GLACIER NATIONAL PARK-NATURE

                                                      Alpine Forget-Me-Nots

This velvet-antlered young buck and 2 of his buddies were enjoying the greens so much they could care less about us

                                                                   St Mary's Falls

                                                       Pasqueflower

                                             Salamander Glacier (hint: head of salamander is on the left)

                                                            Cataract Falls

                                                                    Grinnell Lake

                                                            Bear Grass flower

                                                      Indian Paintbrush

                                                      Glacier Lily

                                             Mountain (Big Horn) Sheep ewes feeding

                                                Woodland Shooting Star

                                       Ewe follows closely and is obviously protective of her lamb      

                                             The boys (Rams) were gathered by themselves

                                                                  Ptarmigan Falls

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK-FRIENDS

June 15-17 2012. Diana and Mike O'Hara planned this trip back in February. It did not require even a little bit of arm twisting for us to agree to join them. We traveled from our respective homes and met at St Mary's Lodge, one of the eastern entrances to the Park. After a lovely lunch it was time to hit the trail. Logan Pass was still closed after a foot of snow the week before undid some of the progress the crews had accomplished in clearing the road. But this is Glacier, where Nature is unequivocally in control. Not much we can say or do about it, other than park the car at the closure gate and take a walk up the road

                                                        Love birds everywhere!

                                                                     St Mary's Falls

                                                 She would be a natural in Cuba

                                       Cataract Creek and Falls empty into Grinnell Lake
                                       

                            Grinnell Lake, a picturesque bowl of rock and water, only accessible on foot

                                      Wow! How about that for a backdrop. More to come...JIR

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK-GETTING THERE

Three and a half hours from Helena, Glacier National Park must be the jewel of national parks, at least in the Northwest. Since we were heading to Many Glacier, on the eastern side of the Park, we took the eastern route from Helena. We've made this journey before, but it never gets boring. Going through Augusta and Choteau, the Rocky Mountain front and the Bob Marshall Wilderness are within eyesight. The views make one yearn for the splendor of what's ahead.

Several Hutterite colonies populate this area. Their industrious and hard-working footprint is obvious

                                         
                                                  Blackfoot Reservation, Browning, MT          

                         Reservation entrerpreneur: "Tipi Pegs and Bundles 4-Sale $55 All in Bundles"

                                               Life in the "Res", often sad to witness

Now we can see the Park, and one can feel Nature taking over, overwhelming the senses.

More to come on the next post...JIR