M O N T A N A - Day 1

My sister Shawna and I just returned from a much-needed vacation to Montana. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24-25, were travel days -- across North Dakota to Glendive, MT on Saturday, and through Lewiston and Great Falls, and on up to Whitefish on Sunday, where we stayed four nights. I knew before we left that all the places we wanted to visit in and around Glacier National Park couldn't possibly be crammed in to our scant time there. So we did what we could.

Here's Day 1 (Monday, Sept. 26):

Whitefish is about 25 miles west of the park, so we decided we'd drive the Going to the Sun Road on Monday. We entered at West Glacier, and the first thing we saw was a blinking sign warning us the Sun Road was closed 14 miles ahead for road construction. Dang! We figured we could go in as far as possible (to the Avalanche Creek  area), then turn around, drive around to the east side of the park on Highway 2, and tackle the Sun Road to the east end of the closure from the St. Mary entrance.

I've not seen much of this world, but of the places I've seen, Glacier and northwest Montana are my favorites. My bucket list has several entries for long visits to Glacier, in all four seasons. In spring, all that run off from winter's snow engorges the rivers and creeks and results in spectacular waterfalls. In summer, the wildflowers are in full bloom. In fall, the coats of animals look best, and fall colors abound. (We were fortunate to heat peak color during our short time there.) Winter - well I'd probably have to think that one through.

Here's a little photo essay.

This is taken through the water of Lake McDonald at Apgar Village. The water is truly crystal clear.

This is Avalanche Gorge - as far in on the Sun Road from the west as we were allowed to drive. Here's the downside of fall - there's not a lot of water moving. I've been here in the spring, and so much water is rushing through this gorge, you can't hear yourself think. It is truly amazing. 

McDonald Creek. We read that this creek was originally called Sacred Dancing Creek, and we like that name better. Again, the down side (it's a very small down side) to visiting in the fall is that the creeks and waterfalls aren't as full as in spring and summer. But there are fewer tourists in fall, making  it much more peaceful.

Where enough sunlight is able to break through the forest canopy, ferns grow in abundance, and they make a beautiful fall forest floor.

This was taken on Highway 2, heading toward the east side of the park. 

This was taken on Two Medicine Road, on the southeast side of the park.

Two Medicine Lake. We were here late enough to have the sun be a problem (where picture-taking is concerned).  

Two Medicine Lake through a fisheye lens.

And one more for good measure - Two Medicine Lake

This is called Trick Falls, (and also Running Woman Falls).
 It's a very short walk from the parking area, and well worth the walk.

Another view of Running Woman Falls.

We ran out of time on Day 1 (who'd have guessed!), and didn't make the trip in on the Sun Road from the St. Mary entrance, but we made it back to Lake McDonald (at Apgar Village) in time to catch a beautiful sunset.

Another view of the sunset on Monday.