numero tres

Breathtaking! But enough about the altitude…
Glacier National Park is just about the most visually spectacular place I’ve ever been. Waterfalls. Glaciers. Jagged peaks. Alpine lakes with icebergs. Pristine meadows. And did I mention the waterfalls?
In addition to all of that, there is an abundance of very accessible wildlife. Just the first day, I was within a few feet of marmots, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, coyotes, and blacktail deer. Hiking downhill to Hidden Lake, I encountered a mother mountain goat and her kid coming up the trail towards me. I stepped aside and they passed within arm’s length. (And did I think to turn my camera on video mode? Noooo…) Four bighorn sheep crossed the trail just a few feet from me, although they obviously didn’t want to be near me. The trail I took yesterday, Grinnell Glacier, had been closed for grizzly activity – I took the hike the second day it was re-opened. And sure enough, I encountered a mama and cub (which I was alerted to by some people on a boat near the trail – “hey, there are two grizzlies just ahead of you!”). They were about 150 feet away which was fine with me – but when I returned 3 hours later, they were just 50 feet from me, so I got some good photos (I hope) while I was talking nicely to them.
Had a black bear near my campsite this morning as I was breaking camp, and then saw three black bear cubs snoozing at the edge of a forest next to the road. Didn’t see any moose, which was my only disappointment.
I took three hikes: 7 miles (1400 ft gain) the day I drove in, and 12 miles (1600’) the next day, topped off by a 19-miler today (2700’ gain). The panoramic views are beyond words – the trail goes up very quickly in the first 6 miles and then you walk 4 miles along a ridgetop which is the continental divide. All around is just incredible geographic features – I’m sure the photos I took won’t do it justice. (I met another guy on the trail and he took some panoramic photos, which I’m hoping he’ll send me in email.)
I also drove into Canada (Alberta) after my second-day hike, just to see the farm country. Both Montana and Alberta are very agriculture-oriented – lot of wheat and cattle. Very pretty. I’m not sure what they do during the “8 months of winter”, though.
I’ve met some interesting people. Spent at least 2 hours in camp last night talking with an Economics professor from Durango, Colorado, who’d quit teaching for 5 years to bum around the US and Europe. He’d been to many of the places I want to go, so I got some good advice.
Lots of funny place names and business names – 9pipe, hungry horse, 2-dog flat, and my favorite, 3-dog down (a business selling very warm duck down – I guess it keeps you as warm as a 3-dog night).
I’m currently in Helena, the state capital of Montana, and will head into Yellowstone tomorrow. I’ll plan to spend two days there and hope the experiences are just as good.
Have a great day, everyone!