The "not so" Glacier National Park and The Red Jammer

Wednesday, June 24th... Glacier Park

Woke up later than I wanted to at our very own "Bates Motel."  Wanted to be up by 7 to call about the Red Jammer Bus Tours. Instead, it was 7:45 am and I still managed to get two seats on the 9:30 bus going on the Western Alpine Tour which included going up to Avalanche where the "going to the sun' road ended.

So basically no glaciers and the "going to the sun" road really went nowhere, and for this we paid $55 each! 

The busses are refurbished models and we loved that the top rolled away for picture-taking.

Believe me, I probably know more about this bus than I do about why there are no glaciers to see! Our guide, Bill, was not chatty until it came time to describe the bus and then he became downright loquacious!

So off we went four to a seat! Left Apgar Visitor Center to tour what was open to us. Severe rainfall and mudslides hampered opening the park. If interested, wait till July 1st to see this park as that's the projected date to "not see glaciers."

We started tour at Lake McDonald Lodge. This lodge was privately owned and run (circa 1920's) and still is today.

Apparently, Glacier is one of the National Parks where private owners who had land are honored and still retain their property today. We actually had dinner with an 87 year old resident,  Virginia, who told us stories about living in Glacier, along with some advice on how to see the area. She winters in Sun Lakes! Small world.

The following pictures are just a few of the beautiful sights on our tour.

Here we took a short guided hike to see the rushing water of Flathead. The water is fed by the melting snow and glaciers we can't see.

Here is a Cottonwood tree similar to those used by Lewis and Clark to make rafts/canoes.

Back on the bus to Huckleberry Mountain area. 

My camera did not capture well the terrible results of a forest fire 10 years ago in Glacier, but trees are just now coming back.

Lake McDonald was one of the many glacier-formed lakes in the park.  View was spectacular but a bit hazy.

Ok, so I may have been to quick to judge Glacier. We are so lucky to live in a country with such magnificence. And, best of all, after continually hearing about the bears loving the huckleberries, we went back to the West Glacier Restaurant where I had....

Huckleberry pie!