THURSDAY & FRIDAY, JUNE 26 & 27

THURSDAY, JUNE 26 & FRIDAY, JUNE 27:  

     Rained all day on Thursday, and was predicted to do so again on Friday.  So I was pretty bummed for a while.  I was ready to be active!  But turned Thursday into good use, taking a long campground shower, doing my 50,000 mile tune-up (shaving, shampooing hair, etc.).  Then a leisurely breakfast.   I spent a good part of the afternoon in the office doing computer/internet stuff while Bill stayed “home” and read the book Diane P. lent him.  It fully engaged him – was on the theme of making coherent sense out of the Old Testament, particularly seeing God’s redeeming grace as developed thru His covenants.  He thought about using it would make an excellent book for a Sunday School class. 

     Drove over in the late afternoon a few miles to the St. Mary’s Visitors Center inside the Nat’l Park.  Saw a couple of very good films, one on Going to the Sun Road (the road which connects the East & West portions of the Park) – its history (constructed over a century ago), its maintenance, etc.  It’s undergoing a multi-year renovation now, but the film (and other media) emphasized that delays shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes total.  The main issue for us is:  When will it be open all of the way?  A portion of it, including Logan Pass, is still closed due to late snowfall – they’re still plowing!  We’d very much like to take the iconic Red Bus Tour of the entire road.  Rangers told us they’re expecting the announcement that it’s totally open any day now . . . surely hope it’s a reality before we leave here!  We got some recommendations for hiking trails, etc.  As always, so impressed with the Rangers’ knowledge & helpfulness.

     A good portion of the exhibits in this small Visitors Center pertained to the Native Blackfeet tribe – their history in this area, and their perspective of the Park - especially of how the U.S. acquired the land,  which of course they considered a deeply spiritual place because of the sacred nature of the mountains, fresh water, etc.  Another sad chapter in broken promises, disingenuousness on the U.S. govt’s part, exploitation of the Natives’ lack of political sophistication, etc.    On the other hand, all Americans now have these magnificent lands to visit and gain refreshment and nurture from. It just seems there could have been more honorable ways to have achieved it . . . but I guess that would be re-writing history.

     Cooked brats inside, as way too wet & rainy to cook outside.   Then we both relaxed, reading.

    On Friday, expected another day like Thursday.  But surprise – we woke up to a partially bright sky!  So after breakfast, we decided to drive the 10 or so miles up the highway to the junction leading into the Many Glacier portion of the Park.  Once on the Park road,  it was rough & bumpy but nice scenery as we skirted Sherburne Lake & river.

 

 

A couple of hikes were recommended in the Many Glacier area.  We opted for the shorter, easier one – both because of the iffy weather, and because we wanted to start out easy.  So we walked an easy 2.6 mile loop around Swiftcurrent Lake.  It had become mostly cloudy – even sprinkled on us a little – so we didn’t have great views most of the time, but it was still so nice to get out and do something active.  And when the clouds did part, had really beautiful scenery.  Saw some artists along the trail. 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                               Beargrass in bloom!

 

 

We might do this trail again on a sunny day.  Stepped inside the gorgeous Many Glacier Hotel to check on some evening programs.  Same imposing Swiss chalet motif, with huge ceiling beams, etc., that I remember from 1989. 

 

 

      Drove back home.  Saw a grizzly in a meadow really close to the road.  A couple of cars had stopped, and one guy was getting a picture pretty close – maybe 50 yards.  Not so smart!  After all of the bear education we’d received in Alaska, we try to obey all the rules – like not stopping alongside the road unless there’s a pullout (which there wasn’t).  So we just saw it momentarily.

       Rested & napped at home.  For dinner,   Bill started a charcoal fire, and we grilled steaks & fresh corn-on-the-cob.  Also made a salad & flavored rice.  Our first outdoor-prepared meal on this trip!

     Then we drove back in to the Many Glacier Hotel for the 8:00 program.  It featured an Artist-in-Residence – but music, not visual art.  He’s a music professor in Eastern Texas and an accomplished composer.  He presented a program on how he derives inspiration for his musical compositions from nature, particularly our National Parks, and demonstrated several examples.  Our favorite was a piece for full-piece orchestra he composed after visiting Wrangell-St. Elias in Alaska, specifically the Kennecott mine there.  He had images of the old mine set against the spectacular mountains up on a screen, and we were instantly transported to our phenomenal time spent there last year.  This was a free program, provided by our tax $$!

     Then we stayed for a 9:00 performance by a local singer/songwriter.  His was a multi-media program on the Lewis & Clark expedition.  He gave a great narrative of their entire journey –one of the most comprehensive I’ve ever heard, interspersed with  singing his own songs with accompanying guitar and/or harmonica.  And while speaking or singing/playing, he’d have photos & drawings depicting the expedition on a screen.  It was really excellent.  We would have enjoyed visiting with him afterwards, but it would soon be pitch dark, and had that 30+ minute drive to the highway on that terrible road in the dark to navigate, so Bill wanted to get going right away.   A really enjoyable evening! 

     Was really cool & windy when we got home.  Had to turn on the furnace!

     We’ll decide how to spend tomorrow depending on what the weather looks like. This cloudy, rainy, cool weather is supposed to taper off either tomorrow or Sunday, for drier, warmer days.  Yea!