View north from Logan Pass at the beginning of our short hike north along the Highline trail.
View south towards Logan Pass over Going to The Sun Road from the highline trail.
A mountain goat kid shows off rock-hopping moves.
Having safely found its parent, the kid grows inquisitive and approaches. My camera has no optical zoom; the animals were very close. The famous "Garden Wall" extends northward from the right side of the frame and creates a dramatic skyline, along which the continental divide runs. The horizontal cut midway down the slope is Going to The Sun Road.
A little closer? Looks like mom is distracted by a bush. Speaking of which, mountain goats get distracted by a bush pretty often. In fact, I don't think they are too brainy because the kid got distracted three or four times, and appeared startled and surprised to see me still kneeling and taking photos (I hadn't moved and was probably ten feet away) each time. I suppose they avoid being eaten more by being able to walk places that predators can't than by outsmarting their hunters.
Moving slowly and sticking to the trail, the kid didn't mind my passing close by. And besides, that bush needs to be chewed on.
Some really strange wildlife.
Looking south after hiking an hour or two provides a different view of the Garden Wall Cliffs.
Geologists briefly lift their noses from the rocks for a photo.
Requisite posed shot by the sign. This one came out pretty good, but I am behind bunch of stuff and in the back. Funny, it seems like a lot of the best shots have things in front of me...
View south from Logan Pass Visitor's Center parking lot. The parking lot has people from all over the planet speaking all kinds of languages in addition to a full cross-section of american culture: everything from big hairy biker guys to conservatively dressed churchy-looking old women to urban slang and cornrows seems to congregate here. Why do all of these people hang out in the same spot? I think it's some combination of the breathtaking scenery and the fact that there is no other plumbed restroom for miles and miles in either direction.
Look past that person's head and see the two bighorn sheep. As this photo was taken, a mob of shutter-clicking tourists was closing in on them from all directions. So I was a tourist, it happens. At least I was a tall tourist and able to get some pictures over the shorter ones...
So, that is a sheep's ass. A third sheep also appeared. We were allowed to be pretty close until they started charging into each other and butting heads and this dumb ranger guy waved his arms and cave some stupid canned speech about it not being safe to stay so close. We listened to him.
A little smoke from forest fires reduces visibility slightly, but the air is fresh enough that it whispers ancient verse in the ears of the quiet-minded:
"When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers..."
"...the moon and the stars, which you have ordained..."
"...what is man, that you take notice of him?..."
"...[what is] the son of man, that you visit him?..." (David)
"So too, let him rejoice and delight in finding you who are beyond discovery..."
"...rather than fail to find you by supposing you to be discoverable." (Augustine of Hippo, 4th century AD)
