Avalanche hike concluded

The mountains make their own weather and no sooner was lunch finished than the clouds closed in and the rain commenced.

Frog Togs got a real workout, and they were worth every dollar! As was waterproof hiking boots and a good hat. Great hike.

Our favorite hike- Avalanche Lake

Not a hard one, but enough of a challenge and a great view of a creek, lake and valley.

On the trail we met a seasonal ranger, Doug Follett, who has been doing this for 51 years! Note the Frog Togs, this was the first of three rains in the five hours we were on the trail!

We arrived at the valley and lake to see no less than five waterfalls and blue sky and bright sun - a great lunch site.

Maiden Voyage on Lake McDonald

Instead of hauling our kayaks all over the country we bought an inflatable Sea Eagle 370 and this was the first time it got wet!

It handled well and we took several trips, on one we saw a parent eagle - we had seen the nest and young from shore.

Glacier NP Camp Life

We had a great campsite so we had to show off a little Texas and the USofA.

Joe and I looked at where he was moving camp to the east side of the park and we when we might me up again.

Ava has planned and cooked great meals for us - even baking a pineapple uside down cake.

Majestic Grandeur

Becky, you needed some pictures showing glaciation and its dramatic effects.

As you can imagine, this park is full of glaciers -much reduced - and is so impressive because of their action.

Going To the Sun, part deux

This is some of that construction, one thing I didn't mention earlier - if you look at that picture of Ava, you'll see two faint lines on the mountains behind her, even with her head, that's our road.

Amazing how it can be hot and there is still snow all around!

Snow covered up the hike to Hidden Lake so Ava and I had lunch and then I took a snow hike until my boots and socks were totally wet and the hike was over!

THE road in Glacier NP (part 1) everyone takes

In some parks you must be content to see the mountains from a distance but here the road goes right up into what the Blackfeet Indians called the "backbone of the world". An amazing construction job -both to build and to maintain/rebuild from every winter's damage.

Going West to East meant the passenger had all the great lookdown views which Ava loved (not:); she just kept saying to me: "left eye one the yellow line, right eye on the white". At least where there was sort of a rail and a pullout we got out to be wowed. You can see which way my sweetie is leaning!

You climb and climb and all the while the mountains, glacier-fed waterfalls and deep valleys make you want to just stop and look.

Near the pass we ran into this year's construction and had to wait since they were rebuilding half the road that winter had pushed down the mountain. You'll notice this track is two-way and that red, long wagon is the signature Glacier carriages they still run for tourists. We were told the wait would not be too long, they were scheduled to be through with this job in 2012!

Glacier NP - Apgar Campground

After a beautiful drive from Missoula we arrived at the west entrance to Glacier, and were treated to a great campfire program by a Blackfoot Indian singer/songwriter/storyteller/and self-proclaimed 'social anthropologist' - who, as you might imagine, had his own ideas about who was here first and best. The amphitheater backs up to lovely Lake McDonald.

This campground provided spacious rv sites in the deep woods and we love it.

In every direction we see mountains, trees and waterfalls (and, generally, snow).