3. Glacier National Park

Day 9 - Friday, July 28, 2000

It took only a couple of hours to drive the 135 miles from Shelby, MT to St. Mary - a boring stretch on US 2 and then increasingly scenic miles on US 89. Checked into the St. Mary Glacier Park KOA around 11 AM and secured a level site with water, electricity, picnic table, and fire ring for $30.75. The campground is modem-friendly, so was able to get mail and do some uploading.

Spent the rest of the day exploring Glacier NP - Antje by hiking various trails, I by seeing what could be seen from the van and the many turnouts along the first section of the Road to the Sun.

The campground offered a chuck wagon-style dinner, salad and salmon for Antje, baby back ribs for me - delivered to the camp site so that we wouldn't have to leave the poodles alone. A great dinner, a lovely evening.

Day 10 - Saturday, July 29, 2000

We were on the road quite early - 9 AM, and the temperature already had climbed to 76F. Drove north on US 89 to Many Glaciers - a worthwhile excursion.

Then went back to St. Mary and The Road to the Sun. While we had explored a lot east of Logan Pass yesterday, today we concentrated on the very different but equally spectacular scenery west of the pass.

Once through the park, we rejoined US 2 and drove towards Kalispell - we had come the same way in September 1999 - a beautiful stretch of highway. Then jumped on to US 93 to Whitefish (bought supplies and gasoline At $1.639/gal) and then headed north to Eureka for a great visit of the RJR ranch.

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