Kalispell, MT to West Glacier, MT

West Glacier     Sunday July 15th  2001           37 miles     

So when we planned the trip, this is the first destination we had planned on. Took a while to get here, especially driving, but it was well worth it.

Just outside the park they had the "Great Bear Adventure", where you pay and "your car is your cage" as you drive through a sort of outside zoo amongst the bears.

Notice the sign warning you to roll up your windows

We then drove to our motel and stayed for 2 days in West Glacier,

which is just outside the park entrance.

The first day we drove up some dirt roads inside the park but off the beaten path.

Kiah, David and I went for a hike at the base of HuckleBerry Mountain

We then went on up the road to a destination called Polebridge.

an old settlement that was now a "historic" site.

The next day we went on a drive through the park, first stopping at Lake McDonald

The kids skipped rocks as well as slung them with the slingshot

We then stopped at the lodge at Lake McDonald, where we took a boat ride.

Near the end of the ride a storm came up

Further up the road we stopped at the river to look at some small falls

Just up the road another mini falls ended in a beautiful blue hole

This was the first hint of an amazing phenomenon where the water is turquoise, I have no idea what causes this, the only other place I have seen this is in the Bahama's. Anyway we saw a lot more of this on the drive from Banff to Jasper.

Now we begin winding our way up the famous "Going to the Sun Road". Like many other great roads in remote parks this is an engineering marvel. Done during the 20s and 30s, similar to the road going out the backside of Zions National Park. Basically they carve a road out of the side of mountain face climbing up over Logan's pass.

We stopped first at the "Big Bend", which you can just see to the right of the picture (it is clearer in the bigger view)

and Kiah, David and I started off on a hike, but it begain to rain pretty hard

And we decided to turn back anyway after a ranger came back reporting a grizzley up ahead who didn't seem afraid of humans. Due to the storm it was quite cloudy on the way up. Here is a picture looking back down the valley from whence we came. The small line to the left of the river is the road (clearer in the bigger view).

As you start up the main climb there is a 422 foot tunnel, you can stop and walk into the tunnel where a window on the side offers a view.

Now the road really starts to climb, looking back you can see the drama of the enginnering. As the driver it can be a bit nerve wracking at times.

The rain made for some beautiful waterfalls as well

Some waterfalls were more permanent features

These photos also show the road and were taken the next day when the weather was clearer.

Near the top of the pass a large mound of snow still hangs around.

Finally at the top we pause for pictures

 

When all of a sudden a mountain goat comes walking out of the trees

Finally we arrived at the summit and could see the other side.

We turned around at this point and headed back down, the next day we drove down the otherside of the pass, it was a much clearer day.

In the picture below you can see the second tunnel on the far right.

Kiah, David and I set off on an hike. Behind them is "Bear Grass", which bears don't eat but the deer and goats do.

We hiked along a cool creek bed

Which we had to cross several times

On the otherside of the park there is beautiful St. Mary's Lake

and were off on our way to the next destination.