Mid July 2025 I ventured into Glacier Park after spending a few days with family and friends in the Libby and Kalispell areas. There was a cold front moving in, with a chance of snow above 8000 feet. Perfect! Entering going to the sun road around 3:30 PM it was sunny and warm. But as I climbed, moving clouds hung to the higher peaks in the center of the park. A couple miles from Logan Pass I had entered a thick, foggy shroud. It was hard to see at times as I made my way into the parking lot.

Mount Oberlin makes a brief appearance in the clouds as I head up Going to the Sun

People were scurrying about in the fog, many with shorts and flip flops on. A pretty interesting sight. I seen one family hiking away from the parking lot and arrive back about 20 minutes later with their adolescent boy shivering in his gray hoodie, hood scrunched up around his face. Apparently some had not prepared themselves for mountain weather changes. I got ready and headed up the highline. It felt a bit of a wonderland in the fog with the foliage, ground squirrels scampering around, and feeling all alone on the trail. I ended up only passing a few souls that entire evening. I seen a solo tree in a field of flowers and took a shot. This image ended up being one of my favorites from that day, well besides the animal encounter, but we’ll get to that!

Hiking down the highline trail near Logan Pass conditions were dynamic changing on a dime

A single tree stands as a testament in a field of flowers

Vehicles make their way up Going to the Sun in a surreal display of conditions

As I went further up I met a couple who said a big horn sheep was less than two more miles up the trail. I was very excited about this with the way the conditions were in the light rain and diffused light. Further along the trail I asked the others I passed and the reports kept getting closer! When I passed one last hiker, who was resting on a rock, slouched over and exhausted from a long day of hiking uphill. She said he was only 1/4 mile further on! I made sure the young lady was okay before proceeding, then shortly after stopped and threw my 200-600mm lens on my camera and dialed in my settings. I was ready! And there he was a bit further on. I spent over an hour photographing this majestic beast even capturing some video footage Im excited to share with you all at some point. Then it was a hike back, arriving at my car just as the last bit of light faded. Time to go find somewhere to sleep!

I actually really enjoy this image of him peering through the brush

As I drove towards Saint Mary’s it began raining and then down pouring! I found a spot near town to park my car. I had to make dinner under my hatchback roof because of the storm and sleeping in my car that night was not my most favorite experience as sideways rain kept coming into my small window crack landing on my face. Finally I completely closed the windows and got a bit better sleep. I slept way in, went into town and had breakast at a local spot before heading back up towards Logan Pass. The weather was supposed to clear mid afternoon and I wanted to catch sunset at Hidden Lake.

A few miles into the park I passed a pullout with someone looking towards the mountain across the road. I knew what this could mean so turning around I pulled in. A grizzly bear was 100 yards up the hill! It was foraging on the numerous “service” berries covering the area. Soon the entire pull out was full of cars and then more! A major traffic jam had started and park rangers were monitoring the scene yelling on loudspeakers orders for us to “stay off the road”. It was quite the sight. I spent about 45 minutes photographing and making friends before heading up again towards the pass.

Atop the pass the fog was as thick as ever! I ate some lunch, packed my bag, and headed up towards Hidden Lake Lookout. Along the way I spotted some scenes I couldn’t help but photograph.

The beginning of the hike I found myself in clouds and flowers

Indian Paintbrush is very vibrant at alpine elevations

Upon reaching the lookout spot there was not much to see. Heavy blankets of fog covered what was the lake below. I asked the man of a rather large I assume family group to take a picture of me to document it. We chatted a minute and then I walked off, in search of a good place to photograph sunset if the fog burned off. I wanted something decent for my foreground (close part of image) and different than the lookout spot. I wandered about and eventually decided to climb the small mountain close to the lake. The fog was heavy and never let up. So right around sunset I made my way back to the car and then drove to Saint Mary’s.

Looking down towards Hidden Lake. On this day I understood the name.

The fog did clear enough to see the lake on a couple of occasions, but not enough for sunset where I ended up.

I photographed this image about 30 minutes before sunset near the top of the unnamed mountain. This is near where I took the image the next day you will see reading further. You can see how much conditions can change in a short amount of time.

I didn’t get much car sleep, more of a short nap, before I noticed the clouds moving away and a moon shining on me. Soon it would be time to make my way back for sunrise. Around 2:45 am I was up and moving about. Then it was the drive up to Logan Pass and the same hike up the mountain I had done hours before. But this time there were clear skies. Brilliant stars gleamed about and reflections from the moon of fresh snow sat atop some of the mountains. I was hoping the fog would burn off in the morning rays, creating beautiful photographic conditions, but one cannot change the weather and I was happy for a different climate. Soon dawn approached as I made the last steps to the summit. I chose a spot I liked that had a foreground of alpine trees creating a neat frame around Hidden Lake and Bearhat Mountain. It was calm as it began to get light and blue hour created a beautiful reflection of the mountain on the lake. Although fairly exhausted my spirits were up being able to see the landscape around me.

I setup my tripod in a pretty intense spot, overhanging a 5 foot cliff, and prepared my camera. This morning I decided to shoot 3 shots in different exposures for every frame. Even with modern technology in cameras I wanted to make sure I did not blow any highlights out while still keeping my shadows bright enough. When the sun hits one area and the rest of the frame is in dark shade, it creates harsher light conditions so it helps to know ones equipment and how to use it. And then I waited. As the sun came up I periodically snapped images as light moved down the mountain, I was patient that day and not moving my camera from its location, a testament to growth on my part. But at one point, a bit after sunrise, I did go on a short jaunt to catch some images facing the sun.

You can see the sun moving down “Bearhat” Mountain

Facing more north in the opposite direction

There was a lot if waiting that morning after the sun came up. At one point after sunrise I laid down and took a short nap on the scree, waiting for the sun to torch the top of the trees just how I wanted. Then when it happened I had an idea! I put my camera on its intervalometer (basically a time-lapse setting). I wanted an epic self portrait! Trying a few poses I found one I liked and “Photo Assassin” was born. Funny, I had never planned or even thought of taking an image like that until minutes prior. I have found many of my favorites are when I let the shot come it me, instead of forcing something that may or may not happen. That is how this morning went. The weather did not happen as I had hoped, so I got creative and came away with something I am proud of. Such as in photography as in life.

Nap time

“Photo Assassin” Self Portrait. This shot reminds me of the popular video game series “Assassins Creed”

Soon after “Photo Assassin” I made my way back down. Hidden lake trail was full of people and I was “jamming out” with my headphones in as I sped may way to the car. Then it was down the pass and into the valley. I took a nap at Lion Lake and met up with some friends after, eventually arriving at my North Idaho home in the wee hours of the morning. What an adventure!

Into the Shroud - Adventure in Glacier Park

Aurora chasing in Montana’s Cabinet Mountains Wilderness