Glacier, part 1

St. Mary Lake, Glacier National Park

Hello from St. Mary, Montana on the eastern edge of Glacier National Park! It occurred to me as we crossed the border from Idaho that I have been coming to Montana for 25 years this summer. My first trip here was to the southeastern corner of the state near Hardin, Billings, and the Crow Reservation in 1991, and as a quick guess I would say that I have been to Montana in 18 of the 25 summers since then. It really does feel like home when we cross that border and see the familiar mountain ranges and rivers of this incredible place. Last night I went on a bike ride with Izzie after dinner, that took us straight toward the mountains as the late-day light hit them. It was so simple, yet magical. And even though she's a 10-year-old teenager, she got it too. And when we rode down the hill toward the St. Mary River and I asked “Who's got it better than us?” she replied “Nobody!” Damn right, kid.

Two days ago, on Friday, we woke up in Great Falls, MT, and headed for their Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. It was not terribly interactive, but was incredibly interesting. We've heard many of these stories before, but it is always so inspiring to see what these men did. And they really were peacemakers, making friends and allies with the native people as they went. (Obviously, that didn't last.) Some of our favorite stories were the ones about misinterpretation. Like the fact that Capt. Lewis named groups of people based on what they said their tribal name was when he pointed and asked. But many, many years later realized that the name of the tribe actually translates to “Hey, look, he's pointing at that guy right there.”

I've climbed up hills this steep before, but it never occurred to me to try it with a 400 pound canoe that's rolling on wheels made from a cottonwood tree.

We have had two truly incredible days here in Glacier so far. Yesterday we went on one of our all-time favorite hikes, from Swiftcurrent Lake, around Josephine Lake, and up to Grinnell Lake. It's an incredible 8 miles, although this year we didn't get to see any moose, or a grizzly bear and cubs as we did the last time. And while we are usually pretty good at getting around inclement weather on dayhikes, this was the most variable weather we've ever seen on a hike. It went from cold to windy to hot and back, with numerous rainstorms. At some times it was a bit of a slog and we had to do an extra load of laundry when we got back, but it was a great adventure.

Swiftcurrent Lake

Josephine Lake

On the trail along Swiftcurrent Lake

Hiking through fields, forests, and wildflowers

A purplish flower

Another purplish flower

Along the river

Lunch at trail's end, Grinnell Lake

Isabella standing in front of Grinnell LAke

Iz was happy to show off her muddiness

Today we went up to Logan Pass and walked and slipped and slid over the snowfields to the overlook of Hidden Lake. Personally, walking over snow is one of my least favorite things to do, but the kids absolutely love it when they can be on and in and hit by snow in July. And the payoff was huge, as our arrival at trail's end was rewarded with visits by families of mountain goats. We also got continuously attacked by ground squirrels, who have been conditioned that they will be fed by idiot humans, and are so bold that they will now come right onto your lap while you are eating if you don't scream, bang, and threaten.

This kid.

Along the drive on Going to the Sun Road

Good times on the "trail" 

So if Jerry forgets his hat and sunglasses and we spend the morning on a snowfield, then he has to borrow sunglasses and bandanna from the children, and you get... a pirate.

We had heard there were mountain gotes but then it was... A BABY!!! SQUEEEEE!!!

A boy and his maw above Hidden Lake (we found it)

Snowfield Selfie!

On the return, we got to see bighorn sheep, although they only wanted to show us their butts, which was immensely rude.

Sheep butt.

We also saw a hoary marmot, but please don't let her know I called her that.

We are currently waiting on what is supposed to be a major and potentially damaging storm system, although it keeps turning course and disappearing and I think maybe the whole thing is a ruse. Like the rangers just got sick of there being so many tourists, and they made up this apocalyptic storm event so that everyone will leave.

Yikes.

We have big plans for the next couple of days, but it depends on how long the storm lasts and how swamped everything is.

See you next time!