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Published: July 19th 2008
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Big Sky Country
The rest of it is pretty big too Survived the night without being eaten by a bear.
It was a bit chilly though, only 5 degrees this morning when I got up.
Glad that I now have a car that can tell me things.
I was on the road not much after 7am, adding an bit more mud and dust to the Murano.
Had a good drive for the 130ish km to Glacier national park.
The Montana country side is a pleasure to drive through, even the open country side and farmland which there is pleanty of (there is a reason why they call this the big sky country) is varied and interesting with its rolling hills and colours.
I topped up with gas well before the national Park as I have found that the gas right near them is often at least 30c per gallon more expensive than the rest of the state.
So far even with the little I have seen Montana is my favorite state, it is also in many respects the most similar to New Zealand.
And Glacier NP even though I have only seen part of it so far is a gem.
From what I have seen of it so far, in retrospect I
Out in the plains
Which aren't at all plain. wouldn't have bothered with Grand Teton or Yellowstone.
Glacier has everything that they have except the geysers, and it is better.
It's got the mountains the wildlife and best of all it dosn't have as many tourists.
It is still busy, but not over crowded and bursting at the seams as the others are.
Just too far for them to come?
There is room to move, the roads aren't jammed and you can always find somewhere to park.
last nights camp was in the same mountain range and was very nice, so it was with anticipation that I drove north with them off to my left.
I could see them getting bigger with ever growing patches of snow.
To this sight I though that some music would be good, so as my ipod was running flat I turned on the radio.
First station "and again god said.........." , crap try another one "lets pray for..............." ahhhhhh, and third time lucky and the only other station that I could get out here, a station that plays music, both kinds, Country AND Western.
So after about 4 woe is me cowboy tracks, in a fit of depression I turned it of.
I
Momma and bubba Yogi
Road rules by Grizzly finally entered the park from the southwest just after seeing a herd of bison in a paddock, I handed over more $$ to uncle sam and made my way to the first stop of todays trip.
Running eagle falls near two medicine lakes.
I went into the forest for the short walk to the falls with intrepidation as I had been fiddling with my schedule and was going to spend 2 nights at the park and was going to do some tramping on the day inbetween.
But reading an info booklet on the park the day before I discovered that the National Park service actively discourage people from tramping alone in the park, apparently this has something to do with the 1000 odd grizzly and black bears, unknowen number of mountain lions (lots) and an assortment of wolves.
So instead I am spending one night and part of 2 days in the park and seeing what I can without being eaten.
Anyway I survived my walk to the falls which were great and worth the risk to my life, had a nosey at the lake at the end of the road.
I then headed back up the road so I
The Mountains of Galcier
And lots more where these came from could go and see the rest of that park.
When it then happened.
Before I could get back to the main road I saw a Grizzly bear on the other side of the road, so of course I did the only natural thing and stopped opposite it about 10 meters away for the photo shoot.
Only reaction I got from the bear (not that I was after one) was a sideways glance, just before first one then another bear cub appeared.
For a bit it was just me and the bears until the next car appeared.
After a couple of minutes the bears decided to move on and so did I.
Only 997 to go.
I set up camp at the rising sun camp ground on the main road across the park and went off for a bit more sight seeing.
Of which there is pleanty.
I went as far as the summit of the road on the contential divide and did one of the walks there as a lot of people do it and it is in open country.
This is to Hidden lake.
Even though it is mid summer here much of the walk is still covered in
Hidden lake
Not so hidden any more. snow but the temperatures are pleasant in the low 20's (Celcius) and the sun was out.
Just to think that a few days ago I was frying in the dust of the deserts.
I was keeping myself amused watching other people on the walk and how unprepared they were even for something as easy as this.
Many of them were in sneekers and even jandals in the snow sliding all over that place.
Not the slightest idear.
At the top the views are awesome over some spectacular mountains, and hidden lake which is way down below is partially surrounded by trees and partly frozen over.
Well worth the small effort.
Actually just watching the tourists struggling over the snow was worth it.
By that time the day was getting on so it was back to the tent.
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