Avalanche Trail, Glacier National Park

 Roaring Avalanche Creek

 Soaring cedars

 Avalanche Lake

Paul and I hit the trail early last Wednesday morning.  We had forgotten, somehow, that it was all uphill.  Just two miles.  It helps that one is distracted by sights, smells, sounds, etc. In the beginning we got a little spooked at being the only people on the trail.  It didn't help that a sign at the trail head warned: "You are entering Grizzly country."  The sign also displayed a picture of bear spray, which we didn't have. We relaxed a bit after meeting up with a recent college graduate, laden with geological equipment.  She, too, was headed to the lake. She assured us the trail likely was safe as it has about the most human traffic of any trail in the park. She described encountering a grizzly bear the day before on another less traveled trail.  She called that experience "sketchy." I would use a different, less nice word. Turns out the only wild animal we encountered was a chipmunk begging for food while we sat on a log on the shore of Avalanche Lake. By the time we return to the trail, dozens of hikers are heading up.  "Is the lake close?" many ask.  We always offer words of encouragement.  "Almost there."  We pledge to do this hike again.