The weather forecast for today proofed to be right: SUN, Blue sky and temperatures in the upper 70th.
But let me start at the beginning.
As I wanted to be before the crowds in the park I had set yesterday evening my alarm for 6:00 am.
Having showered and got my things together I left for the Park, a 35 m long drive. In West Glacier, the
entry point to the park, I had a nice breakfast and then I was off.
At the ranger station I paid my dues ( $ 25 for a 7-day entry ticket ) and drove to the Visitors Centre where
I learned that the park service is offering a free hop-on-hop-on shuttle bus service through the park to Logan
Pass. Perfect !
Somebody is driving, you can look out of the window and enjoy the scenery.
Being lucky there was a bus about the leave, I hopped on and of we went.
The first part along Lake McDonald was by a big coach and we had to change at Avalanche Creek into a
much smaller, 10-seater bus, as the rest of the tour is via a narrow road all the way up to Logan Pass.
A stunning ride with views which are simply spectacular but at times also sad as the scars of the August 2003
forest fires can still be seen. Even these days there are forest fires but fortunately on the eastern side.
The Ranger on our bus explained that until a few days ago one couldn’t see the top of the mountains.
Why ? Smoke. At one point a little village on the eastern side, Saint Mary, had to be evacuated.
Having reached the Logan Pass I had to get off the bus. Logan Pass, 2025 m high, is also the continental divide.
The visitors centre is displaying two flags: the US and the Canadian one as the northern part of the park is
already in Canada.
I explored the pass summit via a little hiking trail to get some impressions and enjoy the stunning scenery.
Despite the fact that the school holidays are already over in the US quite a few people did exactly why I did:
Wow's and Ahh's when looking around !
Having spend more then an hour I made my way back the bus stop. The friendly driver, all the Park Rangers
are friendly, explained on our way back that during the winter month ( starting at around the end of October )
all the security features of the road are been dismantled and the road closed. Snow up-to an hight between
80 - 200 inch make the road not passable, not to mention the various avalanches.
This year the road was opened just in time for Independence Day ( July 4th ).
On my way down I stopped at the McDonald Lodge to visit this fantastic wooden mountain lodge directly situated
at the lake. The main entrance is on the lake side because the road was build years later and initially all guest
arrived by boat. The view of the lodge’s rooms is stunning: the lake in the front and as the back drop the mountains.
“A Room with a View” !
Another stop was at Apgar Village at the end of the lake which used to have until 1958 it’s own school house, now
a gift shop. The old school bell is still in front of the entrance.
A last little walk the lake’s beach to enjoy the lake in sun and the mountains in the back and the next bus
drove to the information centre where my car was waiting.
A fantastic day !
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