On to Waterton

Water water every where

Water on the ground

First all of the plains and park areas we went through are green green green. As green as I have ever seen the prairies 

Our first destination was the bighorn medicine wheel in Wyomings Bighorn Mountains. We knew things were dicey when the Forest Service called the day before our departure to move our camping reservation to a nearby campground, first was full of snow. While there was patches of snow in the 2nd campground, camping was fine after hunkering down during the cloud burst, and we did see a moose driving up too. However we were informed by the freindly local campground host that there was still a foot and half of snow covering the medicine wheel.

Water from the sky

It has been wet and cold, with heavy thunderstorms every day on the way up,  and most days in Waterton too.

Since the medicine wheel was a non starter, we did stop by and do the short hike to 5 Springs water falls on our way to the Little Belt mountains south of Great Falls.
Found a fine little dispersed camping spot along Jefferson Creek, after getting hammered by rain on the way up. Hiked out to  nearby Memorial Falls the next morning, accompanied a new rhythmic noise from the truck. 

Upon return, the truck expressed it's displeasure by warning us of low tire pressure. Sure enough, right rear was flat with a large hex head bolt sticking out a half inch. Damn, time for the spare and to see if we can get it repaired (or replaced )in Great Falls. The size of the bolt make me think the tire is trashed.  Looks like a half inch or larger lag bolt.

I find a tire shop and have picked out a replacement set while they check if it can be repaired, and lo, it can.   Unusually narrow body on the bolt, the mechanics are surprised and feel confident on the repair.  I am relieved, and saved from the $600 expense. Hope it holds.

Make it through customs after getting queried about guns, mace, alcohol, and cannabis. Arrive to Waterton after heavy rain, again. We were fortunate and saw a juvenile grizzly on way in to townsite!
The skies clear a bit and we enjoy the lake side trail and view of 7 mile long Upper Waterton Lake with the sun highlighting the peaks and snowfields.

Tuesday morning we hike to Bertha Falls through  the remains of the Kenow fire of 2017. 

 Sad to see the forest burned but the flowers more than make up for it, and of course we get views all along the way.
We learn at the visitor center that other than Waterton town site, all the other roads are closed to vehicles, bummer. Most hikes and the heart of the park are out of reach.
Wednesday, we do a car tour of over looks on the way down to the empty Belly River campground just north of the border. Our hiking book says there is a trail along the river starting there. We can't find it, so we ask the local camphost couple. They laugh a bit and say that the trail is not maintained, eh.  Yeah you might be able to follow it, but you will be bloodied. They do tell us about a nice serene place to have lunch along the river, and another trail up Sofa Mtn  to some falls on Crooked Creek .  Wonderful Sofa Mtn trail wanders though patches of forest and along meadows, alpine areas. Incredible wild flowers. We are rained on regularly but lo and behold a large patch of blue sky greets our final pitch to the falls. The wind is strong here and the plants show krumholz like adaptations. I look at a broadleaf  tree, amazed to see it with deformations that I typically see on Engelmann spruce,  bristlecones,  or limber pines at timberline in Colorado. I think they are the local cottonwoods.  A great hike though we were on a bit of a forced march due to weather. A lovely snow filled cirque beckons beyond the falls, maybe next time, next time, .....

Not many hikes left since so much of the park is closed, Glenda and I want to do Crypt Lake, a 10 Mike round trip hike you take the boat ferry to, but weather forecast was for cold rainy day. So we do the boat tour of the lake. Typically one can get off at Goat haunt on the US end of the lake and hike but it is closed this year. Did see bald eagles on the return.

 Decided to hike along the Cameron River from campground - nice little hike, with some good views of town and the road construction and  noisy campground
construction. Alas this trail is closed as we approach Cameron Falls from above. Backtrack to town and enjoy the sizeable river falls.

Friday we visit the storied Prince Of Wales Hotel, enjoy some tea and take in the cloudy wet views shifting across the peaks along the lake. We hike around little Linnet Lake, and spot some ladyslipper flowers. Many years since i've seen a member of that beautiful flower family.

Rain starts in earnest early afternoon, we do laundry, review new hiking guide and sample some local craft brews while planning our next destination - McLeod Meadows CG in Kootenay National Park

campground