Wednesday at Glacier
National Park.
We were real limited in
our activity here at Glacier. The main
scenic road through the park is called the “Rising to the Sun Road’. It has been closed much of the distance…until
today. When we entered the park at 7:00
am this morning the road was still closed.
After our 3 hour hike, we noticed very heavy traffic into the park. Turns out they opened the rest of the road
today at 8:05 am. It really didn’t
matter to us as our vehicle is too large to proceed any further than we
did. Once we found out the road was
open, we checked into a tour car going over the route, but that was all booked
and the park shuttle buses don’t begin to run until July 1st.
So we made lemons out of
lemonade…or vice versa depending on if you ask me or Kathy and took a little
walk in the woods…straight up.
This was very early in the
morning and the lighting conditions weren’t the best so the pictures are of
varying quality…sorry ‘bout that. I did
my best.
We started out at the
Avalanche Campground where Kathy had planned a little half mile hike along the
“Trail of the Cedars”. A stream ran
along the path.
Then we came upon a waterfall
area in a narrow gorge that was real scenic.
There was also another
trail head there that indicated it lead to a lake some 500’ higher in elevation
and a couple miles away. OK, I was game
figuring this waterfall had to be a little indicator of what had to be up the
trail. So off we went.
It was heavily wooded and
quite dark. We were by ourselves for the
most part and there were bear warning signs everywhere. Kathy said to make noise so I tripped along
singing the “Day-O” tune. I think others
on the trail were probably expecting the Jamaican bobsled team to appear.
Anyway, after two miles of
uphill agony, here’s the payoff.
Avalanche Lake.
The shade difference
running diagonally across the frame is the sun ray over the mountains to our
left. The three white streaks coming
down the mountain sides are waterfalls.
It was stunning and hard to photograph.
Here is a selection of
shots I took. I think a little later in
the day might provide better light, but I wasn’t waiting and certainly not up
for an afternoon excursion.
Kathy even made it all the
way there. She kept wanting to turn back
after about the first mile of the climb, but I wouldn’t allow that. We were going to get to that lake if it
killed me…and that seemed a distinct possibility a time or two.
There was even a rest area
on the trail.
The lighting was a little
better so I snapped a few shots on the way back DOWN the trail. Do you get the sense I’m elated that we’re
hiking DOWN the trail for a change?
We got back to the motor
home and headed back down the road toward West Glacier since we couldn’t travel
any further into the park in that size vehicle.
We stopped along the road
to view the cascade rapids and falls above McDonald Lake.
Then took a couple shots
at McDonald Lake.
We left the park and
headed south on US-2 to go to a place called Goat Lick. The campground host said we would see goats
there. The road parallels the Flathead
River.
We happened to catch some
rafters passing by.
This one has a “she”
skipper.
When they get into the
heavy rapids, it becomes a group participation event.
Finally, we arrived at
Goat Lick. It’s not particularly
scenic. There’s a train trestle there
and the river on the floor of the gorge.
But we did spot a mountain
goat. It was on a ledge a bit off in the
distance.
So that was Glacier for
us. It’s a postcard kind of place. I’m sure the trip over the mountain through
the park is worth the effort but our timing isn’t going to let that happen. We’ll catch that on the way to Alaska one
day…maybe.
Tomorrow we’ll point the
Minnie toward the rising sun for the first time in over three weeks.
I think we’re ready for
that.
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