Winter in Glacier 2014

Glacier presents some great photographic opportunities, talk about it here.

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PeteE
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Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by PeteE »

Hi All:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1017 ... 7050913506

Among the many things my Mom told me two come to mind right now:
1. Never say "never".
2. You can't put "Humpty" back together again.

And so like a "bad penny", here I am back at the chat...
No 1. proving true Dave's prediction that I would be back here again :)

No 2 illustrating that I can't undo what I did in the summer of 2013. Water long over the dam.
And so therefore I apologize to those of you I screwed over on various commitments I made that summer.
There are no excuses but there is always context. Stuff don't happen in a vacuum.
The "problem" was personal had nothing to do with any chatters or the chat itself.
Sadly, the result was folks on here becoming" collateral damage" for lack of a better word.
The folks I screwed didn't have a dog in my fight.
So again, I'm sorry if my actions ruined anyone's stay in Glacier that summer.

If somebody would like comment, or talk to me further, please PM or email me.
Let's please not do that here ok?

And so back to the subject at hand Winter in Glacier 2014 if I may...

I thought I would try to put up a few pictures and videos this winter.
And I would just put them all here. If the mods believe this thread should be somewhere else, please move it.


My feet are back in good shape after a year plus of plantar crap.
And so I should be good to go for a little hiking or snowshoeing.
I can't do these epic winter trips like DaveC
My stuff, snaps and video clips, will be done in places familiar to many of you.
The difference is these "familiar places" might not look so familiar during the winter.

I rode out to Lake McDonald after work today to take a few pictures and video. Cold day at about 8F. Thankfully the wind was only 5mph+-
Cold days like this usually make for clear air and today was pretty nice.
I wasn't really dressed well though so I didn't tarry when I went down to the dock for a few pics!
Stunningly beautiful as always :)
Here are a few pics on Flickr. I haven't figured out how to paste them here yet.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/98975350@ ... 849988157/
Video from today again
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1017 ... 7050913506

I met the winter caretaker at Lake McDonald lodge today too. Nice guy named Jason.
He and his wife are friends with the current Many Glacier caretakers David and Rebecca.
He invited me to come out and visit anytime....and I hope to take him up on that.

David and Rebecca's winter blog has been posted on here by teapot57
http://www.glacier.nationalparkschat.co ... f=1&t=8559
My beat up, 6year old flip phone gets 4 bars and works well at Fish Creek gate.

And here is a 7 minute video I made last August 10th while waiting on mzambo and chip and spouses to do the Highline.
"Chatty" as I called him was a juvenile raven I found charming and did some video of him.
There were 4-5 hummingbirds flying around the visitor's center that morning too.
Never saw him before that day, or after.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1017 ... 4991210034

I plan to do more videos and pics of my corvid friends this winter.
The corvid family(ravens, crows, magpies, and the jays, and others) have interested me since I was a child and had a pet crow for 3-4 years.
Winter is a great time to come go out to the park. Very few people,none today at Lake McDonald lodge other than the caretaker Jason.
You can look for and watch animals pretty much undisturbed...if you can find them.... stand the cold :)


Cheers

pete ;)
Last edited by PeteE on Thu Nov 13, 2014 12:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

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And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by teapot57 »

Gorgeous photos, Pete! Looking forward to seeing more.

Great to have you back! :arrow: :arrow:
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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by toddnick »

Welcome back!!!!
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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by PeteE »

Thanks all for the kind comments!
Nice to be back here.

My brain is going bad quicker than I thought.
I just noticed that I screwed up the year of my misdeeds in my 1st post.
I corrected it to 2013 :) not 2012 which was great!

dpratt
You'll love it here in January even though the lodge is closed. You can still drive out there and ski/snowshoe up the road, or up the Sperry trail and go several directions.
And the drive out to Polebridge should NOT be missed if you have the time. On a weekend if you can manage it. The Merc should be open.

As far as posting pics and video clips this winter...
As a reminder, I do "snapshots", not works of art. I don't have that talent.
Same with my "lame videos". They are somewhat "corny", by design, and therefore not for everyone.

I figure that since I'll be riding around in and out of the park and the North Fork area, I may as well bring along my cameras and "do what I do"...
Video and photograph the landscape as it is on that day.
If one wishes, one can always "mute" the videos to escape my "mindless prattle" :)
I had planned to go out today, but work raised its ugly head. Maybe go this weekend.

later

pete :wink:
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by Jay w »

I don't think you can blame chatty for drawing blood. :)

Look forward to the trip reports.

Jay
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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by netresult »

Nice video Pete! Welcome back, it will be nice to see some "off" season content from you to get me through the winter.
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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by PeteE »

netresult wrote:Nice video Pete! Welcome back, it will be nice to see some "off" season content from you to get me through the winter.
Thanks! I will try to post "something" on a regular basis, at least weekly.

I hiked up to Avalanche Lake today. The wind finally died down around here. Sunny, beautiful day but still chilly out there, around 10-15F+-
The lake and the cirque were gorgeous, just enough snow to highlight the rock, and with icicles seemingly hang off every cliff edge, frozen waterfalls :)
When I arrived at the parking area about 1030, there was NObody there yet. Most probably had the sense to stay home till it warmed up some :)
However, there ended up being a few dozen people who hiked to the lake.

I may have some pictures later tonight. Video will be a day or so.

later
pete :wink:
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by PeteE »

I'll redo the first post pics. Flickr sucks for posting pics here. Photobucket seems WAY easier to me.

Here are a few pics from today.
pete :wink:


Mount Cannon on the way out this morning
Image

#1 spot and nobody here yet
Image

I wouldn't want to fall in anytime, let alone today as cold as it was
Image

Back of Bearhat as seen from the creek as it goes under Sun Road
Image

Avalanche Lake
Image
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by joybird »

While it's ALWAYS a joy to see more Glacier pictures, it's a particular treat to see views that I'll likely never see IRL. Thanks, Pete for taking the time to share this stuff with us. I look forward to more of your pics, tales and tidbits in the coming months.

Welcome back!
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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by teapot57 »

Looks like you had a crisp, cold, beautiful day. Kudos to you for being the first one out there. It warmed up here in Calgary, but I don't think our high got above 25F. Felt great though after the lows we've been experiencing.

Thanks for sharing the photos! Everything is so beautiful with the light touch of snow.
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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by PeteE »

joybird wrote:While it's ALWAYS a joy to see more Glacier pictures, it's a particular treat to see views that I'll likely never see IRL. Thanks, Pete for taking the time to share this stuff with us. I look forward to more of your pics, tales and tidbits in the coming months.
Welcome back!
Thank you for that "Welcome back" Joybird. I very much appreciate it.

You're a youngster, and fit. You have a lot of years to figure out how to get out here some winter. :wink:

The new work arrangement I have allows me some flexibility in when I work. So, barring some disaster, I'll have more time to go do something in the park, or North Fork area.
I like riding around just lookin'. It's hard to describe. Since I go alone, I can stop and go where and when I please. I may change my mind several times before I get to CFalls :)
I thought maybe this winter I would go walk some trails that are not too popular most of the year, e.g. along the Middle Fork, or the far side of Lake McDonald, up McDonald Creek.
Unhappily, for now I'm limited in how far I can get on foot/snowshoe anywhere. Getting old sucks no matter what they say.
That said, one never knows what one may see when the landscape is relatively undisturbed.
For a short while, I was alone at the lake today. It's difficult to describe the "peace" that comes in utter silence of that beautiful natural amphitheater---broken only by the occasional ice falling from high above.

On the way home I stopped at the Lake McDonald Lodge parking to use the facility.
As I was walking back to my truck I heard that familiar "Clock Clock" sound that my new(ish) friend "Bonnie" the raven makes. She and her mate "Clyde" flew down for a photo op. Ravens are extraordinary birds in many ways. They were good company for me last winter. I'm looking forward to seeing them this winter.

Here they both are. I'm zoom out near max Clyde(L)
Image

This is Clyde
Image

And here is Bonnie squawking loudly at Clyde about who knows what. Clyde ignores her this time, but not always 8)
I love how you can hear them calling each other from a long way off in the windless silence.

Image
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by PeteE »

teapot57 wrote:Looks like you had a crisp, cold, beautiful day. Kudos to you for being the first one out there. It warmed up here in Calgary, but I don't think our high got above 25F. Felt great though after the lows we've been experiencing.

Thanks for sharing the photos! Everything is so beautiful with the light touch of snow.
Hi Teapot!

Thanks!
I know y'all know about "cold" up there, as does everyone across the upper US.
Temps here lately are more common for folks in ND SD MN IA, ILL WI
Normally, this part of MT is mild compared to the rest of the state.

Yeah, it was too nice a day to stay home. I was out Friday too, but didn't get out of Squeeze for very long. Wind had my face numb in 2 mins.
I'll get that up soon.
Photobucket is just a 1000% easier to post pics on here.

Like I told joybird, I hope to get out as much as I can.

Y'all need to think about coming down some time!

later
pete :wink:
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by scott-atl »

welcome back pete. definitely the most informative, entertaining, and provocative contributor this site has seen.

I look forward to your wintertime touring. never been out there after October.

w regards bonnie and clyde, I wonder if the sandpiper is the only bird w as wide a range as the crow/raven?
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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by PeteE »

scott-atl wrote:welcome back pete. definitely the most informative, entertaining, and provocative contributor this site has seen.

I look forward to your wintertime touring. never been out there after October.

w regards bonnie and clyde, I wonder if the sandpiper is the only bird w as wide a range as the crow/raven?
Thanks for the "welcome back"Scott :) I'm not so sure about the rest of that sentence 8)
You have a cabin here. You should save your pennies and come on out some winter.
Bring ur long jammies though. That East side is a deep freeze in the winter.

Regarding ravens in general... I could fill pages talking about my favorite family of birds--Corvidae
Corvids include ravens, crows, magpies, the various jays and more.
All are very "intelligent" which partly explains their success and wide range.

Speaking of sandpipers. Here's a sandpiper I took a shot of down near the far end of Hidden Lake on August 17th. Great camo the little guy/gal has :)
Image

So thanks Scott. I'll strive for more entertaining and less controversy this go-round!

Pete
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: Winter in Glacier 2014

Post by PeteE »

It's not easy photographing pitch black ravens against a pure white snow background...but I'm learning :)

I'll start another thread for my corvid friends. Until then here is Bonnie and Clyde last winter, Clyde in front
Image

Here is a nice pic of Clyde. Ravens express mood and emotion by body language as well as vocal calls. Here he has fluffed up his head and throat ruffle.
Image

Here is Bonnie squawking again. She makes a lot of weird noises while Clyde is mostly "silent" all the time.
Image

later
pete
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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