Glacier National Park - a beautiful place, in Montana just up against the Canadian border. And a must-see, since the glaciers have been disappearing for the last several decades; theyy figure they'll be all gone by 2026 or thereabout.
One of the must-dos is to see exotic wildlife. After looking all over for bears, guess where we find them?
These mountain goats appeared about 100 yards along the trail gfrom the visitors' center - remarkable, since they are said to prefer cliffs that jut up at about 80 degrees. If the cliffs were only 70 degrees the wolves could climb them too.
One of the must-dos is to see exotic wildlife. After looking all over for bears, guess where we find them?These mountain goats appeared about 100 yards along the trail gfrom the visitors' center - remarkable, since they are said to prefer cliffs that jut up at about 80 degrees. If the cliffs were only 70 degrees the wolves could climb them too.Junior following right along.
The only other time we saw mountain goats - those two little white specks.
The most common form of wildlife that we saw - not a Kaibab or chipmunk or something western and exotic, but the plain old Gray Squirrel just like in our yard back home.
You can still see glaciers,
But the only glacier you can still get close to without a big hike is up the Hidden Lake Trail to Jackson Glacier.e Hidden Lake Trail to Jackson Glacier.
And up, and up...
And up
...to the flat place where the glacier used to be. This is a natural formation, not a paved patio...
This, 30 years ago, was completely a glacier,
but now all that's left is a bit of snow on the far side, and a small lake full of ice.
One of the bonuses at National Parks is the rangers. This guy is a retired geology teacher in Seattle Public Schools, who's been spending every summer here for ab out 30 years. He knew everthing I could think of to ask him.
At one of the camgrounds, the Alphorn Trio has been playing a couple of times a week. Gorgeous place for an outdoor concert. You play an Alphorn much like a valveless French Horn; they are a bit harder to play, but nice and loud for carrying over the mountains.
Our rig, at a local campground. The bear is made of small metal plates; very lifelike.
Next, we left Glacier, past this mesa ,which is sacred to the Indians,
Climbing up to view the overlook, we came across this Canadian playing his bagpipes, looking over the vista above. Seemed just like out of Brigadoon.
The Prince of Wales Hotel
High tea at the Prince of Wales. Prince Albert China.
I remarked to the people at the campsite next to us that "We went over to the Prince of Wales Hotel, but the Prince wasn't there." He came back with "Good job, too! He was a right rotter. He went off and married an American woman!" This was The Duke of Windsor, of course, who abdicated the Throne when they wouldn't let him marry Wallace Warfield Simpson, who was [gasp shudder] divorced, as well as being a commoner and an American.
Fire hydrants...
And up, and up...
And up
To the first of three hidden (from the bottom) lakes... 
You can see, where the sky isn't reflected off the water, that the lake is actually milky white, due to all the rock dust ground off the rock by the water.
You can see, where the sky isn't reflected off the water, that the lake is actually milky white, due to all the rock dust ground off the rock by the water....to the flat place where the glacier used to be. This is a natural formation, not a paved patio...
This, 30 years ago, was completely a glacier,
but now all that's left is a bit of snow on the far side, and a small lake full of ice.
One of the bonuses at National Parks is the rangers. This guy is a retired geology teacher in Seattle Public Schools, who's been spending every summer here for ab out 30 years. He knew everthing I could think of to ask him.At one of the camgrounds, the Alphorn Trio has been playing a couple of times a week. Gorgeous place for an outdoor concert. You play an Alphorn much like a valveless French Horn; they are a bit harder to play, but nice and loud for carrying over the mountains.
Our rig, at a local campground. The bear is made of small metal plates; very lifelike.
Next, we left Glacier, past this mesa ,which is sacred to the Indians,
To Canada and the Waterton Glaciers National Park. It adjoins Glacier, and collectively they are called the International Peace Park. Canada and the US have been at peace so long it hardly seems necessary to make a special deal of it; but its a nice thing anyway. For one thing, it's easier for US and Canadian park people to coordinate wildlife and conservation issues.
Note the hotel, on the headland in the lower center.
Climbing up to view the overlook, we came across this Canadian playing his bagpipes, looking over the vista above. Seemed just like out of Brigadoon.
The Prince of Wales HotelHigh tea at the Prince of Wales. Prince Albert China.
I remarked to the people at the campsite next to us that "We went over to the Prince of Wales Hotel, but the Prince wasn't there." He came back with "Good job, too! He was a right rotter. He went off and married an American woman!" This was The Duke of Windsor, of course, who abdicated the Throne when they wouldn't let him marry Wallace Warfield Simpson, who was [gasp shudder] divorced, as well as being a commoner and an American.Fire hydrants...
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