Nature's Pharmacy

July 22, Day 7

Upper Two Medicine Hike, led by Ranger Kelly, was very informative and beautiful.

The hike started with a ride across Two Medicine, about 25 minutes. The hike itself meandered through beautiful meadows filled with flowers that to the layman’s eye just demonstrated the bountiful beauty of Glacier National Park. However, Kelly pointed out to us that we were actually walking through Nature’s Pharmacy. The Blackfeet Tribe did and still does harvest many of the plants for medicinal purposes. I already can’t remember many of the names of the plants, but there was a different plant for most of our common ailments: pain relief, respiratory, chafing/skin problems. One of the most utilitarian was the Yarrow, a plant whose leaves immediately address bee stings (including anaphylactic shock!) and relief from itchy insects.

We also encountered waterfalls and of course, Upper Medicine Lake. It was all very interesting how the glaciers formed the valleys, how ongoing events affect the ever- changing terrain. There was an avalanche in 2003 that knocked out all the trees in its wake. Kelly said the force really comes from the air in front of the snow, then the snow buries the land until spring thaw. It was already well on its way to rejuvenation. I wouldn’t have known this occurred had she not told us. Probably the most important (and unsettling) news was that they predict that all the glaciers will be gone come 2020 to 2030 due to global warming.

I wonder how many global warming doubters actually visit national parks? No denying climate change when it is directly confronting you with evidence.