{"id":2894,"date":"2014-07-12T10:03:30","date_gmt":"2014-07-12T15:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/?p=2894"},"modified":"2014-07-12T10:03:30","modified_gmt":"2014-07-12T15:03:30","slug":"big-sky-vacation-day-8-walk-on-the-wildside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/?p=2894","title":{"rendered":"Big Sky Vacation Day 8: Walk on the wildside"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today\u2019s adventure was going to be Many Glacier area of the park.\u00a0 We had breakfast and headed up my favorite road to just north of St. Mary\u2019s.\u00a0 Many Glacier contains some of the last remaining glaciers in the park.\u00a0 There are three or four good glaciers still there.\u00a0 With the past winter just being over by a few days, the glacier viewing was going to be spectacular.<\/p>\n

We drove through the town of Babb and we had to recount the story of the little restaurant there where we had breakfast on our first visit in 2003.\u00a0 The restaurant was owned and run by a group of college kids who used as their way to make money.\u00a0 Their spare time was spent hiking and hanging out in Glacier National Park.\u00a0 Seemed like a fair trade.\u00a0 The food was wonderful.\u00a0 It was the first time I had heard about a hurricane party.\u00a0 They explained it to us during our visit with them.<\/p>\n

We arrived at Many Glacier Lodge and parked in the visitor parking.\u00a0 From here, you have to walk over a small rise that tested the strength of your calves coming and going.\u00a0 This lodge was built in early 1900s by the railroad to promote sightseeing in the U.S.\u00a0 It is a wonderful use of local materials and makes a wonderful backdrop for our visit.<\/p>\n

We went inside and looked around a bit.\u00a0 Then it was on to the boat dock to check out the times for the boat rides across the lakes.\u00a0 We arrived too late for the 11:00, but there were openings for the 1:00.\u00a0 We paid for our tickets and worked on what to do with the hour and an half until it left the dock.<\/p>\n

Zerah and Sean took the boys to the nearby ranger station to complete Zane\u2019s induction as a Junior Ranger.\u00a0 This meant that he had to turn in his completed manual and take his oath as a ranger.\u00a0 We arranged to meet them in the parking lot at 12:30 for lunch before the boat and hiking.<\/p>\n

Zane looked really spiffy wit that new badge pinned to his chest.\u00a0 He was so excited about having said his oath and finalizing his rangership.\u00a0 He also got a stuffed bear for his visit.\u00a0 He named it Stevie, after his cousin.<\/p>\n

After lunch, we walked back over the rise, with aching calves, and meet up at the boat dock.\u00a0 It was getting close to time and we could see the boat returning from across the water on the other side of Swiftcurrent Lake.\u00a0 It arrived on time and disembarked the passengers.\u00a0 Then it was our turn to board Chief Two Guns, as the boat was named.\u00a0 Zerah couldn\u2019t find her ticket for boarding.\u00a0 A quick check at the office and the clerk assured us the family would have no trouble getting on board.\u00a0 And they didn\u2019t.\u00a0 We settled in for the ride across the lake and to Lake Josephine.<\/p>\n

As the boat is travelling up the lake, the captain gives a tour and describes what you are looking or should be looking at in the mountains, falls, and other features in Swiftcurrent Lake.\u00a0 For one thing, the water is a beautiful turquoise green.\u00a0 This color comes from the minerals running from the glaciers up above.\u00a0 It is one of the most beautiful colors.<\/p>\n

After getting safely to the other side, we walked up a really steep hill to get to the other lake and board the Morning Star in Lake Josephine.\u00a0 We travel the length of Lake Josephine to our destination on the other side.\u00a0 The captain, who is a young lady named Jenny, tells us about the mountains around us on this lake.\u00a0 She explains about the berries getting ready to ripen and the bears that could be about.\u00a0 Someone calls out that they see a bear and the boat stops. It was a false alarm.\u00a0 No bear sighted.<\/p>\n

We reach the dock and disembark for our hike to Lake Grinnell at the end of the valley.\u00a0 The walk is pretty level and there are lots of people.\u00a0 We get to the split for our trail and the Grinnell Trail.\u00a0 Everyone is gathered around.\u00a0 An older gentleman explains that a bear just crossed the path a little further down.\u00a0 It was a sow with two cubs.\u00a0 Sorry, I\u2019ve seen bears.\u00a0 I find it best to avoid them.<\/p>\n

We continue down our path because the bear has already crossed it and is headed in the other direction from us.\u00a0 We are marching along at a pretty good clip.\u00a0 My legs are getting tired.\u00a0 Zane is keeping up with the guys at this point.\u00a0 They have designated him as bear bait when he tries to get ahead of everyone.<\/p>\n

We stop at the pit toilets before going on.\u00a0 When I come out, Zerah and her crew has moved on.\u00a0 Only Rich, Alex, and Joe are waiting.\u00a0 We continue the enforced march.\u00a0 We get to the suspension bridge over the river.\u00a0 When we had done this hike back in 2008, the bridge was basically a log with ropes suspending it over the river.\u00a0 This version was actually planks that gave you some width.<\/p>\n

Rich went across first with success.\u00a0 Alex went next and almost ran across.\u00a0 This wasn\u2019t good for stability and I thought for sure he was going into the river.\u00a0 Joe went next and took measured steps without rushing.\u00a0 He did very well.\u00a0 Then it was my turn.\u00a0 I attempted to follow Joe\u2019s example, but had some trouble toward the end.\u00a0 I did make it across without getting wet though.<\/p>\n

We continued on to the lake.\u00a0 At the shore, you could look up at the Feather Plume Falls and granite of the mountains surrounding you.\u00a0 It was very beautiful and solemn.\u00a0 Or it would have been if the kids, including Sean and Joe, were skipping rocks and enjoying the water.\u00a0 What is it with boys and water?<\/p>\n

Rich wanted to go to another beach a little further up.\u00a0 This meant walking over some logs lying across the muddy expanse of a small stream.\u00a0 The guys did pretty well.\u00a0 Then it was my turn.\u00a0 I managed to get across with help from Alex.\u00a0 I had to give Rich a hard time that my brother-in-law helped me over the rough spots.\u00a0 Rich did help get back over.<\/p>\n

Then it was time to head back and try to catch the next boat out of here.\u00a0 We had just missed the next boat and had a 30 minute walk back to the dock.\u00a0 I got started since I figured it would take me a while.\u00a0 Rich came along.\u00a0 He was still sore from yesterday and wanted the extra time also.\u00a0 We took some time to get pictures at the bridge and noticed a waterfall we hadn\u2019t seen on the way out.<\/p>\n

We arrived at the dock with only a few people there.\u00a0 Soon, the crowd begins to grow and people were circulating around the dock in no order.\u00a0 Our arrival for third in line soon became like fifth or so.\u00a0 No worries though.\u00a0 There was plenty of room on the next boat.<\/p>\n

As we stood around and waiting, people were talking about their experiences on this side of the lake.\u00a0 One couple had seen a moose on their hike.\u00a0 They had gone in a different direction that most of us.\u00a0 A couple of people were talking about the bear and her cubs.\u00a0 There were different reports on what had actually happened.<\/p>\n

The Morning Star returned and Jenny got us on board.\u00a0 The trip back to the other shore was pretty quick, with no other bear sightings.\u00a0 From there, it was another hike up the 80 foot hill to get back to Swiftcurrent Lake and the Chief Two Gun to take us to the lodge.\u00a0 The views were beautiful and we were tired.<\/p>\n

The return trip back to the house was uneventful.\u00a0 The tired and dirty hikers gather our stuff and got into the house to collapse.\u00a0 I started dinner so no one would starve.\u00a0 It\u2019s amazing how good any food tastes when you\u2019ve been out in the wilderness all day.<\/p>\n

I took a shower after dinner to find that the water was getting steadily colder.\u00a0 Darn!\u00a0 I really needed that hot shower.\u00a0 After getting dressed, I went out to find our landlady to see if someone could check the hot water heater.\u00a0 Sure enough, it had blown a fuse.\u00a0 At least the others would have hot water though.<\/p>\n

After that, we sat around the living room talking and just enjoying the company of Zureks.\u00a0 Finally, it was time for bed.\u00a0 But first, I had to write this blog before I forgot anything!<\/p>\n

Tomorrow, Alex and Joe leave us to return to Seattle for a couple of days before flying home to Michigan.\u00a0 Zerah and her family will be with us for another day before they return to Tacoma.\u00a0 Then it\u2019s just Rich and I in this house.\u00a0 Wonder what fun we can have?\u00a0 More hikes, I\u2019m sure.<\/p>\n

\"Many<\/a>
Many Glacier Lodge from the visitor’s parking lot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Back<\/a>
Back of Many Glacier Lodge overlooking the lake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Different<\/a>
Different levels inside of Many Glacier Lodge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Inside<\/a>
Inside the lobby area of the lodge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Inside<\/a>
Inside the lobby of Many Glacier Lodge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Plaque<\/a>
Plaque for Swiftcurrent Lake and the mountains.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Zane<\/a>
Zane got his Junior Ranger badge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking down Swiftcurrent Lake toward the glaciers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Mount<\/a>
Mount Grinnell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Alex<\/a>
Alex crossing the suspension bridge on Grinnell Lake trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Rich<\/a>
Rich crossing the bridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Joe<\/a>
Joe crossing the suspension bridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Owen<\/a>
Owen takes the easy way out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Angle<\/a>
Angle Wing and Mt Gould<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Zerah<\/a>
Zerah watching over Owen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Boys,<\/a>
Boys, water, and rocks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Rich<\/a>
Rich and Joy at Grinnell Lake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Zureks<\/a>
Zureks on the beach at Grinnell Lake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Boardwalk<\/a>
Boardwalk for trail over the smaller streams.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Our<\/a>
Our ship has arrived at Lake Josephine dock.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Zane<\/a>
Zane looking out the window of Chief Two Gun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Today\u2019s adventure was going to be Many Glacier area of the park.\u00a0 We had breakfast and headed up my favorite road to just north of St. Mary\u2019s.\u00a0 Many Glacier contains some of the last remaining glaciers in the park.\u00a0 There are three or four good glaciers still there.\u00a0 With the past winter just being over […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2894"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2894"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2894\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2929,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2894\/revisions\/2929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}