Road Trip 25 – Day 4 – Out of the Old West Hotel to the Crown of the National Parks

From the Grand Hotel to Glacier National Park!

We got out of Kalispell early, before the sun had risen. Grabbed an English muffin from the chuck wagon in the lobby. Stopped at Smith Grocery (part of the Kroger family apparently) for some cold meds and a cold Topa Chico. The plan – get to Logan Pass parking early – but even leaving the Grand Hotel pre-sunrise wasn’t early enough. I mean, by 7ish it was full – crazy!

Let me back up. All the web sites gave clues, hints to help a visit to Glacier NP be better and go smoother
– rise early
– have your reservation to get in the park, and getting early

• have plenty of gas (no gas stations in the park)
• get to to Logan Pass early – limited spots … or you will circle the lot maybe for hours to find a spot

But, nope, didn’t make it. Well, we made it, but not early enough. We did all that, people must have camped out or got to the park by 4am.These people are committed. 

A few first impressions of Glacier NP –
– WOW, true we had to wait for the full sunrise, wait for the morning fog burn off … but even through that … WOW

• The western part of GNP was a winding road through forest, beautiful hard wood and Alpine and more. The western part of the park had streams, rivers, Lake MacDonald, and so much beauty. I truly hated driving through it like I was just doing to get to somewhere else. But Logan Pass (smack dab in the middle of the wonderful Going to the Sun Road) was our destination.
• The road wasn’t too full, maybe because they were all already in the parking lot at Logan and Avalanche, or because we were there post-season, so it was pleasant.
• The weather was wonderful, couldn’t ask for better.
• GNP is called the Crown of the National Parks for good reason. A Crown is more than what is at the top (and Glacier is right there on the Canadian border, top of the 48) but it is also grand, splendor, representing in beauty – GNP does that.
• The Going to the Sun Road is ranked one of the most beautiful roads to drive in America – and that too lives up to the hype. I’ve done the Pacific Coast Highway, Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Parkway, Pikes Peak Rd, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mount, Route 66 … and Going to the Sun is one I will always treasure.
• And last first impression, I expected more glaciers – and was surprised how many of the glaciers had disappeared.

So, we got to Logan Pass, and as I said, “Crazy”, turned around and headed back to Lake MacDonald Lodge to see if our cabin might be ready early. Since we were on plan B, we headed back west and stopped at every spot, every pull out, every bridge, every everything.

At one moment, my wife was shocked – a black bear came out of the woods/roadside and was mere feet from her window. I saw it in the rearview mirror casually crossing the street. This thrilled her and I was just glad it came out behind me and not right in front of the car  – where I would swerve around or would have hit him.

We continued to Avalanche area where we wanted to stop, and we were divinely led to a gentleman pulling out of close parking spot at Avalanche parking and we walked the Trail of the Cedars. We also ventured a little further in the trail to Avalanche Lake to see the water falls.

Here is an interesting twist, and if you know me, you will be snickering at me (not necessarily with me). About half way, we passed a wedding party coming the other way (it was a loop so we went counter clockwise, they were doing clockwise. I offered my services, being the loving and kind preacher I am. They kept going, being the worn out scruffy faced hiker I am. They put distance between us.

A quarter mile later I found a little journal/book on the trail It was a book where a groom would write their vows. I looked at it. Picked it up. Read it (pretty good, and I’ve benefited from being in many weddings!)

I decided then and there to turn around and take the book to the wedding party. I started walking fast, and then even ran some. That’s the twist – me running. Panting hard. Praying for oxygen. But a heavy jog along the path back the way I had just trekked. Long story short – it wasn’t theirs. It didn’t belong to the wedding party. Some one said it had been there a while.

Well, I felt good that I tried. I was feeling warm that I took the effort, went the extra mile (or at least a quarter of mile). My wife seemed a bit shocked – that I could run (sorta). And mostly, I felt like I was having heart attack because of the exertion.

We made it back to Lake MacDonald. Got our room. Ate lunch and Lisa had an Elk Burger.

 

Then we hit the historic boat ride and toured Lake MacDonald the way people had been doing for almost a century.

Later, we watched a weeding on the shore. I listed intently to see ion the groom stumbled with the vows – I was ready to save the day – but my wife kept telling me to leave them alone.

And lastly, my wife and I sat on the shore of the lake, watched the sunset, and treasured the moment.

Final Word of the Day …

If there is a place like this, or even this place, find the way to get there, Find a way to appreciate the majesty of God’s creation. Don’t put it off. And see it with someone you love.

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Next Entry – bathrooms carved into the mountains and my pants are falling down on the High Line Trail. (the two are not related!)