We hiked into alpine zones in Glacier National Park and enjoyed the impressive views of the Rogers Pass area.   Along the way we stopped to enjoy some of the wildflowers in subalpine and alpine ecosystems.

In high subalpine areas near streambeds broad-leaved willowherb (Epilobium latofolium) was in flower.  It is sometimes called river beauty and there is quite a variation in leaves and habit.

Also spotted in wet soils in subalpine zones were many leatherleaf saxifrage (Saxifraga pyrolifilia).   We often spot the crimson seed capsules at the end of long stalks, but our timing has to be right to see the small white flowers too.   The oval basal leaves below are leathery the touch.

Paintbrush can be spotted at many elevations, but in subalpine zones the varieties are usually alpine paintbrush (Castilleja rhexifolia) or small-flowered paintbrush (Castilleja parviflora), but this one appears to be Giant Red Paintbrush (Castilleja miniata sp.).

Below high snowfields, a stream flowed into a small tarn and around the tarn were Arctic coltsfoot, sometimes called Arctic Butterbur (Petasites frigidus sp.).   The perennial grows from rhizomes and the stems and flowers appear before the leaves.

Glacier Camp 129

Glacier Camp 127

Glacier Camp 125

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July Mountain in July

We came across two spruce grouses (Falcipennis canadensis), spotted in different places in the high forests.    They did not flee as we hiked on.

In the lower valley, rocky mountain elder ( Sambucus racemosa var. melanocarpa) had many clusters of purple-black berries.  

Many more flowering plants were spotted in a week of hiking in the area, some to be subjects of future observations.