My OperaSure beats workin' for a livin'
Thursday, June 22, 2006 5:18:46 PM
In and Around Glacier National Park
Miles: 79 driven, 10+ walked
MPG: 50.6
The first day in a while without some serious driving was a blast. We left the camp ground and headed up to the Many Glaciers area, and decided to skip the horses and take a hike instead. On the way out, we checked the bear warning signs for what to do in case we ran into one. They were not much help, (nothing was posted below).
The 5 mile hike became a 9.8 mile hike when we got to a fork in the road and, in Yogi Bera’s words, took it.
After traversing several snow covered patches we eventually ended up at Iceberg Lake. The pictures don’t do it justice (Jon was off his game today), but it was beautiful.
After 3 or 4 Triscuits each (the 5 mile plan did not include carrying lunch, though the 9.8 needed it), we started back down. Half a mile later we were told that the trail was closed because of a couple of grizzly bears had decided that it was the perfect spot for an afternoon snack. We were just about hungry enough to take our chances with getting mauled on the trail when the ranger announced, “There he is!”
“The grizzly?” another hiker asked nervously. We all took a few steps back and braced ourselves for the inevitable attack…
…or maybe not. The “grizzly” turned out to be Ranger Bob, coming to tell us that he had just walked by the bears mid-munch, and that if we wanted to, he would escort us past the “dangerous stretch” (though Jon was unconvinced that Ranger Bob and his pepper spray would prove useful in the case of an actual attack). Jon jumped at the chance to see a real, live grizzly up close and Jessica went along with markedly less enthusiasm. To Jon’s disappointment and Jessica’s delight, by the time we passed the bears had moved off the trail and down the mountain and could not have been less interested in all if us.
After the hike and a great lunch by the lake, we stopped in town for a quick coffee and a chance to post yesterday’s blog. While doing so, Jon overheard some girls at the net café speaking in a strange yet vaguely familiar language. “Hey, wait,” he said. “You’re speaking Slovak!” They were shocked to say the least. Turns out the three of them (two from Bratislava and one from Kosice) were working in the park for the summer. Their US work options for the summer were Glacier or Jersey. We think that they chose well.
Finally it was back to the campsite for a gourmet meal of Riesling and Mac ‘n Cheese for Jessica (bringing back fond memories of camping with her Dad as a kid) and Montana beer and a “beef pastee” for Jon. Not much to do for the rest of the evening but enjoy the view (which does not include each other – 3 days and counting with no shower and we are not looking or smelling all too pretty…)
Miles: 79 driven, 10+ walked
MPG: 50.6
The first day in a while without some serious driving was a blast. We left the camp ground and headed up to the Many Glaciers area, and decided to skip the horses and take a hike instead. On the way out, we checked the bear warning signs for what to do in case we ran into one. They were not much help, (nothing was posted below).
The 5 mile hike became a 9.8 mile hike when we got to a fork in the road and, in Yogi Bera’s words, took it.
After traversing several snow covered patches we eventually ended up at Iceberg Lake. The pictures don’t do it justice (Jon was off his game today), but it was beautiful.
After 3 or 4 Triscuits each (the 5 mile plan did not include carrying lunch, though the 9.8 needed it), we started back down. Half a mile later we were told that the trail was closed because of a couple of grizzly bears had decided that it was the perfect spot for an afternoon snack. We were just about hungry enough to take our chances with getting mauled on the trail when the ranger announced, “There he is!”
“The grizzly?” another hiker asked nervously. We all took a few steps back and braced ourselves for the inevitable attack…
…or maybe not. The “grizzly” turned out to be Ranger Bob, coming to tell us that he had just walked by the bears mid-munch, and that if we wanted to, he would escort us past the “dangerous stretch” (though Jon was unconvinced that Ranger Bob and his pepper spray would prove useful in the case of an actual attack). Jon jumped at the chance to see a real, live grizzly up close and Jessica went along with markedly less enthusiasm. To Jon’s disappointment and Jessica’s delight, by the time we passed the bears had moved off the trail and down the mountain and could not have been less interested in all if us.
After the hike and a great lunch by the lake, we stopped in town for a quick coffee and a chance to post yesterday’s blog. While doing so, Jon overheard some girls at the net café speaking in a strange yet vaguely familiar language. “Hey, wait,” he said. “You’re speaking Slovak!” They were shocked to say the least. Turns out the three of them (two from Bratislava and one from Kosice) were working in the park for the summer. Their US work options for the summer were Glacier or Jersey. We think that they chose well.
Finally it was back to the campsite for a gourmet meal of Riesling and Mac ‘n Cheese for Jessica (bringing back fond memories of camping with her Dad as a kid) and Montana beer and a “beef pastee” for Jon. Not much to do for the rest of the evening but enjoy the view (which does not include each other – 3 days and counting with no shower and we are not looking or smelling all too pretty…)
