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. (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 the mountains. It's early morning, and mist and fog sweep over the peaks of Mount Oberlin and Mount Cannon. Fed by snow melt from the tops of these peaks, Bird Woman falls, cascades out of the hanging valley between the two mountains. Above the tree line, exposed rock cuts into the sky, wind whistling against the shrubs and trees. This is high country, the alpine tundra, where only the most resilient plants and animals can survive. The landscape is filled with the sounds of birds chirping and water splashing. The car drives on to Logan Pass, where the sub alpine meadows are dotted with big horn sheep, moving between birch trees and fireweed. Eventually, the car pulls off at Two Dog Flats. From here, the Triple Divide peak rises up in the distance. Situated atop the Continental Divide, snow melt and...