Glacier National Park

Today we spent a long day in Glacier.  Only touched the surface, but it is close.

We will no doubt go back many times before

we leave.  Here is just a sample...

When you enter the park you see Lake McDonald.  

This is Lake McDonald

There are many streams fed by the
melting glaciers.  This is one of them

See how clear the water is.

This was basically the source of this stream.

There was a waterfall coming down

off the hillside.  Batteries died and

couldn't get a picture of the

waterfall.

Once you start climbing in altitude, you can see all the peaks.

According to the scientists, this area has been drastically changed by

glacier activity.  Some of the glaciers have shrunk by 75% just in 

this century.  The scientists will continue to debate

why this is so, but there were pictures showing the

shrinkage of glacier formations.

Look at lower right hand corner at the trees.  There has been a fire here.  

It takes years to recover.

The park service is repairing the road through the park.  

It is called "The Road to the Sun."

Don't know if you can make it out, but the base of the mountains is very green.

It reminds me of something you would see in South America in the Andes.

This is the "Road to the Sun."

You can see it snake along the mountain side.

 See the bridge?  I can't imagine the work that goes into maintaining

this road.  It is closed in the winter.

This is Jackson Glacier.

It has shrunk 75% in the last century.

Another little stream.

It is amazing how clear it is, but 

you are advised not to drink it.

Pollution has affected

the snow and ice.

The girls were getting tired.  Stopped for lunch.  We were

better :)

There is another section of the park called "Many Glaciers"

You have to leave and re-enter farther north.

This is Many Glaciers.

We also saw our first Grizzly and her three cubs.

This was in the park.  Pictures are fuzzy.

There is actually "Bear Spray" you are encouraged to carry.

I thought somebody was jerking my chain, but it is

real.

This is Many Glaciers Hotel. 

It reminds you of a lodge in the Alps.

It is on the Swift-Current Lake.

This is probably my favorite picture of the Lake.

There is a boat you can go on.  You can kayak or canoe too.

The mountains are so impressive.  They change with your perspective.

This is not the highest point in the park.  It is the highest point the road travels.  The peaks are 

way above your head at this point.

The Continental Divide crosses the park here.  Little science lesson...

the Continental Divide separates the watershed in the United States.

Everything to the east of it sheds into the Atlantic and Caribbean.

Everything to the west goes into the Pacific.  Somehow

it regulates the water that goes to the Arctic Ocean too.

These mountains create part of this phenomena.

We barely scratched the surface.  We scoped out trails and views we want

to see.  We will have to save them for another day or days.

We are here in Montana.  It is beautiful. In ways it reminds me 

of West Virginia.

We hope you will follow us on our journey.

Hope to have pictures of the apartment soon.  We are still

unpacking and picking up.

Love ya...