This trip to Glacier was different than my past visits. This
was Glacier on my own terms. My brother and his girlfriend accompanied me, but
were gracious enough to allow me to do my own thing. I covered nearly 60 miles in five days, on my own. It was
the best experience I've had in the park so far. I brought a few things with me
that I needed to leave there and along the way, I gained more than expected.
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he
seeks.”
- John Muir
Totals
Five Waterfalls: Ptarmigan, Apikuni, Baring, St Mary's,
Virginia
Five Lakes: Grinnell, Ptarmigan, Iceberg, Avalanche, Hidden
Six Glaciers: Jackson, Grinnell, Salamander, Old Sun,
Sexton, Siyeh
Six Wild Huckleberry Wheat Lagers
Nine Double Decker Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches
Three Grizzly Bears, Four Mountain Goats, Two Moose, One
Rainbow and several Marmots, Chipmunks and Ground Squirrels.
On Thursday night we were heading into the Many Glacier
section of the park and came across several cars, stopped by the side of the
road. Everyone was staring into the field at a grizzly sow and her cub. We
stood there for several minutes, watching as they made their way across the
field, into a wooded area until they were no longer visible. When they were gone from sight, the crowd dispersed and headed back to their vehicles. I watched as they drove off. Several were in large, gas guzzling vehicles, towing
campers with propane tanks and cases of bottled water attached to a cargo tray.
It seemed a bit ironic. I wondered if any of these people had watched “Tapped” or “An Inconvenient Truth.” I wondered if any of these people would
return to the comforts of their home changed by their Glacier experience as
much as I have been.
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