Into Bear Country

We were so excited to see the East side of Glacier Park so we set off early on the 90-mile drive. After 30 miles it started raining. After 50 miles it started snowing. And then after 60 miles there was about two inches of snow on the road. We turned around.

We went back to the West side of the park and decided to hike in on the Going to the Sun Road which was closed to vehicles. As soon as we started walking I realized that Vivian was afraid of bears leaping out and attacking us. I was a little apprehensive about this too but I had it figured this way. There are 200 grizzly bears in the park. The park is humungus. The chances of even seeing a grizz are slim to none. The chances of getting attacked are much less.

But still, the human mind dwells on these things since we always see ourselves as the center of the universe. But Vivian was a very good sport about walk on, deeper into bear country. Our destination was 7 miles down the road where we thought we could get a better view of the park. However, it was about 43 degrees with a 25 mph wind and gusty snow.

After about 3 miles we came around a corner and an amazing view opened up. The clouds were still too low to let us see the mountaintops but this increased the effect. Our eyes searched for the tops of the mountains while our imaginations thought it might reach to the sky. While clouds swirled around the peaks the flanks of the mountains were scored with horizontal lines, presumably from glaciers. An "exhibit" (parks department jargon for a sign) told us that grizzlies were often spotted on the slopes eating huckleberries. This didn't help Vivian's mood. Neither did a dead crow in the road which had been ripped open and partially eaten by something with big teeth.

So here we were walking on a road but there was no traffic and no one else anywhere near us. It was pleasant in a way but Vivian really was nervous. Two bicyclists passed us and that helped her mood for a few minutes. But because of the snow and wind we turned around after about three miles and headed down.

We ate our lunch in the car overlooking Lake MacDonalds' whitecaps. Then we drove to Kalispell where we found this internet cafe, the Colter Coffee Roasting Company, with free wireless. The coffee is soooo gooooood.