5 More National Park Views for the Casual Hiker

My wife Mary and I are on a tirade to hike all of the National Parks. In our mid-60's, we're not the type to handle back country hiking or hikes lasting much longer than a full morning or afternoon. By researching blogs such as those by Earth Trekkers, we are able to decide ahead of time, which hikes work best for us to capitalize on the best views in the parks. Views are important, as I paint landscapes in pastel, with a focus on the great National Parks.

Our first mandatory stop at any park is the Visitor Center. Stop in and head to the information desk, where a gleeful park ranger can share best tips. Tell them how much time you have to spend in the park, and what your desired hike length is. They will enthusiastically share their best ideas. Then it's off to hiking.

Hiking poles are real handy at this stage of our lives. We are fans of Trail Buddy. Their hiking poles are helpful when traversing in rocky terrain, climbing steep hills, and softening the blow on those knees when heading downhill.

Here are some highlights of our recent treks to the National Parks. The images you see are all pastel paintings inspired by those glorious views in the National Parks. All paintings are available in giclee prints.

Glacier National Park

St. Mary and Virginia Falls.

Here is a 3.2 mile round trip hike that takes you through a forest recovering from a vast wildfire, to two waterfalls.

We visited the park in early August, and the recovering forest was draped with orange and red foliage, which contrasted with the deep blue and purple haze of the distant mountain peaks.

The Great Divide at Glacier National Park

Just across the "Going to the Sun Road" at the Logan Pass Visitor's Center, you can find the trailhead for the Highline Trail. Although this one-way, moderate trail is 7.6 miles, we hiked about 3 miles round trip, returning to Logan Pass. You'll have a panoramic view of the Great Divide. In the painting below, a thunderstorm was emerging, and we returned on the Going to the Sun Road during an August hailstorm!

The Hidden Lake trail is behind the Logan Pass Visitor's Center. During this easy, 3-mile hike, you will pass carpets of wildflowers, step across billion year-old slabs of rock that were once part of an ancient sea, and pass a waterfall, all on the way to viewing Hidden Lake and Bearhat Mountain.

Waterfalls on the way to Hidden Lake:

The view behind the Logan Pass Visitor's Center:

Here is the Earth Trekkers guide to Glacier National Park. From a distance, especially at the north eastern end of Glacier near the St. Mary entrance, the peaks at Glacier appear to be dancing giants of irregular shapes and angles. This park is such a unique body of geology that one can spend a lifetime discerning its nuances and absorbing the billions of years of its history.

Life as an Artist and a Hiker

In painting the landscape, an artist travels a journey of discovery and contemplation, delving deeply into nature's curiosities. Intuition and soul yield nuances of light, color, and shade. A painting evolves into an interpretation of one's innermost feelings and creative tendencies. The outcome is a scene of harmony and delight. Artists tease out the features of the landscape to convey the emotion that dwelled in them as they gazed at a fantastic panorama.

I would love for you to provide a review of my art work. Please see the link below. While painting is a personal joy for me, showing my art, selling pieces and receiving favorable reviews all keep me motivated to continue!

Please review my artwork!