Day Two in Glacier

We took the morning to drive to East Glacier - we are staying by the West Glacier gate.   Twists and turns and snow capped mountains and gorgeous views of the rivers were part of this amazing drive.  We stopped at Goat Lick - sure enough there were glimpses of mountain goats on the side of the mountain where there were no trees and odd colored soil.  The odd colors come from the various minerals that the goats know are important to their health.  Why don't we naturally know what is good for our health?

The goat lick hillside is seen through the trees.

The mountains were sometimes tree covered and other times grassy looking with a few scattered trees.  One group looked like they had shaved in a hurry and had spikes along the ridge line.  A railroad track runs the entire way with trestles high up and sometimes tracks that look like they could fall off the side of the mountain.  We saw coal trains, oil tankers, and double decker container cars - who knows what they were carrying and from where!  When we got to East Glacier we saw the station with an Amtrak sign - do they really have service to Glacier?

We stopped at a viewing spot and learned about the man who discovered the pass through the mountains back in the 1880's which gave the railroads a way through the mountains - 1891 brought the railroad to the  area.   I cannot imagine the hardships they endured in those times.  

And you cannot visit any park or forest without some form of commemoration to Teddy Roosevelt.  

On the way back to West Glacier we stopped to see the Middle Flathead River and some of the rafts making their way.  Our trip this afternoon was for "Seniors, children, and others who want a pleasant river experience" - no whitewater or paddling for us, but we got to see some people doing that.  

The color of the river is amazing - the green comes from all the mineral deposits from the glaciers years ago.  

So we geared up with life jackets and piled into a big red raft after a 15 minute ride to the launch site.  The river bottom is covered with multicolored stones rounded from years tumbling in the water.  (In New England we called them cobblestones.).   We were going to be traveling on the South Fork of the Flathead River.  Our guide, Kevin, grew up in upstate New York and decided he was moving to Montana after seeing "Jeremiah Johnson" - has been here for forty years and has done everything you can possibly do outdoors.  He gave a wonderful running account of the animals we might see; the way the river runs and has changed in 40 years; where to find grizzles, elk, and deer.  He also gave a call that had a bald eagle swooping near us and another call to a family of Canada geese who were swimming nearby.  

It was a fine day with scenery you cannot imagine until you travel here.   Tomorrow we are doing a three hour "Red Bus" tour on the Road to the Sun.  We have been told that the eight hour trip is the best but we did not plan enough time here - we will have to come back!