You would think that after a month and visits to various mountain ranges, we would become blase regarding scenery by now. Not so, each has its own distinct look and beauty. We were not disappointed by Glacier National Park. The park is joined with a Canadian managed park and is called the International Peace Park. This year they are celebrating 100 years of parkdom! I had no idea that it had been a destination for white man since then. The native people call it a sacred place, the backbone of the world. It felt sacred to us as well.
Again we were amazed at the lakes, creeks and waterfalls that interspersed the Going to the Sun Road. We stopped and walked to a few to get closer to the running water. So peaceful...even among the crowd.
Not long after entering the park we saw a bear cub run across the road. So cute! Not graceful, but cute. It then stopped on the other side and had a snack! We had to stop as it ran across, then proceed slowly stopping again just long enough to snap a photo. That's closer than I would choose to be to a cub not knowing where mama bear was...but I stayed in the car this time and got a decent shot.
The mountains suddenly became snow capped with streams and waterfalls bringing the melt water downstream. Many were very strong! Along the road were numerous waterfalls from the rocks. Couldn't photograph those, but whenever we stopped I snapped a bunch of pictures.
The road climbed higher and higher as it went around the mountains. Some falls we viewed from the valley we were now able to see at our level. So beautiful. The Going to the Sun road is restricted from vehicles over 22' so it was a good thing we rented a Subaru. I didn't drive long on the park road, turning it over to Skip. I would have been too stressed to drive around some of the bends. I know it was safe, but my blood pressure reacts to fear...
At some point, just like every other National Park, we had to stop for construction. They said 20 minutes. So you turn off the car, get out, have a snack and take photos. I took one to remember next time I am stuck in some city or on the Schuylkill Expressway.
We drove to the Logan Pass Visitor Center where Skip had to wait and jockey for a parking spot. Not enough spots for all the visitors! Once parked we took a walk around the back of the center and saw a deer and bighorn sheep. It was SO beautiful there with the snow, mountains and wildflowers...and guest appearances of a buck and a bighorn sheep. They were so nonplussed by the people, the buck was within touching reach of the footpath. Though people had their children pose with the animal, I didn't see anyone trying to feed or pet him.
There is only one way through the park and you can either turn around and drive the road in the other direction or skirt the southeast side of the park through Blackfeet Indian Reservation. That's what we decided to do not realizing the distance...but the view was worth it! We were still able to see the mountains and streams of Glacier.
A road sign warned of cattle on the road, and sure enough around a bend and I was startled by a half dozen on the road and along side of it. I slowed real quick and drove more carefully. We stopped a time or two along that road, once for another Continental Divide sign and another for a Goat Lick. I finally understand the Continental Divide with the aide of a map. The Missouri River goes into the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic. The Columbia River goes to the Pacific. Both have headwaters in these parts. So depending on which body of water the creek, stream or river empties is determined by the Continental Divide. Still amazing this far west that water goes downstream to the Atlantic. We heard a Blackfeet Elder say that this is the backbone of the world and everything is downstream of here...
Goat lick was a rock outcropping which has some salt mineral that attracts goats. Skip saw several there.
We are not finished exploring Glacier. Tomorrow we leave for south eastern Montana, Big Sky Country and hopefully a visit to Little Big Horn to honor the native people. I hate Custer, I do not go to honor him and am glad they changed the name of the National Monument. It is on a reservation and should not honor a man who killed the people.
Again we were amazed at the lakes, creeks and waterfalls that interspersed the Going to the Sun Road. We stopped and walked to a few to get closer to the running water. So peaceful...even among the crowd.
Not long after entering the park we saw a bear cub run across the road. So cute! Not graceful, but cute. It then stopped on the other side and had a snack! We had to stop as it ran across, then proceed slowly stopping again just long enough to snap a photo. That's closer than I would choose to be to a cub not knowing where mama bear was...but I stayed in the car this time and got a decent shot.
The mountains suddenly became snow capped with streams and waterfalls bringing the melt water downstream. Many were very strong! Along the road were numerous waterfalls from the rocks. Couldn't photograph those, but whenever we stopped I snapped a bunch of pictures.
The road climbed higher and higher as it went around the mountains. Some falls we viewed from the valley we were now able to see at our level. So beautiful. The Going to the Sun road is restricted from vehicles over 22' so it was a good thing we rented a Subaru. I didn't drive long on the park road, turning it over to Skip. I would have been too stressed to drive around some of the bends. I know it was safe, but my blood pressure reacts to fear...
At some point, just like every other National Park, we had to stop for construction. They said 20 minutes. So you turn off the car, get out, have a snack and take photos. I took one to remember next time I am stuck in some city or on the Schuylkill Expressway.
We drove to the Logan Pass Visitor Center where Skip had to wait and jockey for a parking spot. Not enough spots for all the visitors! Once parked we took a walk around the back of the center and saw a deer and bighorn sheep. It was SO beautiful there with the snow, mountains and wildflowers...and guest appearances of a buck and a bighorn sheep. They were so nonplussed by the people, the buck was within touching reach of the footpath. Though people had their children pose with the animal, I didn't see anyone trying to feed or pet him.
There is only one way through the park and you can either turn around and drive the road in the other direction or skirt the southeast side of the park through Blackfeet Indian Reservation. That's what we decided to do not realizing the distance...but the view was worth it! We were still able to see the mountains and streams of Glacier.
A road sign warned of cattle on the road, and sure enough around a bend and I was startled by a half dozen on the road and along side of it. I slowed real quick and drove more carefully. We stopped a time or two along that road, once for another Continental Divide sign and another for a Goat Lick. I finally understand the Continental Divide with the aide of a map. The Missouri River goes into the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic. The Columbia River goes to the Pacific. Both have headwaters in these parts. So depending on which body of water the creek, stream or river empties is determined by the Continental Divide. Still amazing this far west that water goes downstream to the Atlantic. We heard a Blackfeet Elder say that this is the backbone of the world and everything is downstream of here...
Goat lick was a rock outcropping which has some salt mineral that attracts goats. Skip saw several there.
We are not finished exploring Glacier. Tomorrow we leave for south eastern Montana, Big Sky Country and hopefully a visit to Little Big Horn to honor the native people. I hate Custer, I do not go to honor him and am glad they changed the name of the National Monument. It is on a reservation and should not honor a man who killed the people.
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