Hiking to Iceberg Lake, Glacier Natl. Park, MT

Our second hike during our trip to Glacier National Park was up to Iceberg Lake.  It was a 4.8 mile hike to the lake with an abundance of wonderful views and wildlife to be seen along the way.

Black Bear - Ursus americanus, up on the mountain side busy foraging for food. 

Moose - Alces alces, down in the valley.

The beginning of the trail was showing the signs of fall.

Moose - Alces alces (bull)

The low morning clouds were covering the mountain tops but the view was still stunning. 

We passed many interesting alpine plants.  They look like a tiny forest by themselves. 

Spruce Grouse - Falcipennis canadensis

Doll's Eye - Actaea rubra

A waterfall down in the valley.

Golden Columbine - Aquilegia flavescens, we saw many plants on the rocky slopes but this was the only one blooming. 

Red-tailed Chipmunk - Neotamias ruficaudus 

Our destination is in view!  (the patch of snow in the distance)

Iceberg Peak is getting closer. The peak reaches 9145 ft above sea level and 3000 ft above Iceberg Lake. 

Nearing Iceberg Lake we came across an area that seems to have a microclimate.  Many wildflowers that were already finished blooming everywhere else were blooming here as if it were spring time. 

Bear Grass - Xerophyllum tenax.  This was the only specimen we saw blooming during our entire trip! Most were already finished blooming and setting seed. 

Bighorn Sheep - Ovis canadensis

Mule Deer - Odocoileus hemionus

Almost there!!

Iceberg Lake

Iceberg Lake was beautiful!  A picture cannot capture the beauty of this place.  It is so majestic and serene.  You really have a sense of peace while gazing upon the lake and breathing in the fresh air. 

Hiking to Avalanche Lake, Glacier Natl. Park, MT

Last week I got back from my trip to Glacier National Park, Montana.  It was a wonderful trip!  I spent lots of time with my family doing hikes, relaxing at the cabin, and seeing the many beautiful sights. 

The first hike we did was up to Avalanche Lake.  It was a two mile hike with an elevation gain of 500ft.

Avalanche Lake map

Avalanche Gorge

The very interesting bark of the Black Cottonwood - Populus trichocarpa

A waterfall half way up to the lake.

The trail passes through lots of beautiful woodland.

I love how the moss covers the forest floor.

Western Rattlesnake Orchid - Goodyera oblongifolia

Greene's Mountain Ash - Sorbus scopulina

Stellar's Jay - Cyanocitta stelleri, was very friendly.  

It must be used to being fed by tourist...

Cascade Aster - Eucephalus ledophyllus, was blooming almost everywhere we went around Glacier National Park.

Pearly Everlasting - Anaphalis margaritacea, was another very common wildflower.

Orange Hawkweed - Pilosella aurantiaca (non-native)

Avalanche Lake 

Avalanche Lake, a little hazy from a wildfire in Idaho.

Snorkeling at Playa Uvas Beach Club - Cozumel, MX

Last week I took a cruise that stopped on Cozumel, Mexico.  I had been to Cozumel two other times but this time we were dropped off in a different location than before.  We used to snorkel at a restaurant/bar just a few blocks from the cruise port but we had no idea where it was so after some advice from a local we took a quick taxi drive to Playa Uvas Beach Club.  The beach club was reasonably priced and offered rental snorkel gear like many other places along the beach.  Since we were short on time I got into the water and started snorkeling right away.  

The water in Cozumel is beautiful.  Very clear and has a good amount of reef organisms.  The sun was shinning brightly but a storm was quickly rolling in.  

I love looking for Echinoderms whenever I'm at the beach.  I found a bunch of beautiful brittlestars.  This one is Ophiothrix angulata. 

A school of Yellow Grunt - Haemulon flavolineatum

An interesting Octocoral

Vase Sponge 

Caribbean Sea Anemone - Condylactis gigantea

Lettuce Coral - Agaricia tenuifolia

Lots of very friendly Sergeant Majors - Abudeduf saxatilis, Im sure they are used to being fed when groups of snorkelers come out. 

A curious but fast Rock Beauty -Holacanthus tricolor

Peacock Flounder - Bothus lunatus, seemed to change color a little to match the substrate. 

At this moment when it started to swim it had darkened. 

Long-spinned Urchin - Diadema antillarum 

French Angelfish - Pomacanthus paru, both are transitioning from juvenile to adult coloration.  

The wind picked up, the temperature dropped, and the rain started pouring really hard so we were asked to come up and we went back to the cruise ship.

This short time was definitely the highlight of the whole trip for me! 

I cant wait to go back to visit again. 

All pictures taken with my Olympus Tough TG-610.

Atlantis Celebrity Summit - Saline Beach, St. Barths

Saline Beach was my favorite part of visiting St. Barthelemy.

It was a lot of fun because of all the people from the cruise ship being there in addition to the beautiful scenery: crystal blue water, white sand, and the coral reef.

Saline Beach, St. Barths Island

Blade Fire Coral - Millepora complanata 

Caribbean Reef Squid - Sepioteuthis sepioidea

Horse Conch - Triplofusus giganteus, I think someone picked this guy up and dropped him upside down where he was stuck between two rocks.  I pulled him out and put him right-side-up here on this rock.

West Indian Sea Urchin - Tripneustes ventricosus

 Brain Coral - Diploria sp.

Brain Coral - Diploria sp.

Caribbean Spiny Lobster - Panulirus argus 

Finger Coral - Porites porites

Long-spinned Sea Urchin - Diadema antillarum

Elkhorn Coral - Acropora palmata, growing in pretty shallow water.

Elkhorn Coral - Acropora palmata 

Blade Fire Coral - Millepora complanata, with many small reef fish in between the blades. 

Queen Parrotfish - Scarus vetula

Queen Angelfish - Holocanthus ciliaris

Atlantic Blue Tang - Acanthurus coeruleus

These are just some of the things I was able to photograph while snorkeling.  There was many other fish, coral, and other invertebrates around this area.  I can't wait to come back to St. Barths and spend more time exploring this beautiful beach.