[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoKW771tG_Q’]
Month: May 2011
hay – spruce – red meadow loop
the spruce creek cut over from hay creek road to red meadow road is finally snow free and dry enough for a good ride. there is still plenty of snow past the red meadow gate and it might be a while.. latest rumor I heard was that the great divide race might be rerouted around the flathead this year…
ride to kintla lake
Mostly dry road all the way to kintla lake but for one considerable puddle just before you get to the lake, however, that may drain quickly also. A bit cold for a swim, but plenty warm pebbles on the beach for a long nap before the ride back
Glacier View II
One month later we are back on Glacier View, this time plus the view and still plenty of snow on top to have fun on the way down. The wildflowers: 
are getting started big time and it looks like an awesome summer for wildflower lovers! Things are warming up in general but this was an exceptionally warm day, even on top we were baking in the sun – which is a first this year. Here is Tony from Cleveland who joined me for the slog up to the top: 
Avalanche Lake
It was time to check out Avalanche Lake and Going to the Sun Road. There were only three miles of road allowed to bike past avalanche, but the views of the mountains made well up for it, as well as the goats and waterfalls, most of them still ice, at avalanche lake. Don’t miss an early bike ride on going to the sun road, it’s one of the best I can imagine!
Glacier National Park Black Bear Climbing tree
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MYPXUwboXs’]
ford creek patrol cabin
made it as far as the ford patrol cabin on the kintla lake road until I was pushing my bike through snow more than I was riding it, just have to try it again. there was also one gigantic puddle, wet feet a given: 
ride to Bowman lake
lots of dry road, some mud, puddles and snow… Great day for a bike ride up to Bowman Lake…
it was nice and warm in Polebridge but windy and freezing cold up on the lake, no time to linger.
here are some violets I found on the way up :
inside north fork road
the road is nice and almost dry to ride your bike down to the logging creek ranger station. there is still downfall and snow on the road past that, some other time…
bowman lake road
Bowman Lake road is still covered with a rather solid layer of snow, ice or water once you get out of the burn into thicker timber. The inside road is open for cars to the end of Big Prairie, that’s also how far I rode it last week. To the south I made it about five miles before running into the same conditions as on the bowman lake road. I guess I’ll have to keep trying..
Out running this little glacier lily was brave enough to stick it’s head out and I hope there will plenty more to follow soon..
big prairie bike ride
the bike riding is getting better as the roads start to dry out and the weather in general is improving. Bowman Lake road most likely still has a bunch of snow towards the end but i should try the north fork inside road towards Logging Lake today…
Big Prairie
Also all the snow has melted off the bottoms and a bluebird day makes us all smile. I bring my camera along now since I saw a bunch of elk bulls on my last run, no such luck today but still not bad, right?