On this Friday morning we woke up early, bundled up (it is chilly in the mountains at high elevation!) and headed for Cascade Creek Trailhead to hike to Observation Peak. In the parking lot there was only one other car, so we knew this was going to be a great hike! We like to find ways to find some solitude in nature, away from the crowds.
As we started down the forested trail, fog crept along the ground and through the meadow. Dew drops hung on leaves and flowers, signs that the earth was still waking up too. A few miles down the trail, we came to a large clearing with Cascade Lake ahead of us – the first of three alpine lakes on our path. We stopped to admire the pair of swans enjoying the frigid water, adjusted our layers of clothing as the warm sun greeted us, and started up the path to Observation Point.
As we slowly started climbing the 1,400 feet to the top, we wound our way through dense tree areas, sage brush field, and some lingering wildflower meadows. Purple wild lupines poked through here and there, adding a pop of color to the mostly green, yellow, and brown dry landscape. The hail and rain from the night before came in handy though, because it cleared out a good deal of the smoke from distant wildfires and gave us a spectacular view the whole hike.
As we hiked higher, we were treated to views of mountains all around. For about as far as you could see, the land rose and fell with different mountain ranges. We also had a bird’s eye view of Grebe Lake and later Wolf Lake, formed by glaciers that had melted years ago.
Eventually we made it to the summit, the first clear view of mountains since leaving Glacier National Park nearly a week ago. Although windy and chilly at the top, we hunkered down to eat lunch and enjoy the view. We weren’t going to let the temperatures keep us from soaking in all this beauty. Every time I reach a mountain top, I have this overwhelming sense of accomplishment and happiness. This is one way I know taking this year to explore was the right choice.
Eventually we did have to descend, but we took our time and continued to enjoy the beauty. As on so many hikes out here, we were serenaded by grasshoppers hidden on the trail in the grasses. Together they make a powerful choir that sounds like high-voltage power lines. They are good at surprising you too as they are so well camouflaged – I often jump a little as we walk down the trail because grasshoppers seem to leap out of nowhere with each step that I take. Sometimes it feels like the parting of the Red Sea.
The last few miles of our hike through the forest seem to be taking forever as we had tired legs, but a bison sighting but a little pep in our step. Way out in the meadow, below the trail, a lonely bison was grazing on the greens and rolling around in the dirt, giving itself a good back scratch. We watched it for a while until it too became tired and laid down to rest.
Back at the car we dropped our gear, packed up, and headed to Canyon Village for a post hike treat. While sitting outside, socially distanced of course, a huge raven kept pestering us. Apparently it wasn’t explained the 6-foot rule. Eager for scraps of dropped food (which we didn’t have), it eventually moved on to other unsuspecting visitors. Never a dull moment!
Another wonderful day in the books, enjoying the land native to the Crow and Cheyenne tribes, we went to bed happy and tired, looking forward to the other sights Yellowstone had to offer tomorrow.
Tonelli's Travels 