glacier np, day 1

I finished downloading my photos and sorting the mess I create! But what a lovely mess it is. Even though it hasn't even been a week home yet, I feel like it was ions ago. I figure I would give you a brief ... okay, realistically probably not brief... run down of our days spent at Glacier National Park.

On August 1st, we drove to Glacier NP. Grandpa suggested a different route than we had planned which took us through Eureka, Montana (just a few miles from the Canadian border) and then down to Whitefish over to Columbia Falls and then to Glacier NP.  It was a beautiful drive. I was in awe of all the green - the big fir trees, the beautiful lakes, the stunning mountain ranges, and I am quite certain I was looking at the Canadian Rockies at times too. In some ways, I miss all that green but in other ways, I have grown fond of the high desert quasi green here. 

I didn't take any photos driving. I just soaked it in. The kids listened to more Magic Treehouse books and the drive went well. When we reached Glacier NP, our first stop was the ranger's station to pick up the Jr. Ranger programs. I can not believe how many of these programs the kids have done now, and then to the motel. Everyone seemed a bit hot and tired and the kids just wanted to play for a bit before we ventured out again. However, this was our view ... or pretty close to it and I needed to see what was around.

We stayed in Apgar Village which is at the end of Lake McDonald. I really wanted to stay in the Lake McDonald lodge but I seriously think you book now for hopes to have a good room next summer or maybe even in 2014!

We did venture to Lake McDonald lodge, and spent quite a bit time before dinner (we had a late dinner that night) watching the kids wade through the water. Lots of kids were out there playing in the creek, making damns, trenches, trying to reroute parts of the creek. It was quite entertaining to watch.

 This is what the rocks looked like in the creek... so beautifully colored. Amazing actually!

And then the kids ventured a little further up the creek. The bridge is part of the Lake McDonald lodge area and leads from the lodge to the auditorium, where we later attended a Native America Speaks program.

And that was Day 1 at Glacier NP... nothing too crazy or exciting but definitely wonderful to be there, spending time relaxing and exploring the wondrous nature surrounding us.

a tisket, a tasket, a musket?

There are a lot of stories I need to write down from this past trip but one I keep laughing about is when we went huckleberry picking. On the way to pick huckleberries, we had quite the discussion about bears and how important it was to stay close to one of the adults. 

When we started climbing up the hill to get to the huckleberries, someone again mentioned bears and Alyssa said "I hope Grandpa has his musket!"

We could barely stop laughing to tell her no Grandpa doesn't have a musket! But it didn't stop there as Dennis Jr. teased Grandpa about wearing coon skin caps.

I guess that makes 2 grandparents down and 2 to go ... I am warning you both (Tutu and Yaya)... be careful!

wi-fi deprived...

Wow! Can you believe there was no wi-fi available in Glacier NP? What an outrage! Only time to spend with family, looking for wildlife, hiking, enjoying the scenery, riding the park shuttle, watching a marmot pose for photos, experiencing insanely mountainous weather from wonderfully hot the first day to sweatshirts and raincoats, going to a magnificent Native American Speaks program with Jack Gladstone, throwing stones into rivers and lakes, becoming Jr. park rangers... and well, just plain relaxing with each other... Couldn't have been any better!

I will fill you in with details over the next few days as the kids are anxiously waiting for their 20 minutes of Dragonvale while waiting for our airplane!

hello august

Hello August! My feet are really glad to see you. And my camera is delighted! I continue my morning walk but at a much slower pace and camera in tow. I capture your morning stillness and beauty. I loved being able to photograph deer and mountain goats early this morning.

We drove to Glacier NP this morning and are enjoying the evening here. I look forward to my morning walk discoveries there too. In the meantime, here are a few of my favorites from this morning not far from Grandpa's house (less than two miles!).