Water, Water Everywhere, Frozen & Thawed

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Our morning started with a jolt with word from our son, Michael, that his house burned this morning. Thank God and smoke detectors they all got out safely. The house is a total loss, but no one was hurt. Praise God!

We left the campground at 8am for Glacier National Park's western entrance. We stopped first at the visitor center, then got on Going-To-The-Sun Road. Our first stop was along McDonald Lake, which was very still in the remains of the early fog. Then on to McDonald Creek with its waterfalls, rapids and pale green color.

We then started the climb to Logan Pass, the road narrow and winding, but so beautiful. The views of the valley below and the mountains above are breathtaking. And there are waterfalls everywhere in all sizes; long, narrow ones, wide ones, waterfalls under snowbanks, even waterfalls twisting through avalanche debris.

The glaciers in the park are rapidly disappearing, down to twenty-some, and expected to be all gone by 2030. What a shame.

The closer we got to Logan Pass and the Continental Divide, the deeper the snow on the sides of the road. At the visitor center at Logan Pass the snow was 8' deep or more in the uncleared areas. Along the road, it was even deeper.

We drove as far as Jackson Glacier overlook, then turned around and retraced our path. There was road construction in several places with 5-10 minute delays due to having only one lane of traffic, but the scenery was great, so we didn't mind the wait. We saw several mule deer and lots of Columbian Ground Squirrels, but no other wildlife. The rain started on the way back around McDonald Lake, which helped cool things down some. It's been a surprisingly hot day, even at altitude.

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Photos

McDonald Lake
in the morning stillness

McDonald Creek
one of many waterfalls along the creek

waterfall
running under the road

Weeping Wall
nature's car wash

snow bridge
creek under snow bank

Bird Woman Falls
falling from a hanging valley

snow along side of road
near Logan Pass, you can see it's pretty deep

Charlie and Gena
at visitor center at Logan Pass (we're in the middle of the picture)

At Logan Pass VC
we left our mark in the snow

Columbian Ground Squirrel
they were everywhere with burrows under the snow banks

Comments

[mary saylor]

so sorry to hear
Charlie and Kerry, We are so unhappy about the news about the fire! What an awful thing! Do you have a cell number for Michael? Skip wanted to give him a call but we don't have that information. Is there anything we can do to help? Mary

[big sis]

Sorry to hear about Michael's house. THANK GOD THEY ARE ALL SAFE. Absolutely gorgeous photos, Charlie!!