Two great hikes with two great visitors

Wow what a great weekend I had.  Keith was visiting a friend in Zortman, MT last week and planned to visit en route home.  He invited his friend and soon-to-be TransRockies (bike race in Canada) partner, Jill, who just moved to Missoula from Alaska, to come hang out with us.  I hadn't met Jill but have read her blog, which is really a well-written and interesting blog.  Not surprisingly, she's incredibly cool and lots of fun to hang out with.

Gunsight Lake

We messaged back and forth about her weekend plans and ultimately she came for the whole weekend to hike in Glacier National Park.  For Saturday, I took her on the Gunsight Pass hike, which is a 20 mile point-to-point hike from the Jackson Glacier Overlook stop on the shuttle to Lake McDonald.  This is such a fantastic hike, and I was super happy to share it with someone who had never done it.  It was a great day, despite the fact that the snow was not plentiful as suggested by the GNP trailstatus report.  I brought my shiny new ice axe but didn't really need it.  I'm glad I have it though and I did carry it in my hand for one snow-field crossing. 

Danni & Jill at Gunsight Pass

Lake Ellen Wilson

that baby is so cute I want to put it in my pocket

Keith met us in East Glacier on Sunday and we hiked another favorite trail of mine: Dawson-Pitimakin Pass.  The east side of the park is much drier and rockier looking.  Beautiful in a different way than the west side of the park.  This loop hike is about 17 miles and is a relatively easy hike for the pay-off.  I was a little tired from Saturday so it wasn't "easy" but it was definitely fun and worthwhile.

Jill and Keith at Dawson Pass

Jill, Danni and Keith on the trail

the view from Pitimakin Pass

Jill cross-training for TransRockies

It was so nice, as always, to see my friend Keith and it was nice, as always, to make a new super awesome friend who lives nearby.  Life is good!