7/8 Glacier National Park, MT

What a place!

The continental divide runs through the Park (like it does in most of the Rocky Mountains). Being that these mountains are the highest points of the continent, on one side of the mountain, the water trickles to the west towards the Pacific, and on the other side, it travels east to the Gulf. But Glacier National Park has a triple divide, which means on the northern side, water also travels north all the way to the Arctic. As a result, this area is unique because it happens to possess many different species of animals and plants; the animals travel from all three directions toward the mountains, where the water sources originated.

The landscape looks very different from when the Park first opened in 1910, when there were 125 known glaciers. Now, 100 years later, there are only 25. The Park Ranger I talked to believed that all the glaciers will be gone in 20 years, which will harm many of the wildlife that relies on the glacial water.

Driving towards the Park:

These were all over several of the rolling hills... not sure what they are -- a wildflower or something that is actually harvested? It looked like it was on farmland.

This poor guy was out on his own along the road... and looks STARVING!

Glacier National Park:

I took a boat tour of St. Mary Lake, which was well worth the money!

Some of the pictures display the true turquoise color of the glacial water in the lake and rivers.

A couple mile hike to get to St. Mary Falls, which feeds into the lake.

The color of the water is amazing!

Wild Goose Island. If you've ever seen the Jack Nicholson movie, The Shining, it begins with an aerial shot that looks a lot like this one and travels over the island, and catches up with Jack driving his car up "Going-To-The-Sun Road", the only road in the Park that connects the east side with the west side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw23KM3-Ry8

Wild Goose island from up close.

A mountain goat with no fear of the cars driving by.

Logan Pass

A raggedy looking mountain goat with a very shy young one peeking over the wall.

Going-To-The-Sun Road

A beautiful waterfall emerging from the middle of the mountain.

I love that color.

I clean my windshield every time I get gas. But the rest of my car shows the results of thousands of suicidal bugs from all across the country. I was hoping for some rain here and there to do some natural cleaning, but no such luck. I suppose I'll start looking for a car wash.