Glacier National Park

July 2-5  Glacier National Park
Having been to Glacier NP before, we decided to explore the Eastern side of the park.  Our campground, Johnsons of St. Mary, are in their 63rd season.  A family owned campground their story is very interesting as is the campground and restaurant.  They hire Work Kampers and students to staff the campground store and the restaurant.  We met students from several states, and they all love their job especially waking up each morning to look at the mountains. 

We explored Two Medicine and Many Glaciers.  At Two Medicine we hiked to a water fall and learned of an amazing Blackfoot woman named Running Eagle.  She is still remembered by her people today as a great warrior and provider for the tribe.  She was buried at the top of the waterfall in a tree. 




Running Eagle Falls

 

 



At Many Glaciers, we hiked around Swift Current Lake which reminded us of a hike we took last year in Bar Harbor, ME with our friends Mike and Pat.  Fellow hikers had surprised a black bear just a little way in front of us, but by the time we got to the area the bear was no where to be seen.  

Swift Current Lake

 

 

Construction began in the 1920s on the Going-to-the-Sun road, a 50-mile road through the Glacier NP, up the slopes of the Continental Divide, through Logan's Pass at 6,646 feet.  This road is the only American road to hold both the National Civil Engineering Landmark and a National Historic Landmark distinctions.

Going-to-the Sun Road

 



We planned to hike to the hidden lake at Logan's Pass, but when we got to the pass and looked at the trail, we decided maybe this wasn't the hike for us.  See why.

Logan's Pass

We enjoyed fireworks at our campsite which overlooked St. Mary's Lake.  There were fireworks all around the lake.  Off to Butte, MT then into Canada.