We arrived late in the afternoon and after dropping off Apollo at the “Pawsitively Perfect” kennel in Kalispell. We took a short hike along the north bank of Lake McDonald  just before dinner. Much is being made of the incursion of Grizzlies in the campgrounds and some of the Glacier  Park’s campgrounds have been closed as a result. Joanne purchased a bell just to be on the safe side and Mitch bought bear spray when we were in Yellowstone (but has yet to open the packaging and is very disappointed that he has not been able to use it so far).

Lake Avalanche

We stayed at Glacier Campgrounds in West Glacier, which is located just outside the West entrance of the park. It was very convenient with a  nice rustic setting. We got up early in the morning and drove the “Road to the Sun” from Apgar Village to St. Mary’s. The first leg up to Logan’s Pass was a bit harrowing, around steep narrow winding roads.  But the views were so breathtaking that even Joanne, who is afraid of heights, could not take her eyes away.

Glacier Melting Behind Joanne

At Logan’s Pass, which is the highest point you can drive to in the Park, there is a 3 mile trail to Hidden Lake which cuts through glacial mountains.  You can see the effects of global warming; many of the glaciers are expected to be gone by 2020’s. We are grateful we saw them.  Later that day we hiked to Lake Avalanche.  Bear warnings were all over the place but there was no sign of a bear.  The lake is fed by glacial melting water which then feeds an amazing complex of trout spawning creeks and streams. The ice blue waters are nothing like anything we have ever seen.