Glacier NP, St. Mary to Two Medicine - September 27, 2003 - Member Trip Report

Hike Name: Glacier NP, St. Mary to Two Medicine
Country: United States
State: Montana
Trip Rating: 5 stars
Trip Date: September 27, 2003
Duration: 1 day
Trail Conditions: Excellent
Trail Traffic: None
Trip Weather: Sunny
Trip Winds: Light
Trip Precipitation: None
Trip Temperature: High: 61-70, Low: 31-40 degrees Fahrenheit
Trip Report: After breaking camp, we notice the moose in the lake form the evening before is still grazing, so we watch while eating breakfast. After making camp we head up Red Eagle Creek trail until it meets with Hudson Bay Creek. Here we circle around and then meet back up with Hudson Bay Creek and head up to the headwaters: Triple Divide Pass. As we catch our first glimpse of the pass from quite a distance away, we are high enough to really see the colors changing in the trees. Really picked a great time for our trek!

Triple Divide peak is the only known point in the world that the slopes drain into three different oceans, Pacific, Atlantic, and the Arctic Oceans. We begin to climb to the cirque just below the pass. There are plenty of switchbacks going up to the pass, but we manage without too much trouble. Near the pass we see someone rocketing down the peak and its scree, then running past us: a trail runner that impresses us as he runs the knife edge of the peak as if it’s flat ground. The pass is in the shadow of the peak and the breeze picks up enough so that we decide to put pants on. Descending down the other side of the pass is non-eventful as the trail offers no switchbacks, just a nice steady slope until we hit the tree line.

At the campground we meet a group of 4 who are in for the weekend who have hiked in from the Cut Bank Trailhead. We share well deserved beers and a meal with them and have a great time around the campfire (this is the only campground of the 3 that we visit that allows fires). We easily fall asleep next to the soothing sounds of Atlantic Creek, just yards from our tent. I might add that the tent went up much easier and quicker with stakes …
<b>TDP</b><br> This is a closeup of Triple Divide Peak from the Arctic Ocean drainage basin side of the pass.
<b>Campsite at Atlantic Falls</b><br> Here is a picture of Roy-boy getting dinner out at Atlantic Falls Campground. Yes, we were going to have a beer or two that night. Gotta love the local Moose Drool!
<b>Triple Divide Peak</b><br> This is our first glimpse of Triple Divide Peak (the small triangle shaped peak near the middle of the photo) looking from the mouth of the Hudson Bay Creek valley. The pass is just to the left of the peak. We'll have to climb the pass today and down the other side to get to Atlantic Falls Campground for the night.
<b>Hudson Bay Creek Valley</b><br> This a photo looking up Hudson Bay Creek Valley from the foot of Split Mountain. The creek is named since the water it carries flows into Hudson Bay and, ultimately, into the Arctic Ocean. Notice the colors aren't as vibrant as they could be as a result of the dry summer. Triple Divide Peak is just to the left o fthe pine in the middle.
<b>Hudson Bay Creek Valley from TDP</b><br> Here is looking down at the Hudson Bay Creek Valley from Triple Divide Pass. Notice the 'iceberg' in the pond on te left side of the photo that indicated perpetual shade throughout the year. This was a steady, steep hike up to the pass.

Hiker:

Tartan1749


4,850 points

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