Glacier National Park, Montana
July 14-21, 2022
Glacier National Park has everything.
My wife, pregnant at the time, and I embarked on a journey from Atlanta, Georgia, enduring a two-hour flight delay to reach Salt Lake City, Utah(where some guy named Todd almost got into a fight with a guy who was in the way of his wife while we were waiting to deplane -like we literally couldn’t get off the plane anyway and the guy was freaking out- which has now made the name “Todd” become a name similar to “Karen” for me, friggin Todd…) and then finally onto Kalispell, Montana. There, we joined her immediate family for a week-long vacation, centered around what swiftly became my favorite national park - Glacier. In addition to Glacier, we ventured into the surrounding area, including its northern counterpart in Canada, Waterton Lakes National Park. Together, these parks form the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. These parks were absolutely breathtaking and we also saw a ton of wildlife. Between the two parks, we spotted six bears, including grizzlies and a mama black bear with her cubs, along with numerous bighorn sheep, mountain goats, marmots, ptarmigans, bald eagles, ospreys, and ground squirrels(one of which had the unfortunate timing to run out into the road and freeze in front of our vehicle in Canada, sorry squirrel…). Despite our best efforts, the elusive moose-ive (sorry for the dumb rhyme joke) somehow evaded us. We asked several park rangers and people in the area where to see them and each place we went, we saw none… We literally missed a moose by seconds. No joke, we walked out onto the edge of a lake and the guy who was sitting there said “Oh man, y’all just missed a moose and her calf. They just walked into that thicket over there.” At least we go to enjoy huckleberries in its many various forms like milkshakes, taffy, jelly, and gum as well as drinking frigid glacial water through a LifeStraw. Even with all the time we had in the park - which was more time than we’ve spent in any other single park by far - we still didn’t have enough time to explore all that we wanted to. We absolutely intend to come back, next time when my wife isn't pregnant, to finally hike the Grinnell Glacier trail and, fingers crossed, spot a moose. Knowing my luck, it probably still wouldn’t happen…
***A word of caution: Glacier National Park is incredibly popular, so securing proper reservations is essential for a fulfilling experience. Despite its popularity, the effort to visit is absolutely worthwhile.***
One of my favorite things about Glacier was all the mountain flowers. This is either Wandering Fleabane or Cutleaf Daisies. Or maybe another one that I didn't see looking them up after the fact...
Tailcup Lupine
Mama bear in Waterton Lakes. I had to slam on my breaks as she and her cubs ran out into the road in front of us. What followed was me frantically asking for Tara to grab my camera.
Bears cubs. They were very cute but they were very quick.
I believe this is technically outside of Glacier National Park but its close by.
Same spot outside of Glacier.
Mountain in Many Glacier on the North East side of the park. It's a gorgeous area. I mean, it all is...
Many Glacier Hotel. Swiss inspired and beautiful. Ironically, we've been to 3 different national parks that have connections to the Shining. While this is not the hotel that inspired it, Stanley Kubrick used the Going to the Sun Road as his opening shot.
Beargrass. Someone told us that it only comes out every 7 years, but the reality is that it comes out after winters of heavy snow. We were blessed to be there during a year that had heavy snow fall.
Grinnell Lake. This is where we drank glacial water through a LifeStraw. The water was incredibly cold but it was such a pretty spot. If only I had remembered to bring Circular Polarizer...
Hidden Falls near Grinnell Lake.
The Famous Red Buses of Glacier National Park
McDonald Creek which flows into the famous McDonald Lake.
Views from the Going to the Sun Road.
Views from the Going to the Sun Road.
Views from the Going to the Sun Road.
Views from the Going to the Sun Road.
Views from the Going to the Sun Road.
I believe this to be Rosy Paintbrush. Its either that or another form of Paintbrush.
A deer in front of a backdrop view from the Going to the Sun Road
One of the famous Red Buses on the Going to the Sun Road.
Views from the Going to the Sun Road.
Views from the Going to the Sun Road.
A view from our very short hike at Logan's Pass. We did not have the appropriate footwear for the snow that was at Logan's Pass in the middle of July.
A marmot at Logan's Pass
Views from the Going to the Sun Road.
Big Horn Sheep on the edge of Logan's Pass parking lot.
Glacial Stream off of the Going to the Sun Road.
Mountain Goat
Views from the Going to the Sun Road.
The famous red and green pebbles of Glacier.
This is possibly Lake McDonald or Lake Saint Mary or just a random lake in the park. I can't tell based on other pictures.
Red Rock Falls near Red Rock Lake. Red Rock Lake is where we missed a moose and her calf by seconds.
I believe this was also on the hike to Red Rock Falls. That was a pretty hike.
I believe this to be Rosy Paintbrush as well.
Ptarmigan. It was definitely very wary of us which probably means its nest was nearby.
Big horn sheep near Logan's Pass.