Ah, Piegan. You always make me smile. Don’t go changing.

Any of you who read my posts from last summer know I have a special place in my heart for Piegan Pass. It’s just the right about of gain, just the right mileage, and the views are worth just a little more than the effort. This makes you think you got one over on Glacier (although I’ve proven that she never forgets).

I was only getting one day off this week, which I didn’t know at the time. And it seemed like a good idea to check out Piegan Pass and take a little trip to the summit of Cataract Mtn if the snow wasn’t too bad. But there is a catch.

Going to the Sun Road is STILL closed at the Jackson Glacier Overlook, which means I can’t get to the trailhead at Siyeh Bend. So the alternative trail adds another 1.5 miles (each way) and a solid 1000′ of extra gain/loss. Ouch. But what’s double-digit miles and 3500′ of up between me and an old friend? Well, actually, it is a hell of a lot. Just ask my quads.

I’m working long days, and overslept by about an hour or so. Hmmm. Not the way I wanted to start the day. But there had been a little AM rain and I hate to start the trail wet so no big deal.

As I turn east at St Mary to start the Sun Road, I spy this little rainbow trying to form between White Calf and Curly Bear Mtns.

Maybe it is a good thing I got up a little late. Then came the real deal. A beautiful full rainbow from the wispy fading early morning shower, that arced completely over the Sun Road from the Divide Creek drainage, across St Mary Valley, to land right on Singleshot Mtn.

I guess if I would have hung out a little longer, I might have even gotten a double. But I’m not that greedy. The mountains were calling, and I must go.

I was carrying my climbing ice ax and crampons, which seem to be mandatory for all trips so far in Glacier this ‘summer.’ There was a LOT of snow still lingering in the forested sections of the trail as soon as I hit that magical 5500′ mark.

The streams were all raging from runoff.

Hard to believe we are coming up in mid-July. The lingering snowpack on Piegan was impressive. I am sure its glacier got a good dose of accumulation for the upcoming summer.

There were only a couple of sections of the snow-covered trail once above the tree line. And Cataract Mtn appeared clear of any of the white stuff. Drats. That’s where I hoped there would be a LOT of snow. I hate hopping those unstable boulders up to that summit. Looks like I’ll be putting the snow gear away after this trip.

Looking across Siyeh Bend and Pt Allen (SW arm of Reynolds). Mt Jackson is still very snowy, with glaciers still buried under the winter’s fresh blanket. Blackfeet Mtn to the far left and then Logan just out of sight. On the backside of that ridge is Harrison Glacier, now the largest in the Park (of the approx. 25 that are still lingering).

I arrive at Piegan Pass after a mere 2 hr. 45 min. And that is with the extra miles and gain. I note a rock wall shelter that I assume has been used for illegal camping. Matahpi and Going to the Sun peaks beyond against the azure sky.

I love Piegan Pass. Here is me saying so.

Dave and Pollock Mtn.

Dave and the face of Mt Gould. I love that diorite sill (fancy word for lava intrusion). I use it in all of my tours when I take people up and down the Many Glacier valley. Such a cool feature in this area of the Park.

This little fellow caught my attention. Look at those long claws. I think I just found the Freddy Kruger of Piegan Pass. You be the judge.

Of course, when this salt-craved mini monster tried to drag away one of my trekking poles, I knew we needed to come to a peaceful but firm understanding.

Now I am not proud of this video. I know better than to share Costco Pretzel Chips with wildlife. But it was kind of a sacrificial anode. Just something to keep the critter away from me and my personal space. However, I did not see what was out of the frame of my shot until it was too late.

To understand my hatred of marmots, you really need to review this post from last summer. They are vile little throw pillows. And they are all cousins. So I have no issues punishing one for the sins of another of his brethren. The same way I handle discipline on my school bus.

The ‘walk up’ to Cataract Peak is a must. I will NEVER go to Piegan pass again without this little side trip. It was only an extra 45 minutes of off-trail climbing that was definitely worth the effort. And little evidence that people are up there except a very small (and lonely) summit cairn.

So happy I don’t have to do all of those thousands of feet of loss down to the MGH.

Just a little commentary from the top. Only my second peak this summer.

Time to start down. There was some weather coming over the Continental Divide. The temp dropped 20 degrees in just a few minutes.

A closer view of Matahpi and Going to the Sun.

Beargrass with a Glacier backdrop never gets old. Always makes for a nice little pause along the trail to just take it all in. Dusty Star and the Citadel in the distance.

At the end of the day the total time up was 3.5 hours to the summit, and then 2.5 hours from the summit to the trailhead. Passed the normal bunch of hikers in soaked tennis shoes that would never make it up, along with a couple of families where Dad bit off more than he could chew (been there, done that). Got back to my cabin in time to do a little laundry and relax.

May as well throw out my numbers for the season. To be honest, I have only had two days off over the last 2.5 weeks since I started doing tours full-time. Good thing for all of that ‘training’ with real weekends ‘off.’

I’m throwing some work numbers in there as well. Can you believe I’ve logged over 1300 miles on a Red Bus in such a short time?

Anyway, in a perfect world, I’d like to hit a 250-mile summer. But to be honest, if I can break 200 I’d be happy. When Logan Pass does open, it will probably be six-day weeks (at 12 hrs. a day) until I get out of here on Labor Day. With a little luck, I can find more time to write. My creative narrative cup here will never runneth dry.