July 8 & 9: Kayaks & Killer Hikes

Tuesday, July 8: Swiftcurrent Lake & Grinnell Glacier. Yesterday we covered some of the same landscape we enjoyed the previous day. The Gownezios successfully achieved a splitting into the Gowmans and the Conezios, with the Gowfolk kayaking in Swiftcurrent Lake and Mom and Dad going on the Grinnell Glacier hike. Dad is referring to it as a “Wonderland of Waterfalls”. From Dad: “Every few yards it seemed as though you hiked through a cascading, glacial waterfall that flowed across your feet on the path. Mom frequently stopped to wet and cool her bandana in the glacial melt water, as most of the hike was exposed. It was a very challenging hike with 1000 feet of elevation gain, and a 1000 foot drop off the sheer side of the cliff as you hike on a four-foot-wide trail. Absolutely breathtaking views of the mountains, the glacier, and Josephine & Grinnell Lakes. The mountain was manicured with rock gardens of wildflowers, as if cultivated by the master gardener himself. It was too perfect to actually believe it was wild.” They couldn't actually reach the glacier, because the trail was closed due to teacherous snow and ice.

The wee Gowfolk launched kayaks into Swiftcurrent Lake; for the first time, in this week of wind, the lake was perfectly calm. (Check this reflective iPhone photo of Shelburne Reservoir.) It was absolutely lovely, and we did two complete circuits of the shore, plus a complete end-to-end race right up the middle. But the highlight was coming together and having lunch side-by-side in the middle of the lake.

I wish I could tell you something exciting or hilarious or excitingly hilarious that happened, but that's about it. Spent about 2 hours in the world's most frigid swimming pool, and finished the evening with movie night, watching Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, or as I like to think of it, George Lucas' Abomination To See How Bad of A Movie He Can Make And Still Rake In A Gazillion Dollars.

Wednesday, July 9: Aster Park. The best part of this was seeing a bear on the way there! Today's deep thought/Ask a Ranger: We have seen several black bears in Glacier. And we know that black bears can be any color from blond to cinnamon to brown to black. But every one we have seen is the same color of brown. Is this common to Glacier? Are all Glacier black bears this color of brown? Or just coincidence with the ones we have seen? Has there been some hanky-panky with the grizzlies that has made them this color? Hmmmmmm...

Aster Park is 1.9 miles out, with 700 feet of elevation gain, bugs, bees, no breeze, and crabby children. But it's over, and we got a solid workout. Plus the views from the top were nice. Sadly, this is our last evening on the eastern side of Glacier. As we drove back from our hike, even though we've been here for six days, there was a moment that just took my breath away. The sun hits the mountains just right and St. Mary Lake is completely surrounded and the snow is there and it is just perfect. I love it here. I would stay in east Glacier forever. But the consolation for leaving is that tomorrow we move to West Glacier.

p.s. We never know as we move from place to place if there will be wifi or cell service or anything else. So if we should drop off the radar for a few days, don't fret. Everything is fine and we'll be back soon.

p.s. #2: We have made the first change to our itinerary and we will not be visiting Crater Lake & Diamond Lake in Oregon; rather, after Glacier we will be stopping for four nights in Randle, WA, to visit Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. (Shout out to Grandma Gowman!)