Grand Finale in Glacier

Summer has quickly come to a close in Montana. There's a chill in the air and our children are back in school. But I am so grateful for the grand finale that we were able to experience in Glacier before diving into another busy year. We spent a glorious week camping at Many Glacier on the north-east side of the park, and I tried to bring home the highlights in megapixels for you to enjoy...

Every day we did some hiking, and boy were our boys troopers! This particular photograph was taken on our hike to Red Rock Falls. We never actually made it all the way to the falls because 30 minutes prior to our arrival at this spot a male grizzly swam all the way across this lake and nearly attacked a husband and wife who were flyfishing right by the falls. The couple escaped unharmed, but the bear tore apart the wife's flyfishing vest that she left behind. Needless to say, we happily viewed the falls from the edge of this lake and counted our blessing that we weren't 30 minutes earlier to meet the bear up close and personal.

This is Many Glacier Hotel. I tell ya what, if we didn't have a camper and if money grew on the tree in our backyard, this is where I'd stay. It is gorgeous and rustic and has been around since Glacier became a national park, and did I mention they have a great coffee shop and sell the most amazing soft-serve huckleberry ice cream which you can eat while viewing the most amazing scenery in North America? Seriously. It's the place to stay if you're going to come visit us in Montana. We'll sleep in the camper and then come visit you at the hotel every afternoon for coffe and ice cream :)

Here are the boys taking a snack break on a hike at the top of Logan Pass. We nicknamed this spot "Snack Rock," and apparently we weren't the only ones who liked this location...

We literally got chased off the rock by this big billy goat. I don't think he was really "gruff," he just wanted to share the boys' tasty snack.

It was fun to watch him lick the crumbs off the rock that we left behind.

The hikes at Logan Pass are notorious for wildlife sightings, and not just distant sightings, we're talking 10 feet away sightings of mountain goats who casually share the trails with hikers and allow giddy wanna-be photographers like me to take pictures of them to their heart's content...which of course I did.

So now you have to humor me and look at a few of the "wild" mountain goat photos that I took. They sure look wild don't they? Ha! More like sweet goats at a petting zoo, but it was thrilling nonetheless.

Here's a beautiful momma goat and her kid. Momma doesn't look too impressed with me snapping my camera at her while she's trying to eat.

"Ya lady, give it rest and go take a hike or something," says momma billy goat.

So we hiked some more and stumbled upon some big horn sheep. This one we got to watch run down the mountain and across our trail just yards away! What a thrill!

Here he is a little bit more zoomed in---just in case you wanted a closer look :)

We also got to see grizzly bear nearly every day---thankfully from the safety of our car. I was astonished how close the bears came to the road and didn't seem phased by all the people gawking at them and taking pictures. One of the trailheads near this spot was closed for hikers because of a momma grizzly and her cubs who had taken a liking to this area in the past weeks. We were glad once again not to meet these massive bears on any hikes, but rather view them from the safety of our car (but wait a minute...who's the idiot taking the picture of the viewers in the car?) :}

Not sure if you can see what's happening in this picture or not, so I'll give you a play-by-play. On the far left, a momma grizzly and her two cubs were happily munching on whatever it is they munch on. Numerous people stopped to watch and take photos for a very long time, when suddenly on the far right, a male grizzly enters the scene causing momma griz and cubs to stand up and do a stare-down-contest. Bystanders are edgy and think there will be a confrontation. Momma bear quickly ends the suspense by scooting her little ones off stage to the left...smark momma. Bystanders remain to watch the male grizzly and take photos for a very long time again. The end. I wish I could capture how exciting it was to watch the scene as it really unfolded, but blogging just doesn't cut it...sorry :)

Glacier was not only filled with creatures "Great," but also creatures "Small" who were just as delightful to the boys and my camera :)

The boys tell me this is an orb web spider. I believe them and have to admit that even spiders look pretty when you're viewing them in Glacier.

When we weren't hiking and enjoying the wildlife, we played a fun game called "Chuck-O" that Grandma Jean bought for us (thank you Grandma Jean!!!) The two older boys are truly getting to the age where they are real competition for their daddy, so Paul enjoyed playing just as much as they did! Dominic still just likes playing in the dirt :)

Or the kids road their bikes around the campground or sat by the campfire in the new chairs that Uncle Dann and Aunt Rachel bought them (thank you DnR!!!) The boys are patiently waiting for me to go get the Smores ingredients, but taking pictures of them is more fun :)

And here are just some sweet photos of our family while in Glacier for you to enjoy... Hope some of you can come visit someday and we'll take you to Glacier so you can see all these wonders for yourself!

Smiley Dominic...

Handsome Joseph...

And sweet, silly Michael all think that you should come see them soon! :)