8. Bear Grass Family: Lillies Flowering at higher elevations

9. August was peak wildflower season.

10. View from Firebrand

11. Firebrand Pass Trail across the glacial talus

12. Summit of Firebrand Pass Winds were 40+ miles per hour

13. Going-to-the-Sun Road

14. Wildfires are common and a natural part of the ecology.

15. Sub-Alpine Meadows Day 4: 6 miles in the cold cold rain!

17. Mink -- Dinner interrupted! Day 5: Self Guided Hike to Red Rock Lake 2.6 miles

18. Trail to Grinnell Glacier Day 6: 11 miles, ~1000 ft. elevation gain

19. Elephant Flower

20. Wildflowers along the trail to Grinnell Glacier

21. Grinnell Lake Lake color is due to minerals from glacial runoff

22. Blue Green Algae Rock

23. Looking back from the trail to Grinnell Glacier

24. Grinnell Glacier It started to rain just as we arrived!

25. Iceberg Lake Day 7: Saturday 9.8 miles 1200 elevation gain

26. Trails are graded to accommodate pack animals.

27. Iceberg Lake

28. Black Bear --Mama Day 8: Walk to Apgar, 2 miles

29. Black Bear – One of three cubs

30. Dusk on Lake MacDonald