Growing up next to something spectacular, you may take it for granted. Montana's Glacier National Park should not be taken for granted. Especially since, as Curt L. reminded me, the glaciers are predicted to disappear before long. He wanted me to bring him back a picture of a glacier...I think I failed, but I brought back pictures of Glacier National Park!
Entering Glacier from West Glacier, we traveled a little over two miles to Apgar and Lake McDonald. I always think of this as a mandatory first stop when visiting the park from the west. Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier Park. Also, it is home to Lake McDonald Lodge. If you don't spend the night, at least enjoy a meal in this rustic lodge.
One of the constants in Glacier has always been the Reds...the Ford touring buses. Here's one we encountered as we headed away from Lake McDonald.
Winding up the Going to the Sun Highway, an engineering marvel from the 1930s, you can look to see rugged peaks. BUT, this ain't nothing! I believe a wildfire swept through here within the last 10 or 30 years.
Ah...it's nice to see trees on the slopes!
I've always been fascinated with the SHORT rock walls that are all that separate the narrow road from the steep mountainside. Isn't that rock wall a beauty...
Celebrating it's 75th year, it's about time they did a little road work on the Going to the Sun...this is actually a two-lane road. They are ready to repave this section. Nowhere to get out to snap a photo...view from the passenger seat:
Construction did eventually turn it into a one-lane road:
What do you think? There is still snow left. This is the second week of August. It's approaching 100 degrees in Northwest Montana. Not up here!
Enjoy the view:
These next few pictures show McDonald Valley. We are still working our way up to the Continental Divide and Logan Pass. Do you see the road along the mountainside on the right? That's where I was when I took the earlier pictures.
A little further along the road...
And keep going and snapping...
Look! Snow clinging to the mountainside...
Climbing, climbing. We have only gone about 30 miles from Lake McDonald. And we have passed the Garden Wall which was in the center of the range rimming the lake picture.
Where are the mountain goats that we always see along here?
Oh, no! No parking available at the Logan Pass parking lot...not even for poor, Mr. Mountain Goat!
I know you want a close-up, so here it is. My youngest daughter felt so sorry for him, she wanted to ban people from the park.
No hike to Hidden Lake at the top of the continent. No playing on the snowfield. Bummer!
LESSON: do not visit at high tourist season...and ride the free shuttle. Another idea from youngest daughter was to ban all cars and make everyone ride the shuttle. There was never a shuttle before ... if we had know it existed, we would have parked our car along Lake McDonald and hopped aboard!
Going downhill...Bird Woman Falls is just around the corner from the Weeping Wall. Here is the short side and the tall...
It always amazes me how flowers and grass and trees find a way to find a foothold in rocks. Roadside flowers! These are literally inches from car tires...and a constant parade of them at that!
Hope you enjoyed the trip. Hope you get to enjoy it firsthand someday. We only traveled the west slope this trip. Usually we start East and travel the entire Going to the Sun Highway.
All pictures taken Thursday, August 14, 2008 with my little Sony CyberShot.
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Comments: 71
it was inspiring even as a child....
thank you so much for sharing this....so much...
you deserve all good things in life... absolutely beautiful photos...
thank you for sharing... lots of love and hugs... Blessings always...
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You have left me speechless, Ellie!
I have climbed some of these peaks long ago, also at Yellowstone and the Tetons, where I freaked some grizzlies on a knife-edged slate-filled peak, with a blue glacial lake to the north. But you've captured scenes here that are profound. I tell my friends in north Europe all the time, that the best thing they could do for a vacation with their children, is rent a car and go where the wind blows, for every corner, and every dale, is an entirely new experience that'll remind them forever how gorgeous our planet and its life and people can be.
Thanks for sharing this...
Thanks for your stunning article.
OMG I can't believe what a spectacular place this is! Unfortunately I don't think I'll ever see it firsthand. But thanks to people like your self I finally got to see and enjoy it's spectacular beauty. Thank you Ellie! :) From my astute observation in viewing your beautiful photos and reading your descriptive essay of the area, I would gather to say perhaps this is Mother Natures way of cleaning house. My well-read husband says that we're in the time frame in which ice glaciers will naturally disappear, every 3,000 years I believe? At times like this I wonder what's in store for our children and for our future generation. Your daughter sounds like a very intelligent and compassionate young lady. You must be proud. I know I would be! :)
Hopefully there will be more like her in the world to help others be more appreciative of the many things in life that many of take so much for granted. Thank you Ellie for your most appreciative photo essay! :) God bless...
In the late 80's I took my youngest son and my dtr that way coming home from Edmonton. I was so disappointed as we were fogged in the whole way and they couldn't see a thing. Though considering my daughter's dislike of these kind of roads, she may have been happier with the fog!
amazing..
I have been through that part of the country a couple of times but have never visited Glacier Natl Park.
Rugged mountain drives always exhilerate me - especially the trip down. I don't like the trip back down for some reason.
You are a talented photographer. Gosh I feel like I've been on vacation!
10 and thanks again for sharing!
10 4 u