The Skyline Experience (without me)

Mom and Dad have wanted to do this hike for a long time.  I mean, they've fantasized about it since even before I was born.  It's a long hike from Many Glacier Hotel to the Piegan Pass trail head.  

Any of you who know Glacier are at this point thinking, They should actually start at the Siyeh/Piegan Pass trail head and go the opposite direction for about 13 miles to end up at Many Glacier with a whole lot less elevation gain.  You're right.  That is a much better way to do that hike, but they didn't want to take the trail.  

They wanted to start hiking on the Cracker Lake trailhead and then head up a dry waterfall bed to the summit of Wynn and a beautiful day-long ridge walk.  After a 4:30AM start to the day and two hours of driving, that's what they did last Sunday with two of their friends.  They reached the top of Wynn at 9:30 in the morning.  Mom already wanted lunch.

From that summit, they could see their destination for the day.  You can, too.  Look behind Dad, Mom and Becky in the above picture.  Do you see that peak in the clouds?  That's where they were aiming.  Also notice the beautiful, mostly clear, blue skies at this point.

They hiked another two hours to the next peak, named only 9190 on the map.  Mom definitely needed lunch at that point.

In this picture, you can't even see their final mountain anymore.  Still, Becky had on sunglasses and the day was looking pretty good.

Two more hours, and the group was on top of Cracker Peak.  The jackets and gloves had come out.

Finally, Mount Siyeh!  Here, Mom was wondering why she was still in her shorts and the ten-second picture was the only time spent in the snow falling on everyone.  Within two hours, everyone was back in the car and happy to be dry.  And Mom and Dad were so glad they had been able to do the entire Skyline Experience, thanks to the company of good friends and to my Mormor and Most for watching Serena and me.

Dad knows that I'm planning to hike to Swiftcurrent Lookout with him next summer.  It won't be long before I'll be running up these mountains ahead of them!