We got up at 4 am

We woke at 3:59, a minute before the alarm, because the only way to circumnavigated the unavailable ticketed entry into Glacier National Park is to drive in before 6am.

“I need gas,” Larry announced as he pulled into an unlit station prior to the park entrance.

“One, two, three,…thirty three cars passed by as you filled up,” I reported, annoyed we had not planned better the night before.

All the cars were speeding, even after entering the park.  Two miles in, we saw a little black bear scurry across the road, about 150 feet ahead, in front of two preceding vehicles.  Neither car touched their brakes, that’s what caught our attention.

McDonald Lake at daybreak.

Going-To-The-Sun-Road snaked along McDonald Lake before climbing into the mountains.  Then the road hugged the mountain with the sheer drop off on my side, my favorite, not.

Smoky

The beauty of restoration

Rising Sun

We stopped and took the touristy landscape photos and were graced with a male mule deer adorned with velvety antlers.

Mr. Buck

Larry was gleeful driving, stopping, and looking.  We couldn’t hike, first and foremost we had the dogs in the truck (they are not allowed) and second, the park was packed, P.A.C.K.E.D.  

Happy. Happy. Happy.

As long as I’ve known Larry, this has been one of those bucket list items.  He might not have completed his coast to coast bike trip this go around, but he can check off Glacier NP!

I wasn’t as taken with Glacier, because we live so close to Rocky Mountain National Park, which is just as beautiful.  Besides, Coloradans are so much nicer than Montanans.  I know that’s a blanket statement, but I’ve been yelled at twice, both times I wasn’t the culprit, yet I still teared up.  

Never assume someone who offers to take your photo knows how to operate a camera.

Success

Listening to the radio for information about a sudden road closure, due to a murder/kidnapping/shootout/second death, we timed our passage perfectly.  Police cars were everywhere, but we whizzed right by.  And yet, we did hear a 20 minute long fire report on the state of Montana.  Each fire was identified, with its locale, size, containment percentage, and cause if known (87% were human caused).  Not smart people, not smart.

Tomorrow we start our journey homeward.  Regroup.  Address the pup dogs.  Make new plans.

I’ll keep the blog open, just in case Larry decides to ride again this fall….Or spring 2022….