While visiting Glacier National Park, I decide to do a day hike from Logan Pass to Hidden Lake.  Mountain Goats and Marmots are everywhere.    

Mountain Goats 7-30-2010 @ 10:59	Logan Pass sign 7-30-2010 @ 11:00	Marmot 7-30-2010 @ 11:26

    My long time friend, Art Just, is joining me on this hike.  The trail heads slowly uphill from the Logan Pass Visitor Center on a boardwalk trail.

Art Just 7-30-2010 @ 11:23	The Boardwalk trail 7-30-2010 @ 11:24

     We pass a variety of flowers on the way.

Indian Paintbrush 7-30-2010 @ 11:30	Wild Strawberry 7-30-2010 @ 11:32	New Mexico Thistle 7-30-2010 @ 11:35

     The trail reminds me of the Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon with its huge crowds.  Some people are even wearing flip-flops.  Their feet are going to get a little wet and cold as we soon leave the boardwalk and have to cross some sections of snow, which are both mushy and slippery.

A snowy trail 7-30-2010 @ 11:43	A snowy trail 7-30-2010 @ 11:48	A snowy trail 7-30-2010 @ 11:55

     After another thirty minutes and a few ups and downs on the trail, we reach the Hidden Lake Overlook.  It is a boardwalk deck and railing with very nice views of the lake.

Hidden Lake 7-30-2010 @ 12:18	Hidden Lake 7-30-2010 @ 12:18

     Art has not been hiking in quite a while due to some foot pain issues and decides to remain at the overlook while I hike on down to the lake.  The trail is downhill from here all the way to the lake.  Fortunately, most of the crowds remain at the overlook.  Right away I come across more Mountain Goats on opposite sides of the trail.

Mountain Goat 7-30-2010 @ 12:23	Mountain Goat 7-30-2010 @ 12:24	Mountain Goat 7-30-2010 @ 12:24

     A little farther down the trail a lady sitting on a rock becomes increasingly uncomfortable as a Marmot creeps slowly up to her.  Eventually, as he is nearly touching her leg, she stands up and moves away.  None of the animals seem to have any fear of humans.

	Marmot beside a lady 7-30-2010 @ 12:28

     There are a lot of different flowers on this section of the trail.

Tall Chiming Bells 7-30-2010 @ 12:31	Cow Parsnip or Cow Cabbage 7-30-2010 @ 12:40

New Mexico Thistle 7-30-2010 @ 12:40	Alpine Avens 7-30-2010 @ 12:43	Indian Paintbrush 7-30-2010 @ 1:07

     I sit down and have lunch while taking in the great views of the lake below.

	Hidden Lake 7-30-2010 @ 12:41

     I then hike back to the overlook, meet up with Art, and we walk back to the Visitor Center.  This is a very pleasant hike with great views.  It is 1.5 miles each way from the Visitor Center to the overlook and another 1.5 miles each way from there to the lake.  The trail has about 500' of elevation gain from the Visitor Center to the overlook and then 700' of elevation loss from the overlook to the lake.  

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