Earthquake Lake and Sawtell Peak

Before I post my Yellowstone National Park Photo Blogs, I'll put up a post about our day trip to Earthquake Lake and our drive up the Sawtell Peak.
The photo below was taken from inside the USDA Forestry Service Earthquake Lake's Visitor Center. The Center, dedicated to inform the public about the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the lower 48 States in the 20th Century, was excellent.  To learn more about how Earthquake Lake was formed on August 17, 1959, click HERE.

The Visitor Center's observation point, looking eastward here towards the town of West Yellowstone, offers sweeping views of the Madison River Canyon.  Notice the ghost forest on the left bank.  Earthquake Lake was created/filled when the side of Sheep Mountain in the narrow Madison River Canyon slid into the Madison River, suddenly banking up water.  Triggered by a 7.3 earthquake on the night of August 17, 1959, this natural catastrophe made news worldwide. Several days later after the earthquake, the Army Corps of Engineers had to create a quick spillway to keep the lake water levels constant.

You can see Highway 287 as it travels along the shore of Earthquake Lake but that night, the highway was destroyed.  Sadly, there were many tourists camping in the Forest Service Campgrounds along the Madison River, several losing their lives and many others badly hurt.

You can see where 80 million tons of earth slid down off Sheep Mountain stopping up the Madison River.  Rock and debris traveling at great speeds up the other side of the opposite mountain side created a wind force of over 100 miles an hour.

Look at the new evidence of plant growth over the past 60 years.

That's the USDA Forestry Earthquake Lake Visitor Center at the lower right of the picture.  In the center you can see one of the huge boulders that landed on the opposite side of the landslide.  The Forestry Department created this public area as a means to inform the public but to also memorialize the lives lost that terrible night.

The Visitor Center presented a very informative film about the earthquake and some excellent graphics about the geology of this area.  You could also read incredible stories from the survivors that were in this area that night.

This region is still active with earthquakes as we saw on the seismograph.

Listening to the film at the Visitor Center, it indeed was a Night of Terror.  Unfortunately a total of 28 people were killed that night, some even as they slept in their tents and campers in the Rock Creek Campground. 

Here is a view from Earthquake Lake from Hwy 287 looking back towards the landslide.

This large boulder landed here, it has not been moved.  It also marks the final resting place that night of the 19 campers in this particular area.

The trail to the Memorial Rock and Observation Lookout wind upward to great sweeping views of the Madison Canyon, the Madison River, the landslide of the Sheep Mountain and Earthquake Lake.

Ronnie and I made our visit to Earthquake Lake on August 18th.  Beside the Memorial Plaque listing the names of those lost was a white rose wreath marking the 60 year anniversary of the earthquake.

There are two boulders, the further one has a smaller boulder that amazing landed on its top.

Looking westward, opposite of Earthquake Lake you get an amazing view of the Madison River as it flows out from the Madison River Canyon. The Madison River has carved out its own route now as it leaves the Lake.

A closer view of the mountain slide.

Further up from the Earthquake Lake is Lake Hebgen.  Created by the Hebgen Dam in 1914, this lake is about six miles from where the Sheep Mountain landslide is located.  Amazingly the dam held during that quake although it was damaged internally.  The sloshing of Lake Hebgen's waters during the earthquake that night created waves of almost 20 feet. That water over topped the dam flooding a number of vacation homes on the banks of the Lake Hebgen and downstream of the Madison River. 

Here are two vacation homes that were flooded and floated off their foundations to land where they are abandoned now.

The surrounding area is quite beautiful but knowing of the tragedy that befell the vacationers and people living in this region makes one more reflective.  It is also a blend of eeriness and sadness with in awe of the landscape. To learn more about the terror that night and read some interesting survivor stories click HERE and HERE.

Later that afternoon, Ronnie and I made the drive up to Sawtell Peak.  To learn more about this mountain and the FAA Air Traffic Radar on its peak (that little dot on top of the mountain), click HERE and HERE.

The 13 mile long Forest Service Road was in excellent shape although a little dusty.

As the Forest Service Road traveled upwards of 3440 feet, we notice the weathered and worn evergreen trees.  It must be harsh winters up here.

Open areas gave us peeks of what views were to come!

Off in the distance, you could see the Teton Mountain Range.

As we traveled above the tree line, I noticed there were NO guard rails..

At 9866 feet above sea level, there were no trees on the peak, only bare land and rock.  We saw other folks up here exploring the area too.  The radar dome is the FCC Air Traffic Control Radar System.

Off in the distance, I saw a family taking photos with the Teton Mountain Range in clear view on the horizon.

After they left, I walked over there to see their view..WOW!

Here, I discovered 2 other people looking out over the landscape.  We are all enjoying views of Mount Jefferson, 10,203 feet.  The mountain and snow bowl are considered to be the absolute headwaters of the Missouri River.

It was windy, I did not get near the edge.

Ronnie and I walked over to the very peak. We could see Henry Lake..

and Yellowstone National Park beyond the first mountain range.

It might appear that I'm near the edge, but I'm quite far from it.

What goes up must now go back down.  Ronnie put the Jeep in Low 4 wheel drive and we slowly crept back down the Sawtell Mountain.

Humm..no guard rails.

Clear afternoon skies made for good Teton Mountain views this day.

Easing our way back down, we have packed in another day filled with memories of special places and unbelievably beautiful landscapes.

More later 

from our visits to Yellowstone National Park.

A Walk In The Woods

We were able to get in a couple of short hikes during our visits to Glacier National Park.  There were large crowds of people visiting the Park each time we drove up, all of the parking lots were always full and turnover of those spots very slow.  In fact, we only found parking at Logan Pass just once.  Somehow we got lucky and found parking at the Avalanche Lake Trailhead/Trail Of The Cedars Nature Loop, where we enjoyed a 4 mile walk to this beautiful lake. 

The trail was a bit crowded but I managed to make most of my photos without other people in them.

The Trail of the Cedars Nature Loop's elevated boardwalk was a delight.  We strolled through a forest of ancient western hemlocks and red cedars, some even have an estimated age of over 500 years.

The Avalanche Lake Trail branches off the Trail of the Cedars Loop.  There the path travels along the glacially melted waters of Avalanche Creek.

Soon the Avalanche Lake Trail goes up and into a dense spruce forest.

Peaking through the trees, we see surrounding mountain cliffs and rock walls.

We couldn't determine if these broken tree trunks were from a blow-down or an actual avalanche.

After a two mile walk, the trail opens up to views of Avalanche Lake.

Amazing waterfalls from the hidden Sperry Glacier tumble cold clear water into Avalanche Lake.

Returning back, the afternoon sunlight was better to capture lower Avalanche Creek and the narrow gorge it had carved.  The ferns and mosses growing along the rock cracks with the blues of the glacial water made for a unique collection of cool colors.

Back on Trail of the Cedars, the afternoon sun peaking through the evergreen fir canopy illuminated these lush green ferns growing on the forest floor. 

On another early morning, we were able to find open parking at the less popular Sunrift Gorge/Baring Falls Trailhead.  This very short hike of 2 miles round trip was through a burn area on the edge Saint Mary Lake.  Notice the smoky haze that had drifted in from forest fires in eastern Washington this day.

While in the parking lot gathering my camera and donning my sweat shirt, I turned around to see this marmot step out from the bushes.

He suddenly stood up and stared at me for several seconds, almost like he was posing for his photograph.

Then he went back to nibbling his grassy salad.

Along our walk to Baring Falls, we find all sorts of berries, Fireweed wildflowers and smoky Saint Mary Lake views.

Smoky view of Red Eagle Peak, 8725 feet.

Baring Falls as it tumbles down at around 25 feet.

On closer view, the water was clear and cold.

Water flowing from Baring Falls goes into Saint Mary Lake. Notice the burned forest in the background.

Pink Fireweed growing on the hillside enjoys the warmth of the sun, Ronnie not so much.

Once again, time seems to fly by as swiftly as the cold water flowing in Avalanche Creek.  Our month in Kalispell is over. We leave with many fond memories stored in our minds (and a few fresh cherries stored in the frig). It's time to turn southward now.
More Later
from Yellowstone National Park.