How could I possibly top two days of tenting in Glacier National Park?  How ‘bout a heli tour?

Just prior to entering the Park on Thursday, drove past a sign advertising helicopter tours over Glacier.  Quick pull-off, U-ey across Hwy 2 & I was on my way back to Glacier Heli Tours.  Laid down a deposit – BAM that’s how I vacation.

Saturday morning, packed up the rental (last day of tenting), grabbed breakfast at a truck stop diner, signed waivers & received brief instructions at Glacier Heli Tours, then joined a family from Jersey for the trip of a lifetime.

Lucky for me, not only did I get to take advantage of the 4-6 person rate but also got to sit up front.  Pilot asked me not to touch any buttons or open the door while we were in the air.  Check, done 🙂

Over the past 2 days, I thought I had seen much of Glacier National Park – West Glacier on Thursday, hiked Grinnell from Many Glaciers trailhead on Friday (east entrance), plus drove the swath across the Park on Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Honestly, I had only scratched the surface of this amazing park.

Soaring over snow-capped peaks & glaciers, multiple waterfalls & tarns (glacial lakes) via helicopter, re-awoke my inner love of high peaks & everything mountain.  One WOW moment, followed by another.  INSPIRED – just couldn’t stop smiling.  Massive mineral plates pushed together, shooting upward from Earth toward the heavens.  SPECTACULAR!

Briefly crossed over the Canadian border to Waterton Lakes Nat’l Park.

Welcome to Canada. Incoming Calls/Text are active.  Calls: $0.89/min. TXT: Send=$0.5,Receive=$0.05. WiFi may be used where available.

After next month’s Ironman, my immediate plans include the mountains.  Hiking, backpacking, trail running, shoeing, ski mountaineering & winter camping – I see high altitude peaks, ice axes & the Arctic North in my 20-15.

 

Social Media RoundUp

Anish  I had an architect friend who once said

Where the eye can see

the mind stretches…

Anish  We were talking about people from the hills and I have always believed that they are different from people from the plains…I was born at Almora…could see the Himalayas!

 

2 Responses to Glacier Heli Tour

  • Jennifer Olszowy says:

    Wow! Now that looks cool you know how to see something up close and personal. Remember to keep giving yourself positive talks for Sunday’s race-like, “I can do this!” Let’s go have some fun. Hard to believe that you can almost count how close for Ironman on one hand- where did the time go?

    • Definitely need to surround myself with positive energy. It’s Ironman week & I’m shutting down mentally. I ran 10 miles last night which happily was no big deal — actually felt good to run. Never hit the Ironman bike distance – where did the time go? Gonna start watching race prep videos today (Ironman Boulder has posted a bunch this week). I can do this. I can do this. I can this. 4 days to go. Holy crap!

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