Trip to Waterton and Glacier Parks

[msommers]

Went down to Waterton National Park this weekend to get in some hiking. The first day was extremely windy and probably would have been a bit crazy and dangerous to hike Akamina Ridge, so we opted to drive down to Montana to see Glacier Park and drive Road to the Sun.

#1
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3868/14732956963_89b617c150_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/orUfPn)20140719-DSC_1262 (https://flic.kr/p/orUfPn) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#2
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3880/14712792782_0d75812ca4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oq7UH5)20140719-DSC_1279 (https://flic.kr/p/oq7UH5) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#3
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5569/14690095436_c788126d68_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oo7zzw)20140719-DSC_1354 (https://flic.kr/p/oo7zzw) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#4
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2935/14526411730_cc703f6290_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o8DE7E)20140719-DSC_1370 (https://flic.kr/p/o8DE7E) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#5
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5557/14526642507_f4ec52d438_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o8EQHz)20140719-DSC_1479 (https://flic.kr/p/o8EQHz) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#6
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2911/14526643067_64d14b5d69_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o8EQTe)20140719-DSC_1437 (https://flic.kr/p/o8EQTe) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#7
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3897/14710701184_b88294a605_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/opWbX3)20140719-DSC_1516-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/opWbX3) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

[msommers]

The next day was still windy but much better so we decided to give it a whirl and see how the weather was up top. Lots of forest walking and bears in the area made for some nervous walking but thankfully nothing surprised us. We hiked up to Akamina Ridge but the wind was still quite severe and weather was quickly changing so we decided it was best to turn around.

#8
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5560/14690092876_ebf2d13f8e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oo7yPo)20140720-DSC_1537 (https://flic.kr/p/oo7yPo) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#9
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2911/14526640887_c16c699f48_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o8EQeD)20140720-DSC_1574 (https://flic.kr/p/o8EQeD) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#10
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3858/14526638447_efac7bb66f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o8EPvz)20140720-DSC_1655 (https://flic.kr/p/o8EPvz) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#11
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5569/14712793732_5c3d335f52_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oq7UZs)20140720-DSC_1660 (https://flic.kr/p/oq7UZs) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#12
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3887/14527834490_008a64736a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o8LX41)20140720-Wall Lake Pano (https://flic.kr/p/o8LX41) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#13
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5552/14712123114_7b4ce2e3ef_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oq4tD5)20140720-DSC_1579 (https://flic.kr/p/oq4tD5) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#14
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5553/14712123424_7764b1e352_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oq4tJq)20140720-DSC_1583 (https://flic.kr/p/oq4tJq) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#15
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2939/14712124054_45e639eeb8_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oq4tVh)20140720-Forum Lake Pano (https://flic.kr/p/oq4tVh) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#16
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2905/14527857869_252d6bb166_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o8M516)20140720-DSC_1714 (https://flic.kr/p/o8M516) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr


Also the amount of alpine flowers in bloom in the Waterton area is honestly stunning - such a wide variety as well. Here are but just a few of what we saw.

#17
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14709914251_935db5d960_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/opSa2e)20140720-DSC_1546 (https://flic.kr/p/opSa2e) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#18
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3879/14526429799_4cfd9a2fca_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o8DKuc)20140720-DSC_1547 (https://flic.kr/p/o8DKuc) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#19
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3920/14526640477_e2016c477c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o8EQ7z)20140720-DSC_1633 (https://flic.kr/p/o8EQ7z) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#20
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3915/14526408640_6359a1322a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o8DDco)20140720-DSC_1637 (https://flic.kr/p/o8DDco) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#21
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2933/14712795482_09b67f72c0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oq7VvC)20140720-DSC_1640 (https://flic.kr/p/oq7VvC) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#22
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2904/14526432588_cbe7cd7404_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o8DLjh)20140720-DSC_1646 (https://flic.kr/p/o8DLjh) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

[msommers]

The next and final day I got up early and did some shooting while the light was decent before waking up the others and heading home. Also got treated to see a momma bear with two cubs.

#23
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3883/14711339061_1dc7a842ee_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/opZsyV)20140721-DSC_1774 (https://flic.kr/p/opZsyV) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#24
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5580/14714223672_4d7b5a6c5d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oqff4A)20140721-DSC_1779-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/oqff4A) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#25
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3863/14714510365_75683cd36f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oqgHhz)20140721-DSC_1807 (https://flic.kr/p/oqgHhz) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#26
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3922/14712127544_9cf1dbd595_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oq4uXs)20140721-DSC_1789 (https://flic.kr/p/oq4uXs) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#27
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3877/14691515086_3569ee78f3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ooeRAf)20140721-DSC_1900 (https://flic.kr/p/ooeRAf) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

#28
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5583/14690088096_1934fb41c7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oo7xoY)20140721-DSC_1764-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/oo7xoY) by msommers00 (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr



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Thanks for looking :)

[t_soarer]

Great shots.

[Christian@IE]

Stunning. Thanks for sharing!

[ExtraSlow]

Waterton is a real jewel that not too many people seem to know about. Never feels that crowded either.

[Eride]

Fantastic Matthew, particularly like #23 amazing shot!

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
Waterton is a real jewel that not too many people seem to know about. Never feels that crowded either.

Yeah, its like Banff, but without the annoying tourists... just amazing

[kvg]

28:drool:

[98type_r]

:thumbsup:

I don't think I've ever been to Waterton when it hasn't been windy.

[msommers]

Thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciate it. Waterton is probably my favorite place in Alberta, really is a jewel not enough people experience.