Glacier

Friday, September 16, 2011

We ate breakfast across the road at the diner owned by the Thornson family.  The same family that owns the motel, general store and gas station.  Yep, Babb Montana appears to be a one family town.  I was told this morning that “we don’t drink decaf in Montana”.  

We thought today would be our first day of significant rain.  We woke to huge black clouds covering the sky.  At breakfast we were told the only weather reports they get in Babb are from a town 40 miles away

‘but it sure looks like we’re gonna get rain.’

We headed out to see Glacier National Park driving along the Going-to-the Sun Road.   This drive is touted as being the best way to experience Glacier and we would agree.  There are numerous stops along the way.  Rather than tell you about each one, we’ll attempt to take you along the drive with our pictures.  Just remember that our pictures do it no justice.  This is a beautiful park with amazing scenery.   

Wild Goose Island

Sun Point

                                

Jackson Glacier

Siyeh Bend

East Tunnel

Logan Pass~it is so windy here trees only grow on one side

Snow poles set in place at Logan Pass ~ note how high they are

Going-to-the-Sun Road we drove on

Hay Stack Creek ~ the water flows under the road and continues

Bird Woman Falls

Rocks hanging right over the road

Avalanche Creek

            

McDonald Creek

Lake McDonald Lodge

McDonald Creek Overlook

                         

Along our drive we were able to check off seeing a bear.  We spotted a black bear running across the mountain right in front of us.  Each time we tried to get a picture it would run behind some bushes eluding our shot.

After the two hour drive we took a four mile hike to Avalanche Lake. It never did rain and it was a beautiful.

along the path

beside the creek

through the huge Hemlocks

our destination ~ Avalanche Lake ~ three water falls

glacial rock deposit

 

After all that hiking we felt we had earned a piece of homemade pie at the café we found last night.  (the pie was all gone last night)  John had razzleberry and I had the peach.  Delicious.

Then we drove up to the Many Glaciers area of the park.  This area is more remote and is frequented by hikers.  We did see many campers in winter hats, gloves, and jackets sitting around fires and were thankful we had sense enough to find a motel.  

Grinnell Glacier

Another brown bear was spotted on the hill side and caught the attention of many visitors with binoculars, ourselves included.

By then it was getting dark so we headed back to the motel to call it a night.