July 3, 2008

Today we drove the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. It was only the second day the road had been opened this season. They had been clearing the snow at Logan Pass, on the Continental Divide, the location of the Visitor Center. As we drove the road, something occurred to me. When we were in the Black Hills of South Dakota, it was all about Harleys and black leather. In Glacier it is all about bicycles and spandex. Quite a contrast, don’t you think?

Sun Road was awesome. I don’t mean awesome like my middle school students do. I mean it leaves you full of awe. The mountains appear sharp and jagged at the top rather than rounded like the Colorado Rockies. Hubby tells me it is because the Montana Rockies are limestone, whereas the Colorado Rockies are granite. He is always so full of…valuable information. We were stunned by the devastation from the Trapper Fire, which happened in 2003 and jumped Going to the Sun Road. Fires that year destroyed 53,315 acres of the park, one of the worst years for fires in Glacier’s history. The only new growth that is evident at this point are grasses and wildflowers. From a distance however, all you can see are huge brown patches on the mountains. Even knowing that it can be healthy for the forest to burn and begin re-growth, with the burned trees adding nutrients to the soil, it is still stark and scary looking.

I consider myself to be ecologically conscientious. I believe in the message of the documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.” I know the world’s glaciers are melting. However, learning that the Jackson glacier will be gone by the year 2030, drove it home. That is, the Lord willing, in my lifetime! I feel guilty, burning all that fossil fuel and putting all those pollutants in the air by driving 1200 miles to get here and then the same getting home.

There weren’t the crowds we expected on Sun Road. We wondered if it was because of gas prices going through the roof or that the road had only been open 2 days. Most likely it is a combination of the two. The road is so-o-o-o narrow in places. It was down to 1 lane for awhile due to road repairs, but that seemed to provide breaks in the pull-out areas for scenic views. We did get a lot of photos!

We finished the drive at the St. Mary entrance to the park. It was about an hours drive back around to the west side of the park where the cabin is located. When you are on the east side of the Continental Divide, you would think you are in a different world. The west side is so lush, while the east side is desert-y. (I like to make-up words like that, but it makes the spell-checker crazy!)

Hubby, Ruby the Wonder Dog, and I were exhausted when we finally made it back to the cabin. Too tired to think of what to fix for dinner, so we went to West Glacier to get dinner and give me a chance to do a little homework for the online class I am taking. I have to do homework where I can get a WiFi connection. We haven’t found a single place where you can connect for free. One time, we had to pay $10 to connect for an hour! I could connect using my cell phone as a modem, but we are so remote, there is no cell signal. We got home around 10:30 PM and crashed and burned.

It was a good day. A really good day.

From Belgrade, MT to Abbott Valley Homestead, Martin City, MT

As I write this entry, I am sitting on the wrap-around deck of the cabin. I can hear about 7 or 8 different kinds of birds, squirrels chattering, and wind rustling the aspen leaves. Hubby is in the cabin, cleaning up after dinner. I cook and he cleans up. It is our system. And his favorite part of this is that he finishes any wine that is left. It is a long standing tradition.

We drove in the mountains most of the day. I have always loved the mountains. The Smoky Mountains were nice, the White Mountains in New Hampshire were even better, but the Colorado Rockies have always been my favorite. I think I have a new favorite. The mountains in Montana are even better than Colorado! As we drove north today we were surrounded on all sides by mountains. Mixed in with the mountains are beautiful lakes, many of which are huge. They are a deep blue like I have never seen before. Because the snow in the mountains is still melting, I am sure that the lakes are freezing. We saw only a handful of people on or in the lakes today and I think that is why. But, the lack of activity on the lakes left them still and smooth. Breathtaking! We let BB, the GPS, pick the route again today. She doesn’t like interstates, so we get to see some amazing countryside.

Today’s drive was the shortest of the three. Good thing. I think Ruby the Wonder Dog would have declared mutiny. She has the best little set up. We have the back seat of the Escape folded down flat. We stack up a couple of suitcases and then put a little perch on top for her. It is one of those Sterilite plastic boxes, with a pillow inside. She climbs up on the pillow and then can see out the front window of the car. She seems to like “her spot” quite a bit.

We got to the cabin about 5:00 PM. We stopped at the grocery store in Hungry Horse before heading to the cabin. We knew we wouldn’t want to get back out tonight. Enough of the car!!! We got everything unloaded and put away in the cabin so we can settle in. The proprietor stopped by to say hi as we were getting unpacked. The land has been in her family for years. The cabins were formerly occupied by various family members and she now rents several of them out to vacationers. Pretty good gig.

Tonight we are going to stay around here and enjoy not being in the car. Hubby said he felt kind of guilty for not going out and exploring the area. I think he is over that after getting a full tummy and having a glass or three of wine. Tomorrow is soon enough. We will explore to our hearts content tomorrow. Probably head to Glacier National Park. It is only about 10 minutes to the west entrance and there is a lot to see. I read where they just opened Going to the Sun Road today. It is the road that takes you up and over the Continental Divide. Finally got the snow all plowed off the road and it is ready for cars. How nice of them to finish it up for us, don’t you think? I am hoping to see a bear or two while we are here. When we went to the Smoky Mountains, all I got to see was bear scat.

The other news of the day is that the oldest son got his next billet! I think I said previously that he was hoping to stay in San Diego. He has worked at staying at the top of his C school class so he could get first choice of the available bases. Well, he got San Diego! He will be on the USS Benfold. When we can get someplace with a wireless Internet connection, we plan on looking it up. It is a destroyer is about all we know at this point. Oh, and that the ship is on its way to the Persian Gulf at this very moment. Once his classes are finished, the Navy will fly him to Bahrain (not sure of the spelling) and then fly him by helicopter to his ship. He said he was really stoked. I must admit, I was glad he got San Diego, but more than a little shocked that he would be going to the Gulf so soon. He is happy and that is all that matters. He loves the Navy, his job as a Sonar tech, and being in San Diego. Isn’t that what parenting is all about? Getting your children to where they are happy and contributing members of society? But the Gulf…so soon.

Well, that is all for today. This will get posted tomorrow because there is no Internet connection at the cabin. There is no phone or TV either! We are really roughing it! But, we are roughing it in style.