St. Mary's Glacier

Many thanks to my neighbor Dave for mentioning St. Mary's Glacier last night. At just 3/4 of a mile, the trail was a nice length for the kiddos. And yes, I know it's not technically a glacier since it doesn't move. Doesn't make it any less cool (pun intended, horrible as it is).
Not the sharpest picture (this is where I whine about how hard it is to take good pictures with one hand), but the sight of three chipmunks was too cute not to include. One guess what Zak and Taryn decided their names were.
Danelle loves it when I show her signs like this from the places I take our children.
Zak informed me rock jumping was one of his super powers. Then it started to rain and the rocks got a bit slippery. Kryptonite!
Taryn had consistently referred to the lake we were headed to as the "pool." Despite Zak's efforts to convince her otherwise, she found her "pool" a bit too chilly. Funny how a snow melt lake can be that way.
Mr. Polar Bear went in up to his knees to prove it wasn't too cold for HIM.
The contrast between the snow field and the lush green wetlands it bordered was pretty striking.
Zak tried to offer photographic guidance as Taryn protested that she knew what to do...
...then proceeded to take this shot of the ground, complete with part of her finger.
The first Bistort I've seen this season.
Attempts to take a nice posed picture on the glacier were foiled by a noticeable lack of traction.
Zak's shot of the snow field. Some other kids had brought sleds along, which seemed to me like a sure-fire helicopter ride to the hospital waiting to happen.
Gorgeous view back down to the lake.
Another wildflower I hadn't seen yet this year, Lovage.
This is the kind of thing that happens when you let a seven-year-old lead. You end up having to scramble when your path along the lake dead-ends. Second whine about only having one functional hand.
A young Douglas Squirrel, also known as a chickaree. Not to be confused with either the chickadee or Secret Squirrel.
A short side trail led to a really picturesque waterfall.
One day in the not-too-distant future, they won't do this sort of thing any more. That will be a sad day.
Two hours and 20 minutes up and down. We totally lucked out that the early rain gave way to sun for most of the hike. I've got to channel my inner Boy Scout and be more prepared the next time I take the kids up to the mountains, just in case we're not so fortunate with the weather.