Week 21 (Continued) - Glacier National Park ("The Crown of the Continent")

Hello Family and Friends,

Glacier National Park just may be our favorite park. It was so beautiful that I cried. For this trip we took a break from hotels and stayed in an AirBnB. It was nice to have a full kitchen and just be in a home. However, the air conditioning was not working. So it may be awhile before I can convince Brett to stray from his hotels again.

This deer just stared at me as I ran right by him on the path near our rental. FYI, this is how much sunlight there is this far north at 9:30pm.

However, Glacier was just so amazingly beautiful that a little night sweat couldn't ruin it.

The water is very clear at the park and the stones are all these beautiful earth tones.

Even before getting to Glacier, we were met with unexpected beauty at the general store somewhere in Montana.

The garden behind the general store we stopped at on our way through Montana. Atlas first interaction with a pinwheel. The wind was spinning it and Atlas was thoroughly entertained.

Once arriving in Glacier, we drove Going-To-The-Sun Road and it was magnificent. Do not drive this road alone. As one person has to focus on driving and the other one has to choose the stops to take photos. You can take a tour, but I'm not sure how often they stop to let you take photos.

Going-To-The-Sun Road is an engineering marvel as it sits right on the cliffside of the mountain. It's safe, but pay attention. The views are amazing!

This is the view that made me cry.

A small glacier as it melts and turns into a waterfall.

Photo doesn't even look real.

More beautiful scenery.

Once we reached the end of Going-To-The-Sun Road, we went to Many Glaciers. We were only able to get as far as Many Glacier Hotel as the road was closed. There were a lot of various walking trails.

Having the best time on a walking trail near Many Glacier

Our view from the walking trail near Many Glacier.

Mr. Bear not paying us any attention. We like it that way!

We then went the other direction to Two Medicine. The only thing there is a campground. That is definitely not our thing. We felt like we were roughing it without air conditioning.

Of course we could not go to Glacier National Park and not get in the water. The park ranger told us that the water rarely gets over 40 degrees fahrenheit. Only the bravest of us took up the challenge (you may notice that there are no pictures of Brett in the water).

Sarah and I jumping in the water together because that's the only way I would have the courage to enter that freezing cold water.

Us totally freaking out after jumping in the glacial water.

Sarah didn't just jump in, she took a swim. She's the toughest of all of us. The water is about 6.5' deep.

Letting Atlas kick his feet in the glacial water of Lake McDonald

Drying off after our glacial ice bath.

You guys know how we like to bike. Brett found us this super remote trail. We had to drive on a single lane gravel road just to get to it. Atlas instantly fell asleep once we got on the bikes. However, Sarah and I were struggling to balance on the gravel roads so after about two miles we gave up and went back to the car. Brett, on the other hand was living his best life. He was going as fast as 30MPH at some points, taking the curves like he was 20 years old and jumping pot holes on an electric bike! It was great to see him having so much fun on his bike.

We only have Sarah with us for about another 10 days. So we are going to take a break from national parks and visit some cities on the west coast.