Bill Huth and others had told us to have high expectations for Glacier. He was right. WOW! For those of you who have been here, you know the sights will knock your socks off!
Glacier National Park is very different from Yellowstone. I will try to point out the differences. Yellowstone: many prairies, much wildlife, large waterfalls, looped roads through the park (ideal for driving tour) and, of course, geysers. Glacier: huge mountains and valleys carved out by the glaciers, very wooded, narrow winding road up to the top (Logan's Pass), one main road cutting through center of park and most of park available only to serious hikers/campers.
At Yellowstone the Rangers were laid back about bears. They told us they were in the higher elevations now and eating pine nuts and moss getting ready for winter. In Glacier the Rangers were very attentive to the bears telling tourists to take spray if you go off the road. They told us the Grizzly's are in the park now. But, Michelle brought us a "Bear Bell" that you attach to your person and it rings as you walk. Theory is that you don't want to catch a bear unaware of you and the bell gives the bear opportunity to hear you and steal away. Now there are some who say the bells don't work and are actually "dinner bells" telling the bears "Human food served here." Tina, Lib's cousin, who has a lot of park experience warned us of this. The book I read says the research is not in yet on the bells. For a sample of n=1, I would like to say our bell worked! We saw no bears.
On the drive up to Glacier we were struck with the density of the forests. This continued as we entered the park. Cedars, Black Cottonwoods, and Douglas Fir are thick. When you enter the park in the am, as we did, the sun is not high and the trees are so tall on the sides of the road it is almost like driving in a dark tunnel.
Driving in tunnels of the forest
Entering from the west side of Glacier, one of the first landmarks is Lake McDonald, a lake carved out by a glacier. The pictures say more than I could say.
Reflections on Lake McDonald
Scientists are predicting all the glaciers will be gone by 2030 but Rush Limbaugh says its nonsense; scientists are just trying to get rich off of grants. (Please understand, my comment here is tongue-in-cheek)
This was a waterfall feeding into Lake McDonald. We found the waterfalls to be beautiful but not dramatic like those we saw in Yellowstone.
Lib was very interested in taking the 3/4 mile hike through the Trail of the Cedars Ancient Forest. Some of these trees are over 1,000 years old and have 13 foot diameters. These forests were thought to be sacred by the Blackfeet Indians. It was a quiet, peaceful walk through thick woods. I think the Blackfeet had it right.
We did run into a bevy of Georgia Bulldog fans. They are still in the doldrums about last week's loss to the Old Ball Coach at South Carolina. We heard no barks.
A Black Cottonwood
We then started the drive up the mountains on the "Road to the Sun." The road itself is a marvel. CCC workers started it in the 1930's and a major part of it is under repair now. We are still benefiting by FDR's CCC program. Close quarters on the turns, major penalty (i.e. death) if you go over the side, and tunnels!
Drive this!
We saw glimpses of the peaks (see above photo) as we drove up the Road to the Sun but we were totally blown away by the sights at the top. Huge U-shaped valleys, created by the glaciers 75 million years ago.
The U-shaped valleys are a clue that a glacier formed the landscape
Gun-sight Gorge
Pictures do not do it justice; you are looking at a huge expanse of land
And, a vanishing glacier. This photo is of the last of glaciers. What you see in the distance is a huge bed of ice, not snow. This, we were told, the Jackson Glacier overlook, is the best vantage point to actually see one of the glaciers without mountain climbing. As noted earlier, the prediction is that this glacier will be gone by 2030.
Jackson Glacier
The east side of the park is very different. You have less foliage. We stopped at some sights such as Flying Woman Waterfall. At this point we are at an elevation of over 6, 600 feet. It was cool and snow was on the side of the road near Logan's Pass. These mountains have elevations in the 12,000's.
Flying Woman Waterfall
There is another lake near the bottom on the east side. St. Mary's Lake is also over 400 feet deep.
St. Mary's Lake on the east side of Glacier National Park
We drove about 170 miles through the park and around the park coming back to the west side. On the way home we drove through the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, the Lewis and Clark National Forest, Flathead National Forest, and the Great Bear Wilderness (the bell was still working). For a time we drove alongside the Great Northern Railroad. This was built in 1892. This is the rail that opened up the park to tourists.
It was nice to get back home to Spruce Lake on the River late in the day. Maggie was ready for play..well "play" for a 90 year old. They have a couple of pet areas where you can take your dog and let them loose. Maggie showed a touch of her old self as we found a ball and she played like a pup!
Get ready to catch the ball...ready, set...
and ...CATCH! (Scotties are jumpers. They can clear 2.5 inches)
Now we understand why people speak in awe of Glacier. If we were in our 30's we would consider coming here with backpacks with tents and camping gear and hiking through the many parts of Glacier that are open only to hikers. But, alas, I ain't 30! So, I'll just clutch my bear bell and keep on driving!
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