It was a year ago this month that I received an invitation from my daughter to meet her and her family in Montana for a week of camping and hiking in Glacier National Park. With little more encouragement necessary, I bought a flight into Bozeman where Kelsey, Josh and my two grandchildren picked me up. In short order we had all the camping gear and the five of us loaded into the Subaru Forester and to the mountains we headed.
Upon arrival in Glacier we immediately established camp and set out on the first of several planned hikes, the Avalanche Lake Trail which is a 4.5-mile round trip trek through old-growth forests and along Avalanche Creek. At the trail’s end, we found the stunning Avalanche Lake, surrounded by soaring cliffs and waterfalls. We loved this trail so much that we hiked it daily and did some Alpine swimming!
Also on the hiking itinerary was the Grinnell Glacier Trail which is an 8-mile round trip hike that takes you through verdant meadows, alongside turquoise-hued lakes, and up to Upper Grinnell Lake, where you’ll witness the magnificent Grinnell Glacier. The sight of the glacier’s icy blue expanse left us in awe. On this hike, we loved learning about glaciation, erosion, and glacial flour – also known as the reason the lake is that gorgeous turquoise blue color! While Kelsey and Josh took the “high” trail, the kids and I took the lower trail along Grinnell Lake, where we had our first wildlife encounter, a cow moose grazing along the lake.
The following morning, with wildlife sightings on our mind, “Little Big Guy”, aka Theo, and I strategized over coffee on how best to get on a Grizzly. After all, he has put me on several good bears during our numerous camping trips. So off to the Going-To-The-Sun Road we go in the capable hands of our F1 driver (in training) we go. Along the way, my number one wildlife spotter, Addie, locates a mountain goat that needed to be photographed. We were able to capture a couple of images before he disappeared down the mountain.
That evening as we were leaving the north unit of Glacier, “Little Big Guy’s” plan came together. We spotted a male Grizzly feeding on Huckleberries in good light and at a distance that was safe and provided for some reasonable photographs.
The trip continues to Yellowstone and Tetons next month…