Marc Ankenbauer's ten year quest to swim in every lake in Waterton and Glacier National Parks for charity
This is Part 2 of the Floral Park Saga. Check out Part 1, if you haven't already. Sperry Glacier Basin is unlike anywhere I have found myself on the planet. It’s like being on an island. It’s alien, removed and high above the rest of the surrounding world. Although, if you are familiar with the park…you find yourself surrounded by strangely … [Continue reading]
Gem Lake sits high atop Comeau Pass. Comeau Pass is equally high atop the single most amazing day “endeavor” I have ever been on in my life. I say “day endeavor” because it is no “day hike”. To call it that implies that it is a straight forward walk that takes nothing more than legs, time and nice day. Floral Park has grown to have a … [Continue reading]
Anything as elaborate as the “Waterton Glacier Lake Jumping Project” has to eventually have logic, logistics and “A Plan”. Those of you that have spent lots of time in Glacier may be interested in those logistics. You have looked at some of these lakes from peaks high above and pondered which way I had to go to get there. Heck, I have relied … [Continue reading]
Anyone who has hiked the Dawson Pitamakin loop in Glacier knows where the Nyack Lakes are, they just might not know it. They are these two little lakes at the bottom of what looks like an impossible drop 3000’ feet below the goat trail path that is the actual trail. The only part of the Nyack Lakes that I’ve been excited about is simply to have … [Continue reading]
Growing up in Cincinnati we don’t tell Ole and Lena jokes, we probably had something a bit more Germanic. But, Glacier National Park has always been visited by the more Norwegian folks that dug into the Upper Midwest. I have a theory that people in the Midwest who need to get their mountain fix move directly west from where they are. My … [Continue reading]
Aurice Lake and Two Medicine Pass will be etched in my brain for the rest of my days. Where were you when the last tragedy of your life struck? At home, at work, stuck in traffic? Poetically when my Uncle Marty and outdoor mentor passed away, I was high atop Two Medicine Pass. I’ve been wondered lately…Where exactly I was at the moment he … [Continue reading]
Its obvious why Glacier National Park is an amazing place to take photos during the day. From sunrise to sunset the vivid mountains, lakes and streams are constantly evolving with the changes in light. Night photography is widely overlooked in the park, since most peole are either indoors or asleep. The park is kind of a scary place to … [Continue reading]
Margaret and Ipasha Lakes delivered beyond our expectation which is a tall order. I’ve been here and working on this project for a decade now and that gives you a long time to create expectations. This area truly awed us. My trusty off trail companion Pat and I saw a three day weekend of hot, sunny days and decided to pounce. We hauled it … [Continue reading]
On the eastern front of Glacier National Park is a remote valley known for Grizzly bears, flowers and the mountain that splits the continent. Cutbank is a beautiful, mostly flat creek valley draining the first trickles of the Atlantic Ocean. From deep in the Cutbank valley is Triple Divide Peak which you can pour water on top of and it runs to … [Continue reading]
Hi there every body! I’m here to tell you about Kessler Lake, Ed, Diane, Jenny and a galloping black bear. Now, you see. Ed went with me to Crypt Pond in Waterton last year. However, this was the first lake outting for his wife Diane and our friend Jenny. Actually I had never hiked with Diane before now, and she's a rock … [Continue reading]
Hi my name is Marc Ankenbauer and I jump into freezing cold lakes for charity. I'd like to personally thank you very much for visiting my website, Glacier Explorer. My Story For the last 10+ years I've been attempting to be the first person ever to jump into all of the 168 named lakes in the … [Read More...]
