Day 21 - Glacier National Park

 Monday, June 3, 2023

Montana

Today is a day spent in Glacier National Park.  We had a pass for Two Medicine and we started with a hike on Running Eagle Falls trail.  

This park was a highlight and a place we saw different animals, other than muledeer.

We started the day with a yummy breakfast of fried potatoes and eggs.

the pro chef

We entered Glacier on the east side

So, so beautiful!!

We went over to Two Medicine Lake to hike the Paradise Point trail and lo and behold, there are Levi's!!  What a surprise!  They had just gotten off the lake after kayaking.  So we hiked the trail together.

beautiful spot!!

skipping stones across the water

A manly pose and Carlin decided to not smile is manly... 🤔☺️

field of wildflowers

Our second hike, we sent the boys off with their energy to see how far they could go because it was a pretty steep hike and we couples and Carolyn did only part of the trail.

a canyon river with a waterfall

Twin berries

(Their name... very profound 😁)

After we all got back, we are our lunch in the parking lot before going our separate ways.

We were at this entrance by approx 3 because that is when we were allowed on the Going-to-the-Sun Road without a timed entry.

a hike to a waterfall

then another hike to St Mary's Falls

Beyond St Mary's is the famous Virginia Falls but we didn't have time to keep on going.  We wanted to go to Logan Pass yet and needed to be out of the park by 10 because of road construction.

so, so pretty

the Virginia Falls from a distance

the layers in the rock and the colours are so intriguing 💗

So MANY waterfalls in Glacier

Each a beauty of its own.

It was a beautiful and long hike that seemed to keep on going, probably cause we knew there was a good chance to finally see some different wildlife and we weren't seeing any.  Also it was lots of steps and uphill most of the way.  Tim and Janell had told us this is a good place to see mountain goats and bighorn sheep.  And we did!! 👏👏

Quite a bit of water was running at various places along the trail.

mountain goats

The boys motioned for us to come as they were ahead of us.  These were at the top and around the area as far as we were able to hike on the trail.

the view was gorgeous

Someone had commented to Titus that he saw a grizzly bear way down there.  After a bit the guy said, "There it is!"  And sure enough.  It was fun to watch it splash in the water, going on shore and then back into the water.

a couple more came out

I think we saw 5 total.

there are other reasons to enjoy Hidden Lake...

reflections

sliding trail marks

boy antics 🙈🤷‍♀️

and then the Bighorn Sheep... my favourite

Again the boys motioned for us to come quickly.

there was something under here that they were eating

and then the fighting happens

When we got down to the parking lot the bighorn sheep were everywhere.  It seemed they knew the people were leaving and maybe left traces of food behind.

Sheldon was trying to get it to eat crackers out of his hand.

two going to the Pacific and the other two going to the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico

It was so pretty... truly Going-to-the-Sun...

the rain clouds added their own uniqueness to the splendour

We didn't find Logan Pass nearly as bad as some of the other passes we had be on.

We made it out in time (they had said if we don't get out by 10, there's a possibility you have to wait till midnight till you can get through)

We are so hungry!!  Oh, Carlin is hangry!  We pulled into McDonald's at 10:54 pm and they closed at 11, ordering 10 McChicken sandwiches and 5 large fries.  And, we weren't the only ones in line and they served us like it wasn't 6 minutes till closing, quick and pleasantly.  We definitely had hot, hot fries!!

We stayed the second night at Spruce Park on the River.