7/13/15 WILD KINGDOM AT GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

We got an early start on our adventures toady.  Not knowing what time the National Park gates open up, we wanted to be first in line.  Anyone knowing Joe Maltese will understand .... "gotta beat the crowds".  (Much like Chevy Chase going to Wally World in VACATION).  Arriving at the National Park entrance at 7:15 AM, we found no one at the ticket booth and the gates were wide open.  The visitor center doesn't open until 8AM, so anyone wanting free admission to Glacier National Park needs to get there early.  Our annual pass would have let us in, but at least we "beat the crowd".  The park rangers were nice enough to leave brochures, maps, and a park newsletter for our reading enjoyment. 

Traveling "The Going to the Sun" road  heading up to Logan's Pass always provides some of the prettiest scenery along the way.  (We never read the map or newsletter we got at the entrance gate).  There were signs posted that all the turn outs were closed due to resurfacing the road.  Last year the road was nothing but a gravel dirt road that left your car plastered with glacier dust- which we commonly know as something like concrete.  This year the road is paved with asphalt all the way to the Logan's Pass and down the other side.  Here are some pictures of what we saw on our drive:

Jackson Glacier - This glacier is fast disappearing much like a lot of other glaciers in North America.

Other pictures on our way to Logan's Pass.

It's only 17 miles from the entrance to Logan's Pass from our Campground so it didn't take us long to reach the Visitor Center (that didn't open for another hour).  We were greeted by an unusual parking lot cleanup crew that walked around on 4 legs.  One of the cleanup crew deposited some unwanted liquid while on patrol.  We felt like we were part of a Wild Kingdom or National Geographic episode. We always cherish the memories of visiting nature while on bacation

Since the parking lot wasn't full yet, we decided to drive a little further over the mountain to see the views from the back of Logan's Pass. 

When we got back to Logan's Pass Parking lot, it was about half full....so we parked far away from the visitor's center so we could be the 1st one out of the parking lot when we were ready to leave.  They say if you do this it help keep you fit.  (ha ha)  Joe wanted to take the Bear Spray, but according to the trail maps, the trails don't go through any dense vegetation and didn't think it would be needed.  So, Joe elected me as "Bear Bait".... I was to take the lead on this "little" hike.  What started out to be pretty easy, progressively got harder in the thin high altitude air.  Every step became an effort as "we" huffed and puffed up the trail that progressively took us up another 1000+ feet higher.  Another group passed us coming down and told us about the Mamma Bear and her 2 cubs foraging at the lake up ahead....I started thinking maybe we should have brought the Bear Spray.  By the time we got near the top, (1.5 miles later), we decided it was time to head back down the mountain.  Needless to say.....we didn't see any Bears along the way.  :)

Here are some pics of this adventure. 

When we got back to the Visitor Center, we came across some Marmots foraging for food. 

Another visitor took this picture of  us after surviving our morning hike.