Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is my last destination for this trip, so this will be the last blog for my Great North to Alaska Adventure.

The Canadian Waterton Lakes National Park is just north of Glacier. It's considerably smaller but has similar terrain. I arrived late to find all the campgrounds in the main part of the park full. Fortunately, they have a small campground along the road to the boarder which wasn't even half full when I arrived. I did come back later to the main part of the park. Like the other Canadian national parks, there is a town in the middle of it with all the usual tourist things. It's a small version of Jasper.

This is looking south towards Glacier. Waterton Lakes is toward the right.

The biggest attraction in Glacier is the Going to the Sun Highway. It is something else as it climbs up the sides of the mountains. Another one of those things everyone needs on their Bucket List. On this day I opted for a 12 mile hike on the Highline Trail. The trail starts at Logan Pass. It is above the highway and is pretty much level for 9 miles or so as it heads straight to a chalet. From the chalet, a trail drops 2200 feet down to the highway where I caught a shuttle back up to the pass. About half way along I met a couple from Kalispell. I tagged along with them the rest of the way.

This is the view from near the chalet. You can rent a room at the chalet, but you have to hike in. Honestly, I think I'd prefer some of the old forest service lookouts.

My favorite area of the park is Two Medicine. It's more out of the way, few people go there. The campground is great, there are lots of good hiking trails and the views are amazing. But, it is also bittersweet for me. One of the last few pictures I took of Gail was her sitting at this bench from behind. She commented “Just imagine how many people spend their entire life and never get to see anything like this”. It was one month later, almost to the day, that she passed away. I sat at the bench for a couple of hours remembering.

Two Medicine Lake, I forget the name of the mountain.

Running Eagle Falls.

One night I went to an evening presentation given by a Blackfoot elder. He told how oral tradition is so important in their culture and gave several examples. One was about Running Eagle who, as a young woman was known for her warrior skills and devotion to her family and the tribe. She was so admired by the community that they referred to these falls as part of her spirit.

The campground inlet on Two Medicine Lake. My campsite was set back a little from here, but was one of the few campsites with this view.

One day I took a 10+ mile hike to Upper Two Medicine Lake. Twin Falls was along the way.

Upper Two Medicine Lake

The Going to the Sun and the Highline Trail from Logan Pass. The trail stays high and goes around the back side of Haystack Mountain to the Chalet which is on the bluff off in the distance.

Haystack Creek Falls. There isn't a turn out here for cars but there is a spot just big enough to safely park a motorcycle.

Haystack Creek as it goes under the highway. Originally, this was a completely stone arched bridge. Now it's steel reinforced concrete, but you would never know it from the outside.

One of the ranger's cabins in the park

This is it! The end of the Alaska Adventure. It has been the trip of a lifetime that I hope to repeat a few years down the road.

Thanks to my kids, Michele (and Stan), Eric, Christine and Teresa for supporting me in this adventure.

Just imagine how many people spend their entire life and never get to do anything like this.