Today, we did what most visitors to Glacier National Park do – drive the Going to the Sun Highway, a 50 mile trek across the Continental Divide at Logan Pass connecting West Glacier with Saint Mary on the east side of the park. For anyone who has never experienced the drive, put it near the top of you “to-do” list. Ask anyone else who has done it. There is a lot of road rebuilding going on, so there were some construction delays. No problem, just opportunities to meet more people and take more pictures.
There are two large, beautiful glacier lakes on the drive, McDonald on the west and St. Mary on the east. They are so beautiful, tucked in the mountains. We saw a large black bear on the shore of St. Mary. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a photo of it.
After we returned to camp, we made a sojourn to check out Whitefish, Montana, about 25 miles west. It is a ski town in the winter at the base of Big Mountain. In the summer, it is a bit of a tourist town with a fair population of yuppies, very much like Sandpoint, Idaho. We were fortunate to catch a weekly farmer’s market in a park across from the railroad station. We bought a nice loaf of bread and some corn from one of the local religious sects. We took a look at the old railroad station. They have a 60 year old Hertz car rental office (the oldest for Hertz). They are still using an old roll-top desk (but have a computer).
The day was fantastic, sunny and unusually warm for this time of year. Temperatures were in the mid 70s to 80s here at the lower altitudes (3200’) pleasant up on top. There was some late summer haze that shows up in the pictures, but not too bad. Many businesses and park activities are already closed for the season.
Tomorrow, we attack the Great Plains.
There are two large, beautiful glacier lakes on the drive, McDonald on the west and St. Mary on the east. They are so beautiful, tucked in the mountains. We saw a large black bear on the shore of St. Mary. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a photo of it.
After we returned to camp, we made a sojourn to check out Whitefish, Montana, about 25 miles west. It is a ski town in the winter at the base of Big Mountain. In the summer, it is a bit of a tourist town with a fair population of yuppies, very much like Sandpoint, Idaho. We were fortunate to catch a weekly farmer’s market in a park across from the railroad station. We bought a nice loaf of bread and some corn from one of the local religious sects. We took a look at the old railroad station. They have a 60 year old Hertz car rental office (the oldest for Hertz). They are still using an old roll-top desk (but have a computer).
The day was fantastic, sunny and unusually warm for this time of year. Temperatures were in the mid 70s to 80s here at the lower altitudes (3200’) pleasant up on top. There was some late summer haze that shows up in the pictures, but not too bad. Many businesses and park activities are already closed for the season.
Tomorrow, we attack the Great Plains.
Glacier is a beautiful area. Going to the Sun road VERY exciting
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