Driving around GNP

Monday: drive around the southern perimeter of Glacier National Park and then back to our campground via the Road to the Sun.

The road around the eastern portion of Glacier butts up to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Right before we came upon these crosses on the butte overlooking Two Medicine Creek, Sandy and I saw our third bear! Don and Jerry missed it, even though they were in the front seat. However, they didn't miss us screaming "BEAR"! It was on Sandy's side, and she jumped over toward me in the back seat. We all agreed it was a good thing that we all had made a bathroom stop about half an hour earlier!

We have two granddaughters that would have loved to be in the truck with us as we came across a group of horses grazing along side the road. The sorrel horse seemed to be looking straight at me as I took photos from the window.
Sandy and Jerry flanked one side of the Glacier sign, and we're on the other. It was a bit windy as you can tell from my hair!
Gary and Don look pretty happy in this picture. I wonder what they were up to!
Another magnificent view as we head toward Logan Pass from the east.
Still snow on some of the mountain. This year, the Road to the Sun was not completely open until August 3rd, the latest in 20 years. They had to use GPS to locate the last part of the road under the snow. Their summer lasts just about as long as our winters do in Arizona!
The views from the long, winding narrow Road to the Sun in Glacier are absolutely breathtaking. We all told Don to keep his eyes on the road. If he wanted to see the view, he could look at my pictures later on. This is no time for him to be gawking. He did get two chances once we left Logan Pass Visitor Center. Traffic was stopped at various points because the work crews were repairing the road. No wonder it will take them 10 years to restore it. Winter comes early, and stays for a long, long time!
We made a few more stops along the way back, one of them was at McDonald Falls. I'm glad we've had the opportunity to spend several days at this wonderful park. It can't be seen in just a few hours or in one day.

Going to Glacier!

We decided on Saturday to get a taste of Glacier National Park and came to the conclusion that the best way to do that was to take the shuttle bus to Logan Pass. Logan Pass is the halfway point between Apgar Village and St. Mary Visitor Center on the east side of the park. Actually, we had to take 2 shuttles. The large one took us to Avalanche Creek where everyone must get off and transfer over to a slimmer and shorter shuttle. Why you ask?! Even though we traveled on the same road (Going to the Sun), the second portion is much narrower and down to one lane each way. This is definitely not a road that I would want to drive on!

Don and Sandy check out the schedule while Jerry just stands nearby. I guess he knows sooner or later the bus will stop there! He was right!

This is a view of the mountain directly behind Logan Pass Visitor Center. I was grateful for the warm weather that day.
Jerry and Sandy took a moment to pose in front of a large field of various wildflowers.
If this picture was larger, you could tell Sandy is holding a map and Don is pointing out something on it. I wasn't close enough to hear what they were talking about. As usual, I was behind, taking various pictures before catching up to them.
Besides the flowers in the field, there were also lots of Yellow Bellied Marmots. These were fat little critters and were sharing a rock with some people who were eating their lunch. Cute as they may seem, I'm not about to have one of those things on my lap, begging for food!
This is a view out the shuttle bus window, going back down to the Avalanche transfer point. See the little ledge that runs across the mountainside? That is the road! Not only was it dirt and one way at points, there was road construction! To top it off, you add people who stop their cars to take pictures and cause a long backup behind them. It makes for an interesting ride!
We passed Haystack Falls and I got a pretty good shot of it, even though the bus window was up and we were bumping along at about 10 miles an hour.
Here is the beautiful Lake McDonald, which is near Apgar Village, and our starting point. We got back here and ate our lunch before walking down to the small boat dock.
Last year, while we were traveling on the eastern coast, we stopped several times and put our feet into the water. That way, we could say we were in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean without telling a lie. So, I cajoled Sandy into getting our tootsies wet in Lake McDonald, and NO, we weren't doing some kind of limbo dance!
The water wasn't too cold, but the rocks were sure slippery. Don and Jerry had the cameras ready, hoping one of us would take an unexpected dunk! Sorry guys! No wet bottoms today!

Back in the good Ole USA!

We got to Columbia Falls, Montana last Friday afternoon. So glad we can actually call our children & grandchildren again, and have internet access! The 6 of us managed to have spots next to each other once again. Makes it nice since we always have dinner together, and sometimes breakfast and lunch too.

Columbia Falls is a small town. This is really evident when you read the police reports from the Kalispell and Flathead County Sheriff that is printed in their paper. This is definitely not Phoenix! Here are a few funny excerpts:

• 10:02 a.m. A Kila woman thinks her neighbor stole her dog's pink camouflage collar.
• 5:10 a.m. A woman thought to be intoxicated called 911 when she couldn't find her cell phone. (How did she make the call?)
• 9:31 p.m. A Kalispell man said that the teeth he ordered didn't fit. He asked an officer to come out an look at them. (My advice is to never, ever order teeth from China)
• A "messed" up woman in jogging shorts was seen stumbling down Hwy 35 in Bigfork.
• 7:24 p.m. A Harmony Rd resident complained that a vicious dog barked and "pooped" in his yard.
• 9:45 a.m. A man on a riding lawn mower called in to report that 2 pit bulls abducted a cat and killed it. (Not too many cat abductions in Phoenix!)
• 7:59 p.m. An Olney man claimed his cat called 911. He then explained to a dispatcher that he was in need of money. (Maybe he can borrow some from his cat)
• 12:09 a.m. According to a Hungry Horse woman, 2 "really tall" men attempted to break into hear house, but left when they heard her cock her shotgun. (Good thinking on their part!)

Hope some of these made you chuckle! These are things you just can't make up!

Going on the Gondola

Our last big day in Banff included an eight minute journey up to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. These are small gondolas, and only hold 4 people at a time. On the way up, Sandy and Jerry were across from us. The gondola climbs from 2292 feet elevation to 7,486 feet, providing us with spectacular views along the way.

Jerry, Sandy and I decided to do the Banff Skywalk, and go across the summit to the Cosmic Ray Station at the top of the ridge across from us. The brochure stated it is an easy 1 km self guided boardwalk. What it doesn't tell you is that you have to go up and down at least 900 steps to go there and back! That meant that Don, Gary and Sherry had to pass on this adventure because they all have back/knee problems. At least, that is what they keep telling me!
Half way across, I stopped on one of the platforms and looked back at the visitor center.
As we reached the top level, we had magnificent views of Banff and the Bow River that can be seen snaking around the outskirts of town. We were blessed with great weather and sunshine that day. Even though it was warm enough for short sleeves at the bottom, a light jacket or sweater was needed at the top of the summit.
The building at the top of the ridge is the Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site of Canada. It was completed in 1956, in preparation for the International Geophysical Year (1957-1958). Boy, I sure don't remember reading this in the paper at the time. Guess I was a bit too young for it to make an impression on me. And the rest of you probably weren't even born yet...maybe your parents weren't either!
This picture is proof that I made it to the top! I can't remember who took the picture, but it was either Sandy or Jerry.
Pictures over with, Jerry and Sandy start going back down the steps across the ridge. Down one side and up the other. It was good exercise for our calf muscles.
Time to head back down, and Sherry and Gary had the pleasure(?) of sharing the gondola with us. Don't worry, Gary, it is only an 8 minute ride. I'm just hoping he doesn't get motion sickness. I don't really want to be in a tight, enclosed place like this if someone got sick! Ugh!

Ice cold Icefields

We got up early on Tuesday, August 23rd, for we had a 2 and a half hour drive before we would reach the Columbia Icefields Centre. And no, I did NOT mis-spell center. I guess this is either the way the British or the French spell it, so that is what I'm sticking with. It started out as windy, rainy and cold. Here you can see the low hanging clouds enveloping the mountainside, blocking our view of the top of the mountains.

As we pushed further north along the Icefields Parkway, we were greeted with many different rainbows along each turn and twist of the road. This was not a day for wearing shorts and a tank top!
From the visitor centre, passenger buses took us to a transfer station where we then would disembark and then transfer to a snowcoach. The snowcoaches were built by a Canadian company specifically for use on the glacier. You can see it was still raining, as evidenced by the drops of rain on the windshield of our bus. Don & I were lucky enough to get a front seat!As we headed out down the very steep path towards the icefield, I was glad that the top speed on the snowcoach was only 12 mph! We were greeted by another snowcoach that had just taken it's dip into the water. This keeps the vehicles from tracking mud onto the surface.
I'm glad we dressed with lots of layers of warm clothes. Yep, that is Gary and Sherry in the black coats, Sandy, Jerry and Don with his beanie under his hat. Gotta keep the ears warm!
Take a gander at the lady in the brown shirt in this picture. What was she thinking? Good grief! The wind that came across at us from the glacier was freezing! Lady...this is not downtown Banff! Our driver told us that it had snowed the night before here. I rest my case.
Sandy, Don, Sherry and Gary head back to the warmth of the bus while Jerry and I stay out here in the cold to take some pictures. At least I have gloves on, even though they are made for Arizona winters, not here!
This employee is getting someone a drink of glacier water. The last thing I want to do right now is drink ice cold water! I want hot chocolate!
Here is a view looking at the glacier from the parking area. Moisture was being whipped from the ice and snow along with the wind, making water spots on the camera lens.
I enticed Sandy to come outside and take one more picture. Don took this one from the bus window. Walking here was tricky. The ice was slushy in places and very slippery in others.
Our adventure done, we paused at visitor center to look back at the mountains overlooking the parking lot. It was an experience that none of us will forget!
P.S. I did get my hot chocolate. Don had a small coffee and I had a small hot chocolate to warm up. Total cost approximately $9.00! Oh well, it was worth it.

Lovely Lakes

It was Monday, August 22nd, and we headed north on the Trans Canada Highway to Lake Louise. On the drive into Lake Louise Village, Sandy finally got her wish.......a real live bear was sitting by the roadway, calmly eating berries from the bush. He was no more than 20 feet from the side of our truck, and I handed the camera over to Sandy and told her to start taking pictures. There was no way I was going to hop out of the truck and approach him, no matter how cuddly he looked from this distance.

We arrived at the shoreline of Lake Louise before the onslaught of the tour buses hit the parking lots. The early bird gets the worm and the early person gets the shot of the lake without 500 people standing in front of them! This is one amazing and awesome lake! There were clouds out that day, and as the sun came out from behind them, it was if the whole lake became illuminated from the bottom! The lake would change colors within the span of minutes, ranging from a darker turquoise with bands of lighter coloration to a exceedingly brilliant turquoise-azure blue.
What a great place to spend our 47th wedding anniversary. God's creation before us, we sat down to view the wonderful lake and mountains made by Him eons ago.
We decided to do a walk around the lake, and part of the bunch decided to take a small break and sit down on one of the many benches. For those who are younger than us, now you know you that all the fun is not reserved for the younger kids! Don, Sandy and Sherry are doing the "See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil" while Gary pretends he is not with the rest of them!
Here is another view of Lake Louise from the path that leads to the very back of the lake.
It's almost lunchtime as we leave here and head to Lake Morraine. Fields of beautiful wildflowers in assorted colors greet us as we head to the shore. I'm ecstatic as I jump out of the truck and make a leap for the hills to get some pictures. The rest of the group know that I'll catch up to them as soon as I'm done getting some flower pics.
Canoes in various bright colors await their turn to be taken out on to Lake Morraine. This lake is a bit darker turquoise, but is impressive in it's own way.
Jerry took a picture of Sandy and me putting our hands into the way. Brr. It was freezing! Within minutes, our hands had turned a bright red color! There was no way that we were going to take off our shoes and wade here like we did last year while in the Florida Keys!
"Hey! Don't leave me here alone! Come back, Jerry and Sandy! I need at least 3 more people before I can hike this trail! Okay, okay. I'll skip it today. Wait for me!"
On we went to Johnston Canyon. More steps, definitely less bears. I was fine with that. Gary and Sherry can be seen heading up the catwalk towards the lower falls. There are spectacular views all along the narrow limestone chasm. The water is so clear here that it looks like you are looking through glass that is tinted a light blue.
Here is a view of the lower falls. To the right, the path continues and goes through the rock wall to the side of the percussive water falls! It's amazing to be that close to the wall of water flowing down into the pool below.
Jerry and Sandy took time to pose before we headed back to the parking lot. It was an absolutely wonderful day! We were thankful to be able to spend our anniversary with friends and family. So many great memories!