2 Miles and 4 Feet from Home: Glacier National Park

Lyn and I woke up in the car about 6:30 from a fitful night of sleep. We told Dad and Joanne the story about the bear and then had breakfast and packed up camp. Still a little shaken, but we got on the road at 8AM just as planned. Today was going to be a big driving day 8 hours plus. We were leaving the southern end of Yellowstone and headed north to Glacier National Park. The entrance to Glacier is only about 30 miles from the border of Canada so we needed to get going. It took us about 2 hours to reach the North entrance of Yellowstone. We saw a lot of beautiful country along the way. Once we reached the entrance we got to go under the Roosevelt tower. On the way to Glacier National Park we drove on about every road possible and drove through some of the most uninhabited countryside that I had ever seen. Some of it was being worked on and we often had to stop or drive at 35 mph. This caused an 8 hour trip to be about 10.5. I had already called ahead and found out that the campgrounds were full so we decided to stay at a KOA that is only a mile from the entrance. While our preference was to stay in the park this campground worked out great and was just what these weary travelers needed. We got two campsites near each other for two nights. It was getting late so we ordered a pizza and just ate at the campsite. Mmm mmm good! We were all tired and went to bed around 10. While the bear experience was still on our minds we were just too tired to care think about it and fell fast asleep. We woke up around 6AM and had breakfast with my Dad while Joanne slept in. Just for fun I put in Greensboro in the GPS and found out that we were 2395 miles from home. Wow! Today the plan was to do some laundry and head out to the park around 10 AM. Glacier Park is supposed to be one of the nicest parks around. Today we will tour about 5 hours worth and determine if it requires a future trip and a longer stay. Unlike Yellowstone the mountain and lake views start immediately upon entering the park. I went to the visitor center and told them how much time we had to spend and she mapped out a route that would make the most of our time there. I cannot really explain how beautiful this place is but both my Dad and Joanne said it reminded them of the Swiss Alps. The views were similar to the Grand Tetons except we were already at a much higher elevation. The temperatures were in the 60’s and dropping and it felt great. After several stops to look at the scenery we made it to our half way point Logan’s pass. (This was also the continental divide.) The guide told me to stop here for the views and the wild flowers that were just starting to bloom now that the snow was finally receding. The visitor center looked similar to an alpine ski lodge and had trails and vista’s to walk around in. It also had snow. I am not talking a little dab will do you snow I am talking full on fields and mountainous slopes. We were able to walk on the snow and see some great views as well. Some people carried skis up the slopes and skied down. Wait is this July?!?!?!? Why yes…… yes it is in Glacier National park! Next it was on to “The Loop” the turn around place that our guide outlined on our map. The road was cut out of the mountain so the entire drive from this point on was right on the edge of a cliff. It was beautiful! We had lunch at one of the pullouts and enjoyed the vista in front of us while hearing a waterfall behind us. Does not get much better than this. (See pictures below.) We continued the drive to the loop and decided that this park would be one that we would come back through maybe on a trip to Alaska in 2016 or some time in the near future! We shall see!!! We drove back to camp and did what we do best we took a nap! Not sure if I can give these up in the future or not. I do have a couch in my office at work so we shall see if I can work that into my schedule. J After our nap it was time for dinner. Lyn cooked quiche for dinner. (Or the closest that you can get to it on a camp stove.) After dinner we all sat around and talked something that is easier done at a campsite without all of the distractions of home. We all went to bed around 10PM hoping for a good nights sleep. Tomorrow we are headed to Miles Montana. That’s right finally a city named after all of us. Hopefully we will get the red carpet treatment or whatever Miles Montana feels is appropriate for us. We may not be a well-oiled machine yet but we are getting use to being on the road and it’s a lovely thing to see.