Them There Hills

Them there hills have given way to towering mountains. We have arrived in Glacier National Park. My first comment of the mile high rocks jetting into the sky, I believe was "Awesome."

Glacier is a park to be seen on foot. Only one road, spanning 57 miles, runs within the park. It's name appropriately enough, as it climbs higher and higher toward the Continental Divide is 'Going-to-the-Sun-Road'. From an elevation of 6680 feet, a trail follows the Divide through pastures of flowers. at times the 3' wide path cut into the sheer rock face of the grand mountains that rise through the clouds above it.

Our first hike in Glacier Park was through the 'Trail of the Cedars'. It was an eye-opening journey through an old forest. Few old forests remain today due to the clear-cut logging common around the Glacier area. The trail wound through Avalanche Gorge and eventually split off to Avalanche Lake - a beautiful green-blue lake wrestled 700 feet above the gorge.

Johns Lake was our second hike. Again, climbing through an older forest, we emerged at the calm lake cradling lily pads.

Further north on the map we noticed Janet Lake - but just knowing it is there will have to be sufficient. A days trek through grizzly country is required to reach it's shore.