Glacier National Park - Car Tour and Rafting

After 3 great days at Many Glacier (see blog entry), we hit the road.


We had hoped to drive and explore  the famous Going-to-the-Sun road but it was not open its entire length because the record snow pack was not yet cleared.  It only opened up the week after we departed, on July 13, it's latest opening ever.  From the east entrance at St. Mary's we drove it until the road was closed.  Hikers and bikers were allowed to proceed a mile or two and we took advantage but it was really not that interesting.
 

NOT Going-to-the-Sun

Avalanche Creek

 So we back-tracked and took US Hwy 2 around the southern perimeter of the park and re-entered at West Glacier.  Again we drove as far as we could and then hiked the Trail of the Cedars, a short nature trail at the Avalanche Creek Campground.

That evening we took a planned break from camping and stayed at a condo at the Whitefish Mountain Ski resort outside Whitefish, MT., about 40 minutes from West Glacier.  We liked Whitefish and its downtown tourist area of bars, restaurants, and shops and were glad we had 1/2 day or so to spend here.    Whitefish is one of many Montana locales that is tourist destination for outdoor activities in its own right.  Lots to do here!  The Amtrak Empire Builder route  has stations in several places convenient to Glacier NP as well as Whitefish, so it is popular for folks to travel direct from the Twin Cities to this area via train.  

The following afternoon found us anxiously anticipating whitewater rafting on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.  The late and long snow melt had the water flowing fast and cold (~ 38 degrees F) for July. We  were pleased with our outfitter, Glacier Raft Co., out of West Glacier, who provided us with wetsuits, spray jackets and insulated booties at no extra cost.  There were a total of 11 tourists on this trip, split between two rafts.  Cristin volunteered for a spot at the front of the raft, a position that provided plenty of "glacial facials", as promised by our guide.  The high west winds blasted us even more so than the rapids to such an extent that even our stoic guides at trips end expressed a bit of awe with the conditions.      

Cristin (far left) leads the way through the Bone Crusher on the Middle Fork.

 We had a second night of indoor lodging, this time in East Glacier, in a small, old cabin, that was not much better than a decent storm shelter but with cable TV :)  We were thankful, though, that we had reservations as the high winds continued thru the night, there were some rain showers, and temperatures plummeted into the 30's  -- terrible conditions for tent camping.  There is not much noteworthy in East Glacier, except a few restaurants, we ate at the Whistle Stop. We had dinner and breakfast here, and both of us thought our meals were great!

Great Falls, Montana

On the drive home, we stopped at the Louis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls, MT.  The 18 mile portage around the series of  five Great Falls of the Missouri River presented their expedition with one of its greatest challenges. The portage took a month of precious time, potentially jeopardizing their odds of crossing the Rocky Mountains before winter, with many more obstacles along the way.

We left Great Falls on MT-200.  We found this route across central and eastern Montana more interesting than US Hwy 2, but also more isolated.  We drove over 600 miles that day, ending in Richardton, ND, then 500+ miles the next day. One long haul, much of it now just a blur! 

All good things must come to an end.....

Glacier National Park