Thursday, July 7, 2011

Days 7 & 8

            Day 7
This morning we awoke at a decent hour and ate a hardy breakfast thanks to our complimentary continental breakfast (delicious pastries, hash browns, jellied toast, and all the milk one could want for me!). We then set out on a 3 hour drive to Glacier National Park.
            When we arrived in Glacier, we quickly tried to obtain a room with a view of Lake Swiftcurrent, but to no avail. The only room of our reservation caliber was one with a road/mountain view (which was completely predictable). We then explored the premises until our room was available, seeing a moose calf across the lake (from the deck) and a gang of immature Bighorn Sheep coming down the road to the lake. When our room was ready we climbed the grueling set of stairs to the 4th floor with our luggage. The rest of the day was spent simply scanning over the park and driving what we could of the Going to the Sun Road (we even walked an additional 4 miles to see more <Kendal did not come>). For dinner we went to a local restaurant called ‘Two Sisters’, and I got my first buffalo burger (Dad did too)!
            In the evening we attended a ranger talk about wolverines in the park. It was epic!
Drive to Glacier

First blue lake

View from hotel

Tub of nobility

Gang of sheep

Mom's Moonlight Pic
           

            Day 8
            Today was quite the day! We arose at a decent hour and had to relocate our room due to both want and need (our ancient clawfoot tub/shower was leaking! Also, you feel like some noble 19th century dude when you’re in those things! …At least I do…). We then left the lodge and headed out on our monumental 10 mile hike to see Iceberg Lake. The walk was very beautiful as the path followed the edges of the mountains along the valley.  We had to cross several avalanche paths (I slipped and fell at least 6 times on the snow, to the great amusement of everybody…) I also developed a new quotey thing: ~Glaciers are God’s whetstones~ After viewing the lake (of which over half was frozen; we drank the waters [out of our filter] by the way! ~Water of the Ancients~) and and saw 2 mountain goats at the edge of the snow line (and they didn't fall like me).  Hiking back, we dragged our sore bodies into our new lodging (we have a lakeside view now!). For dinner we went to an Italian restaurant in the park (I got a flank steak, which was kind of gross because it was sweet…).
 Now we are sitting in an area with service so that we can post the blog. As noted yesterday, I will try to keep up the blog whenever possible.  Oh! And we are about to get broadsided by a massive storm front that is supposed to pack 65mph winds for the next day or so.
~Logan
Our room in left of pic

Avalanche crossing

Lower iceberg lake

Upper iceberg lake (still frozen)

Hike back


Bear grass

Front of hotel