We packed up most of the food for the trip from our kitchen, but we still had a few important errands to run.
The drive was about 320 miles from Moscow to West Glacier, and we pulled into the campsite after dark. Kim was tired after riding shotgun for so long, so we set up camp and went to bed. Along with morning came the sunshine...
Kim was not the sunshine. However, once she had some official "Splan Coffee," things were looking up. Next we made a breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage on our brand new, two burner camp stove. Life is good.
After a leisurely morning checking out the KOA campsite and lounging, we finally arrived at Glacier National Park, 2:30 MST (we are still on PST). Our plan of action is to drive across the park on the "going to the sun" road, a 50-mile road traversing east to west the width of the park, and see what there is to see.
Glacier is a beautiful park with crazy huge glacially carved mountains and valleys. There are many amazing hikes off the going to the sun road; however, Kim is out of shape so we went on a .7 mile nature trail instead. Despite the short length, it was still a very beautiful walk filled with waterfalls, giant cedar trees, ferns, a river, and more. Kim also acquired a stick on the walk, and the stick now has a new home on our back porch.
With lunch and a solid hike under our belts, it was time head up the going to the sun road a little bit further. Heaven's Peak was our first stop where we got out of the valley and into the mountains. The weather was a little cloudy as we gained in elevation, limiting the views a bit. Although the mountains were a little socked in, the range was still magnificent and sublime
As we drove further up the road after the stop at Heaven's Gate, the glacially formed valley become blindingly apparent. It was very cool. The valley is a perfect "U." And it is no small valley.
It was also getting cold as we got higher and higher in the mountains. Kim was jumping up and down to stay warm. She doesn't have her puffy coat, or any other of her many coats, because Katie packed them all up in random miscellaneous boxes.
Mike thinks it is funny that Kim is jumping up and down. He tries to capture the moment. Little does he know that the moments are only going to get better...
Next stop up the views got even better, but Kim stayed in the car. She was taking a break. But Mike forged ahead with the camera, and walked down 15 yards to the lookout point to capture the scenery.
Our adventures for the day concluded at Logan's Pass, 32 miles in, and the highest point of the Going to the Sun Road. We visited the visitor's center, which was small and had no snackeroo's, specifically coffee. Nonetheless, Mike got a zipper hoddie and Kim got a magnet. The weather outside was becoming frightful, and Kim was exhausted from the earlier hike/nature walk, so Kim & Mike limited their exploration to simply perusing the walkway around the center. However, much to their surprise, there was a deer! Mike took a picture of it's ass. Kim wanted to sneak up on it and surprise it. As we got closer, Mike decided that this is was a good idea. Some other people had also came to take a picture of the animal so Kim abandoned her plan to spook the deer.
After a long day in the park, Kim & Mike returned to the rugged KOA. However, the rain had increased during the drive back to the campground, so it was decided that a cabin is in the best interest for the optimal camping experience. Once the move to the cabin was made, a delicious dinner of bratwurst and beans was fixed. Cocktails were also part of the menu. Life is still good.
It was a good thing we stayed in the cabin because it rained all night, and the next morning it was still raining. Apparently they weren't kidding with the whole "inland Northwest" description. But we had a cabin with an awning, so life was still good. Breakfast was again sausage and eggs, but this time Mike made it.
We also saw several birds taking baths in the gigantic puddle that had formed in the road. Neither Mike or Kim had seen such a spectacular display of wildlife.
Back in the park, Mike & Kim were determine to make it to the end of the Going to the Sun Road. Driving past all the earlier stops, the weather became more and more foreboding. As we approached Logan's Pass, the first fallen snow was spotted. Since Mike is from Texas, this was very scary. But since Kim, in the trusty co-pilot's seat, is from Utah, she had no fear and insisted that they keep pressing further.
Despite all odds, Mike & Kim summited Logans' Pass safely, and were now on their way to see the other side of the mountain. On this side of the mountain was also the only place to see a glacier from the road. Thus, Jackson's Glacier was the destination turn-out; however, upon arrival, due to the clouds, the glacier was nowhere to be seen.
Next site to see was Saint Mary's Lake. This lake extends to the park border on the east, and is very beautiful. The water is glacial blue, and postcard perfect.
The last hike of the trip was an exhausting 75 feet walk up to a gorged out stream in the rock. But, we extended the jaunt and walked down the stream a bit too. The water was the same amazing glacial blue color, and the scenery was beautiful as always.
Glacier is a beautiful park, and our trip was perfect.
