"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn." - John Muir
When researching this Glacier Trip, we heard great things about the East side of the park, which is beautiful but less traveled (harder to get to). It did not disappoint! We drove from Kalispell around the park on Hwy 2 and stopped a few times along the way.
At Goat Lick Overlook, we saw many mountain goats hugging the cliff wall!
We did not need a timed vehicle entry pass to enter the Two Medicine Lake area in the southeastern part of the park.
We did a short hike to Paradise Point.
We then continued on a lovely meadow trail to Aster Falls.
Despite the (~80-degree) heat, Niall hiked well!
... and found a trail friend, a lone sheep!
I'm not sure if this video will load, but we made space for it to rush past us!
We ate packed lunch at Aster Falls, where a squirrel friend tried to steal our crackers!
Pay phone at the Rangers' Station!
These were some of our views of Two Medicine as we drove north on the park's eastern boundary. These kind of views is why this part of the state is known as the "American Alps."
I love these lupines!
We then re-entered the park at St. Mary's Entrance and drove a bit west on the famous "Going to the Sun Road."
Wild Goose Island
Niall is sometimes smile-challenged
We were lucky to find lodging at a rental, the Windy Ridge Cabin just outside the tiny town of Babb, MT. After settling in, we headed back into Glacier on the road to the Many Glacier Hotel. I'd done a good amount of pre-trip research and learned about the restricted access to this area (shuttle only, and by very limited reservation only!) starting July 1st, but also that parking was really limited at other times as well. We were lucky to find one of the last spots at the hotel when we pulled in just after 5 p.m., when many of the day hikers/travelers had left for the evening (but, given it stays light so long here in the summertime, there were still many people and cars out and about!).
On our way in, we saw two (brown in color but definitely) black bears (although the kids argued with me) grazing near Lake Sherburne.
We took the trail from Many Glacier Hotel around Swiftcurrent Lake and to the shore of Lake Josephine, which often has moose on its shore.
I thought I spotted a moose on the far shoreline (the second "almost-moose" of this trip for me), but it disappeared.
On Tuesday, we headed north to Canada to visit Waterton Lakes National Park, continuous with Glacier and with very similar scenery, across the border (about an hour from our rental). We lucked out with free entry given that July had started (summer entry is waived!); it was also, as we found out, "Canada Day"!
We first hiked Bear's Hump, a short and steep but rewarding hike up to a viewpoint.
"Neymar bros"
Gotta have the bear spray when hiking in grizzly country (it's not repellent, it's if they attack you!)!
Niall only got carried a little bit up the fairly steep trail.
Friendly squirrels again tried to steal our snacks!
We continued through the park and came across these four (actually big in horn) Bighorn Sheep right on the road!
We did another short hike to Akamina pass, which borders British Columbia!
Cameron Lake reminded me a lot of Lake Louise in Alberta, which we visited last summer. People were paddleboating and kayaking with a great view.
The kids ventured into the icy glacial water!
We swung by a nearby bison paddock and watched a herd of about twenty-seven bison graze...
... and then ended our day with a wonderful dinner at Two Sisters in Babb, where I had some bison chili (feeling more than a bit guilty) and Kelvin tried a bison steak (delicious).
Onto the "Going to the Sun Road" and West Glacier next!
No comments:
Post a Comment