This is the last of a series of five posts pertaining to a week-long trip of Glacier National Park in August 2013.
"Far away in Montana, hidden from view by clustering mountain-peaks, lies an unmapped northwestern corner- the Crown of the Continent. The water from the crusted snowdrift which caps the peak of a lofty mountain there trickles into tiny rills, which hurry along north, south, east and west, and growing to rivers, at last pour their currents into three seas. From this mountain-peak the Pacific and the Arctic oceans and the Gulf of Mexico receive each its tribute.
Here is a land of striking scenery."
George Bird Grinnell,
The Century Magazine
1901
While my other posts described specific hikes I undertook during my GNP visit, this one departs from the hiking theme of this photo blog in that it is just a compilation of assorted photographs taken during red bus tours, random short strolls, and in/around the lodges I stayed in. These serve to provide a more complete picture of the beauty and variety to be seen in the park of which there is more than plenty. In the course of my trip, I visited many different parts of the park, and walked around 35 miles (28 of them on trails in the course of the 4 hikes documented on this blog), and thus had a chance to experience a broad sample of what the park has to offer (and I did this without renting a car, using just shuttles, trains and my feet*). I also got to experience the old world charm of some of the lodges built by the Great Northern Railroad in a bygone era, and the Many Glacier Hotel is amongst the best-situated hotels I have stayed in (it is also very well-run for a remote seasonal hotel, had very friendly staff, and (to my surprise) vegetarian-friendly restaurant menus).
* My car-free itinerary comprised flying into Kalispell, staying in West Glacier a couple of nights (taking the NPS shuttle and hiking Logan Pass during this period), taking the Empire Builder train to East Glacier, staying at Glacier Park Lodge a night (using this opportunity to take the afternoon red bus tour of Two Medicine), taking the GPI Eastside shuttle to Many Glacier for a three night stay (during which I took the Evening Glacier red bus tour, and joined the two ranger-led hikes of Grinnell Glacier and Iceberg Lake for safety against grizzlies that are abundant in that area!), and then returned via shuttle to East Glacier, train to West Glacier, and flight from Kalispell.
"Far away in Montana, hidden from view by clustering mountain-peaks, lies an unmapped northwestern corner- the Crown of the Continent. The water from the crusted snowdrift which caps the peak of a lofty mountain there trickles into tiny rills, which hurry along north, south, east and west, and growing to rivers, at last pour their currents into three seas. From this mountain-peak the Pacific and the Arctic oceans and the Gulf of Mexico receive each its tribute.
Here is a land of striking scenery."
George Bird Grinnell,
The Century Magazine
1901
While my other posts described specific hikes I undertook during my GNP visit, this one departs from the hiking theme of this photo blog in that it is just a compilation of assorted photographs taken during red bus tours, random short strolls, and in/around the lodges I stayed in. These serve to provide a more complete picture of the beauty and variety to be seen in the park of which there is more than plenty. In the course of my trip, I visited many different parts of the park, and walked around 35 miles (28 of them on trails in the course of the 4 hikes documented on this blog), and thus had a chance to experience a broad sample of what the park has to offer (and I did this without renting a car, using just shuttles, trains and my feet*). I also got to experience the old world charm of some of the lodges built by the Great Northern Railroad in a bygone era, and the Many Glacier Hotel is amongst the best-situated hotels I have stayed in (it is also very well-run for a remote seasonal hotel, had very friendly staff, and (to my surprise) vegetarian-friendly restaurant menus).
* My car-free itinerary comprised flying into Kalispell, staying in West Glacier a couple of nights (taking the NPS shuttle and hiking Logan Pass during this period), taking the Empire Builder train to East Glacier, staying at Glacier Park Lodge a night (using this opportunity to take the afternoon red bus tour of Two Medicine), taking the GPI Eastside shuttle to Many Glacier for a three night stay (during which I took the Evening Glacier red bus tour, and joined the two ranger-led hikes of Grinnell Glacier and Iceberg Lake for safety against grizzlies that are abundant in that area!), and then returned via shuttle to East Glacier, train to West Glacier, and flight from Kalispell.
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| August 11: A reddish sun unveils itself (the reddish hue was due to smoke in the atmosphere from forest fires in the vicinity of GNP) |
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| August 12: Passing scenery from train window (WGL to GPK) |
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| August 12: East Glacier Park Train Station |
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| August 12: Rising Wolf rises over Two Medicine Lake |
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| August 12: Live music in the Glacier Park Lodge lobby made for a lovely close to the day |
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| August 13: Grounds of the Glacier Park Lodge |
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| August 13: Sunrift Gorge |
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| August 13: View from Logan Pass |
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| August 13: Valley view from GTTS Road |
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| August 13: Sunlight makes the mountains across St. Mary Lake look white. Wild goose island can be seen. |
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| August 16: Grinnell Point at sunrise |
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| August 16: Mt. Wilbur at sunrise |
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| August 16: A bear (most likely a black bear and not a grizzly) heading back from a morning sip at Swiftcurrent lake |
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| August 16: Blurry grizzly figure on distant slope |
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| August 16: View from hillock behind the Many Glacier Hotel |
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| August 16: Mt. Wilbur close-up |
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| August 16: Above Swiftcurrent Falls |
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| August 16: Swiftcurrent Falls made silky with an ND filter |
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| August 16: Far shore of Switfcurrent Lake from under a road bridge |
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| August 16: Ruffed Grouse? (near Swiftcurrent Nature Trail) |
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| Steinbeck on Montana: in the Glacier Guides Lodge at West Glacier where I stayed at the beginning and end of my trip |
"Get off the tracks at Belton Station, and in a few minutes you will find yourself
in the midst of what you are sure to say is the best care-killing scenery on the continent. Give a month at least to this precious reserve. The time will not be taken from the sum of your life.
Instead of shortening, it will indefinitely lengthen it and make you truly immortal. Nevermore will
time seem short or long, and cares will never again fall heavily on you, but gently and kindly as gifts
from heaven."
John Muir
Our National Parks
1901
How true. The magical week I spent in Glacier National Park was certainly not taken from, but added to, my life. The memory of the experience will be a source of perennial delight.
John Muir
Our National Parks
1901
How true. The magical week I spent in Glacier National Park was certainly not taken from, but added to, my life. The memory of the experience will be a source of perennial delight.
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