On to the #1 National Park hands down, Glacier in Montana

After leaving the Sitka spruce, Western cedar and Douglas fir of Olympic National Park and Washington state we drove thru the skinny top of Idaho.

 All across the USA there are thousands of orange cones on the highway that are frequently for nothing.  On the sides, in the highways...sometimes to reduce traffic to one lane with no construction going on.  If you want to invest in something - orange cones.

 Me taking a picture of MT towns since we missed the welcome to Montana sign mounted on an overpass.

Forward to Montana on route 90.  We exited for a coffee at Sage's and a couple of many home made deserts - Rice Krispi treats and Grandpa's bars.  It is the prettiest state with the longest, most far reaching views in the country (though I haven't been to Alaska, Alabama or Arkansas.)  Around 8 pm in the fading sunshine (sunset at 9) we arrived at Lake McDonald

 A chirping small family of prairie dogs in the grassy circle at the log and stone lodge entrance.

  The 3 story log post lobby was full of animal heads - deer, antelope, moose and taxidermy birds.  It was the only place for wifi and a nice place to work.

    Following a path over a running, babbling brook past the library and auditorium for Ranger talks we entered a log cabin with a few other rooms and shared bath/showers sort of like a dorm, but the rooms had sinks.

 Every room we stayed in at every cabin, hotel, etc. had pillows like this

Everything was new, working and with substantial log furniture, bare bones, but comfortable.


There are 3 major lodges in the park, and we found McDonald to be the nicest size and feel overlooking calm Lake McDonald.  It has a dining room, gift shop, boat, boat dock, beach, creek and paths.  Drew felt it was the best place we stayed during our entire 39 day trip because of the lake/stream/ mountain lodge setting.  Almost as soon as we arrived I vowed we are coming back to experience all the things we're missing this time.


There are unique, red touring cars, Xterra, that take tourists to the various sites so they don't have to deal with the atrociously crowded parking problems that exist throughout the park.  Apparently this is a record breaking year for attendance at most of the National Parks.

   The next day we drove the "Road to the Sun Road" over the incredibly high mountains, climbed some trails like the wildflower meadow Lunch Creek Trail, and passed the gigantically high waterfalls.  The road is carved into the sides of the mountains, a difficult decision to scar the pristine perfect geology of the mountains, but one they made to allow more people to have the experience of seeing it all. Sharing the scenery gives everyone a stake in it and then hopefully be willing to support the parks, support them with tax dollars when the time comes.

 You can see evidence of forest fires and the renewal with young trees.  The fires are frequently caused by lightening strikes and are now treated as a natural process of forestry.

 The beautiful blue is caused by the minerals in the rocks.

 Dwindling glaciers

 Every pull off was full of cars.

 Painters with their easels.

The road leads from the west side to the east side of the park at Mary Lodge. 
describe Glacier as spell binding. Around every turn, at the crest of every hill a new vista lay waiting for view and exclamation.  Mountains higher than expected, waterfalls taller, vistas perfectly designed.  These pictures, especially with my poor camera and picture taking, can't do it justice.