Climb to the Clouds at Glacier

It is early summer here at Glacier National Park. This landscape, layered in snow for most of the year, has finally begun its annual cycle of thaw. Melting snow and ice reveals large swaths of the mountainside, much of which is already carpeted in green. Long stretches of rivers and waterfalls tumble through the scenery, making their way down from the mountain peaks and spilling out into the various lakes below. At this time of day, with the final rays of sunlight peaking through the rocky terrain, the sound of the flowing water takes on an ethereal quality. The perfect soundtrack for an evening under the stars. So as we settle in, let's begin tonight's journey with a brief wind down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you're ready, let's begin. So first, get yourself comfortable. Now just bringing the attention to the breath, just noticing where you feel it, in the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We're going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four, and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin in for four, two, three, four. Hold it for four, two, three, four. Now breathing out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. Great, now returning the breath to normal. A pair of hikers walks along the trail of the cedars, passing under the shadowy canopy of Western red cedars, cottonwoods and hemlocks. The hikers wear lightweight parkas and baseball caps. The ground is sprinkled with pine cones and pine needles which crinkle and crack under their feet as they walk. Avalanche Creek bubbles near the path, twisting through rock walls, coated with lichen then spilling out in ripples over flat land. The water is clear and sparkling in the light, streaming down through the trees. In this old growth forest, some of the trees are 500 years old. Time seems to stand still. As the hikers near Avalanche Lake, waterfalls collapse over mossy outcrops, cascading into the crystalline water. Mist sinks through the branches and settles on the forest floor. The hikers pause to breathe in the pure mountain air. (no audio) A red car winds eastward along Going to the Sun Road, a narrow route carved into the side of the mountains. Crisp alpine air rushes in through the open car windows. (no audio) The car passes by the weeping wall, where streams of clear mountain water trickle down off Haystack Butte. Soon, Paradise Meadow appears on the right. Alpine wild flowers like bare grass and glacier lilies bloom in the saddle of...