Glacier National Park turned 100-years-old this year and we were more than happy to celebrate in person.
Despite having an extra day left on our resort reservation, we decided that making the 9-hour round trip to Glacier and back (not counting additional travel through the park) wouldn’t be worth it, so we packed up our stuff and left early. Before leaving home for our vacation we had considered the possible need for extra lodging, so we brought our tent and sleeping bags in case we wanted to avoid the cost of a motel.
While on our way to the park and somewhere in Montana, we passed a lake that had the most incredible blue-colored water.
After much of the first six days of our trip being mostly cloudy and occasionally rainy, days seven and eight in the park were mostly sunny. The region’s scattered showers during the previous days had turned to snow at the high elevations of the park and the white-capped mountains made for extra spectacular scenery. The impressive, jagged peaks highlighted by the snow and glaciers, surrounded by lush, green vegetation fed by an abundance of some of the clearest water on Earth, all made for the most beautiful scenery we had ever seen.
Before we could even see any of the impressive scenery from the road, we wanted to get out and stretch our legs after the long ride. Our first stop was the Avalanche Lake trail head.
After a 2.9 mile hike through a damp, but pretty forest, the trees opened up to this awesome view.
Exercised and rejuvenated we got back in the car and headed up the road. If you haven’t done it before, a drive through Glacier on Going-To-The-Sun Road is something everyone should do before you die.
Second black bear of our vacation. Obviously the photography failed.
Day one over, so I have the crappy task of blowing up our sleeping mats (while our battery-operated inflater sits at home mocking me). On a side note, check out the huckleberries in the lower left corner. Montana is famous for these. They were everywhere and delicious.
Bedroom finished. Goodnight! Not so quick...some jerk in the campground was blasting his radio into the night. At one point I even got out of the tent wearing nothing but underwear, determined to throw rocks at whoever it was, but couldn't easily identify it among the many campsites. Note: If you want to get away from people on your vacation, don't go to a National Park! They are everywhere, and some are pretty damn annoying!
Stay tuned for day 2…
I had huckleberry pancakes in Hungry Horse one time. Mmm. The most amazing blue water I’ve ever seen was at Crater Lake. Another must see.
Murray,
I’m loving these. All your pictures are making my heart ache. I’ve spent a lot of time up in Glacier, and can’t wait for an opportunity to take my wife and kid backpacking through there someday.
IRT the radio player… WTF?! The culture up there has always been for the hardcore backpacker, so I’m pretty shocked. That’s total bullshit — disrespectful.
Anyway, great pictorial journey.
I’d love to see one of these that was 3 months long and took us through some fucked up place in South America or something.
Those are some awesome photos. Good to know that you guys had a good time on your trip.