Many Glacier

Many Glacier is an area within Glacier National Park, located on the east side and north of Going to the Sun road.

The lodge is located on Swiftcurrent Lake.  I took the boat ride across Swiftcurrent Lake, for a short hike to Lake Josephine, then a boat ride across and a hike to Grinnell Lake.

The meadow hillsides in the area are considered to be the picnic grounds for the bears.  This grizzly was having his early morning snack, or maybe it was still breakfast.

The views are considered to be some of the best in the the park.

Hidden Falls

We had to cross this swinging bridge.

I learned this Cow Parsnip is related to the carrot and is edible.

Grinnell Lake in the background with glacier waterfalls.  You cannot see Grinnell Glacier from here.  The hike to Grinnell Glacier is twice what I took today and will have to be for another time.

A gnarly old tree.

Many Glacier Hotel, the largest in the park, was built in 1914 and considered to be the Showplace of the Rockies. 

Inside the hotel.  It still retains a rugged, rustic look.

Glacier Park Lodge is located outside the boundaries of the park.  It was built in 1913 by Glacier Park Company, a subsidery of Great Northern Railroad. 

The lodge is conveniently located across the street from the railroad station in East Glacier.

Kalispell and Whitefish

The day I arrived in Kalispell, several of us went to the Eagles Lodge for Salsa lessons.  (Sorry, no pictures).   Now it's just finding someplace to practice.

The group took two kayaking trips, but I only went on the first.  I heard the second was a lot more fun because the water was much faster and there was more challenge.  But I still had fun on the trip down the Flathead River.

Our put in spot just outside of Columbia Falls.

We saw eagles several places on the river.

Lunch break.

Some people weren't smart enough to stay out of the cold water.  It was down right frigid.

Thursday Fest is held every Thursday downtown.  Vendors, food, crafts and a live band.  There was even some dancing.

Tuesday in the Park is held every Tuesday downtown.  Some food, but no vendors or crafts, just live music.  Today was a jazz band playing music along the lines of Chicago.

These musicians weren't local, but came here just to play.

One day the group went up to Whitefish and Whitefish Mountain.  A few of us stopped at the old depot in town before heading to the mountain.

The depot, built in 1928, is still operating and is the busiest Amtrak station in Montana.  

The Hicken's  Furbearing Trout from Iceberg Lake.  For the story behind this fish, I guess you'll just have to visit the depot in Whitefish.

This must be the mascot for the Great Northern Railroad.

There was quite a group of the WINs who decided to zipline on Whitefish Mountain.

I think all the zipliners had a good time and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

I took the chairlift up to the top.  It was a beautiful view.

Some people choose to hike up or down the mountain instead of taking the chairlift.  It is also a popular bike trail, but all of the bikers were ziplining.

The Eagles Lodge holds a dance on Saturday night.  I think we were half of the crowd.

We had two tables of WINs come out for the dance.

Glacier National Park

The group moved from St. Ignatius to Kalispell.  There is lots to blog about from my time in Kalispell.  I kayaked the Flathead River, visited Whitefish, attended several local events in Kalispell, took dance lessons and went to several dances.  But I'll start with my first visit to Glacier National Park, stopping at Hungy Horse Dam on the way.

At its completion in 1953, the dam was the third largest and second highest (564 ft) concrete dam in the world.

The Glory Hole.  During spring runoff the water flows through the hole and down to the river 450 feet below, instead of overflowing the top of the dam.

This is what it would look like when the water rises.

It sure looks like a long way down to the South Fork of the Flathead River.

Here I am at the West Portal of Glacier National Park.

Lake McDonald

McDonald Falls

Starting up the Going to the Sun Highway

It's in the high 80s, low 90s, yet there is snow up there.  

The only Rocky Mountain Goat I saw today.

Logan Pass, looking towards Hidden Lake.

This little ground squirrel wasn't too proud to beg.

On the east side at St. Mary's Visitor Center.

Two Medicine Lake

Other things around St. Ignatius

Some of the other things we did.

Field Dog Trials were being held nearby.  The dog watches while 3 birds are shot down in separate locations.  Upon command by his trainer, the dog goes after each, one by one, with only hand signals from his trainer to guide him.

They are required to take the most direct route to the fallen bird, swimming across the water if necessary.

Returning with the bird.  

It was quite interesting watching the dogs work.  They are so smart.  I just wish I could train Fancy to obey that well. (ha, ha)

Another event which happened on Sunday morning was a fly-in.  Wanting to see what this was all about, plus I wanted to take part in the Huckleberry Pancake breakfast, I headed to the small airfield on the edge of town.

There were some very interesting looking planes flying in.  Just like it sounds, people fly their small, private planes to the St. Ignatius airfield.  They stop, have breakfast, visit with the other pilots, and then everyone heads home.

The owner of this plane was offering rides for only $25 for 15 minutes.  Yes, I signed up.

Looking down on one of the many reservoirs in the area.

Gazing over the checkerboard fields.

Here are the Upper Mission Falls where I went hiking the other day.

Of course, it was over all too soon, but what fun while it lasted.

It was like any other street fair, except, you could buy local Flathead Cherries.  This year was a late season and they thought the cherries weren't going to be ripe for the festival, but they started picking just days before.