Up at dawn & on the road by 6am – must be on vacation 🙂
Drove 2 hours around the south rim of Glacier, then north to Many Glacier Trailhead. Country 95 FM on the radio, Southern Alberta’s best country – only 18 miles from Canada. Stopped a mile before the Visitors Center – first view of Glacier’s big peaks, horse & riders cutting across the valley. WOW, just beautiful – well worth the 2 hour drive.
Far away in northwestern Montana, hidden from view by clustering mountain peaks, lies an unmapped corner—the Crown of the Continent —George Bird Grinnell (1901)
George Grinnell worked to establish Glacier National Park in 1910. Additionally, he was prominent in movements to preserve wildlife and conservation in the American West. Notably, Grinnell worked to pass the National Park Protective Act in 1894 – protecting the last 200 bison remaining in Yellowstone.
In George Grinnell’s honor chose Grinnell Glacier for my day hike.
Passed 2 signs just past the Trailhead. “Grinnell Glacier hike is not recommended because of snow.” Second sign – Beware of Grizzlies. Not fearsome of snow, bears however…hmmm.
Lotta people on the trail early on — meadows overflowing with mountains flowers. Additionally, crossed over numerous waterfalls created from recent snow melt (snowed 18 inches just 3 weeks ago).
Saw my first Grizzly. Took a minute for me to register what was happening. I’m outside & there’s a bear – a real bear, not in a zoo…but on my hike. A ranger came out of nowhere & sternly told me to keep moving. Wasn’t the nicest guy but good to know I wasn’t alone. He told me this was a juvenile Grizzly foraging for summer berries. WOW – a bear!
Ducked under the ‘Not Recommended’ sign & hiked above glacier-fed Grinnell Lake before stopping for lunch. Soaked in scenery & lost myself staring into a large waterfall. Solitude & solo hikes can be a-ok. Amazing experience.
CLICK to WATCH ‘Grinnell Glacier (Montana)’
Saw my second bear on the hike return. Seriously, my second bear. No ranger this time. Was I suppose to curl up & play dead? Should I run downhill? Decided to keep moving, eyes straight ahead & not make a lot of noise.
Later came across a couple wearing jingle bell-covered hiking boots. Have you seen a bear today? Heck yeah I say enthusiastically – look at my pics! Don’t think that’s the answer they were looking for 🙂
Reported 2nd bear at the ranger station, then traveled Going-to-the-Sun Road across the Park to West Glacier. Stopped by Lake McDonald for one last chilly swim (felt good to wash the hike sweat off).
Ended the day with spaghetti at a diner. 9am heli tour tomorrow. Super excited!
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- Swiftcurrent Lake
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- Many Glacier Trailhead
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- Grinnell Glacier hike – stunning!
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- Beargrass
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- young Grizzly (berry season)
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- pic of the day – Grinnell Lake
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- peak reflection in glacier-fed waters
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- soaking it all in; amazing day hike
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- 2nd bear of the day – WOW & yikes!
Landed minutes before midnight, signed for my rental, then nabbed a few hours sleep before heading north.
Missoula, site of my 9th marathon on Sunday, was chosen because of its relatively close proximity to Glacier National Park – a bucket list destination for 10+ years. Instantly fell in love.
Montana’s landscape is reminiscent of Colorado – but with far less people.
Stopped for an early lunch outside Flathead Lake, one hour further the Park.
Day One goal – drive to the Continental Divide at Logan Pass via Going-to-the-Sun Road (half-way across the Park), then back to West Glacier before 9pm to secure accommodations – tenting 2 days just outside the Park.
Purchased an annual Park pass. Plan to hike Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Wind Cave (SD) & RMNP before the snow flies later this year. Living B-I-G again after Ironman — life is good.
Stopped at Lake McDonald – in awe how mountains seemingly spire straight up from its depth. Put my feet in the water – cold, despite the day’s high temp (almost 90 degrees).
(On the drive return, I’d stop & swim in these chilly waters. Perfect, after a day on the road.)
Next stop Avalanche Falls, fast moving water fueled by McDonald Creek. Tourist stop – but understandably so.
The road now climbed – my car hugging rock cliffs or maneuvering hairpin turns over exposed terrain mounted hundreds of feet above river-forged canyons. Impromptu waterfalls created by melting snow bathed dust off the car. AMAZING day!
Rugged glacier fields perched high on Montana’s high peaks – that’s why we visit. Irreversible; these glaciers are receding exponentially, 2030 extinction targeted as our Earth bakes under Man’s watch 🙁
Parked with scores of travelers at Logan Pass & watched kids play in snow behind the Visitors Center.
While folks strained to view 3 bighorn sheep dance on a rock terrace high above, I near walked into a large ram just off Highline Trail. Unnerved & slow-moving from a willow thicket, he crossed directly in front [of me]. So fast, so unexpected — I captured its image on my iPhone (camera tucked tight in my backpack – that won’t happen again).
Checked into Glacier Under Canvas & located my tent – my home for the next 2 days. Scored hummus, chips & bottled water at a local fish & tackle – dinner, check done. Quick shower, now snug in my sleeping bag, couldn’t sleep – too excited.
Glacier hiking tomorrow.
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- Glacier Country colour
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- chilly Lake McDonald
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- McDonald Creek
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- Avalanche Falls
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- SPECTACULAR!
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- stunning scenery
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- Glacier’s Red Bus Tours – small against the MASSIVE landscape
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- Going-to-the-Sun Road cuts East-West across Glacier
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- snow melt fuels this fast running Waterfall
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- snow on the Divide at Logan Pass
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- Bighorn Sheep
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- Home, Sweet Home
Avalanche Falls
Arrived a day earlier than most for my Granddad’s funeral so…had a free day in Northern Virginia.
Woke early, hit the hotel gym, then off to Harpers Ferry National Park in West Virginia – approx 45 minutes away.
THE HISTORY OF HARPERS FERRY HAS FEW PARALLELS IN THE AMERICAN DRAMA. It is more than one event, one date, or one individual. Harpers Ferry witnessed…the arrival of the first successful American railroad, John Brown’s attack on slavery, the largest surrender of Federal troops during the Civil War, and the education of former slaves in one of the earliest integrated schools in the United States [Storer College].
Arrived 10 minutes before the start of a FREE ranger guided tour of the town. Ya’ll know – FREE is for ME – so on the bus we climbed. Best way to see the Park & understand its unique history in a short amount of time. Highly Recommended. That said, think the ranger thought we were prepping for Jeopardy – whole lotta information 🙂
Summer’s already arrived in the Shenandoah Valley – sunny & humid but luckily, this day included a breeze. Enjoyed spectacular views of the Potomac – rushing water still running high, early in the season. Walked over the river via a pedestrian bridge constructed by the B&O Railroad. Took pics at “The Point” (where Maryland, Virginia & West Virginia meet) & ate lunch at a local café before the heavens opened. Rain cooled temps by 15.
I had been to Harpers Ferry years ago as a boy. Seemed fitting to return before tomorrow’s funeral. So much personal history, shared memories with my Grandparents. Fun day but jeez, hard saying goodbye.
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- Harpers Ferry Nat’l Park
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- ranger guided tour – whole lotta information
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- Potomac River & Shenandoah Valley
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- springtime in the Virginias
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- Appalachian Trail — 1165 miles to Maine, 1013 miles to Georgia
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- historic Storer College (1865-1955)
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- St. Peters
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- “The Point” — Maryland on left, Virginia to the right, standing in West Virginia
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- B&O Railroad
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- pedestrian walk-bridge over Potomac – sunshiny humid East Coast day
