Adventures in Big Sky Country…

Howdy Y’all! My name is AJ, you may have seen me periodically pop up in this blog over the years, but now you get to hear from me!  

After leaving Washington and all those beautiful sights, we crossed the panhandle of Idaho and parked our home in West Glacier National Park. Once settled, we decided the beautiful Lake McDonald would be our first stop, snatching up some tickets for a boat ride. Susie and I sat on the bottom deck snapping pictures and admiring the water, while Ruth and Sallie went topside in hopes of unobstructed views of gorgeous mountains. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Susie and I, Sallie had schmoozed her way into the captains chair…er…standing area, and was driving the boat! Once back on solid ground, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Lodge on the lake.

Next up on the docket was the famous ‘Going-To-The-Sun’ Road. On this approximately hour long drive, we were greeted with sweeping vistas, towering peaks, and the reminder that mother earth really is piloting this planet. At some points, we in the back seat couldn’t have the windows open, because water from the falls *right on* the side of the road was splashing in. Totally awe inspiring.

At the top, Logan Pass (also the continental divide) awaited us. Slightly amusing, as my boyfriends name is Logan, but ensconced in a beauty too immense for words. Ruth, Sallie, and I embarked on a 3 mile hike even further into the mountains to a hidden lake. Along the way, we encountered more snow than we were perhaps prepared for, and two of us ended up with wet butts, due to surrendering to the elements and just sliding down small snowdrifts. The work was worth it, and we were rewarded with sightings of mountain goat families and encounters with the fearsome, terrifying beast known as the Chipmunk! They were so cute, almost cute enough to comply with their unspoken wishes of food, but not cute enough to endanger them by doing so. A drive down the mountain, a short nature boardwalk, and a picnic lunch completed that many splendored day.

In East and Many Glacier, we spent the majority of our time wildlife hunting, although we were aiming our cameras at them instead of the alternative. Much more rewarding, don’t you think? We also hunted for the grandest views, and my my, were we successful in both quests. Mountain lakes with small islands, bears of the Grizzly and Black variety, deer, and elk were kind enough to grace us with their appearance, although the Moose were more elusive. 

After a rush to get my passport from my mother in California to the middle of Montana, we finally were able to visit our kind, Canadian neighbors in their national park, Waterton Lakes. The grand Prince of Wales Hotel that was perched high on a cliff above Waterton Lake, was absolutely stunning and has always been a favorite place to visit for both Susie and Saliie.

Interestingly enough, Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks are run together, as an International Peace Park. The local flora and fauna don’t respect imaginary lines in the dirt like we humans do, and the two parks came together in the early 1900s to collaborate on conservation and preservation activities. 

Here, we embarked on yet another boat voyage, across the border into Montana and back to the pier on Waterton Lake. At one point, Susie got a bit colder than expected, so she wrapped up in my high school varsity jacket. Don’t tell her, but it was super cute. Almost cuter than those chipmunks at Logan Pass ;).  After this boat ride, Ruth and Sallie set off on another local hike, while Susie and I elected to take a few hours to lounge lakeside and indulge in some Lattes from Americas favorite coffee shop, Starbucks. Upon our reunion, we headed back to the good ol’ US of A and looked forward to our next adventure.

So I know its traditional to end these with a message, so here’s mine. 

Every once in a while, when faced with a photographable beauty, take the chance to NOT lift the phone or camera. See what happens when you take the moment for what it is, a moment. Live it. Internalize it. See what else you can find, just by looking. And above all, remember that Mother Nature is a force to be reckoned with, and she has no problem at all with reminding us of that. 

Signing off,

AJ Lester