8/3 all the encounters

We woke early and ready to have a full day in Glacier. We decided to hike the Avalanche Lake trail first thing and were able to get on the trail before 8am. It was still busy, but we took masks and everyone stayed a respectable distance from one another pulling to the side to allow faster groups to pass and such. We made quick time up the trail only stopping for a picture and adjustment or two. About 3/4 the way up we stopped to let a large group pass. We waited a moment more and a black bear came ambling down it’s own trail only feet from us! It was a magic moment shared with maybe five other hikers. Zach said his finger was ready on the bear spray, but judging by the bear’s movements, it wanted nothing to do with us or any hikers and was on a mission to find its breakfast.

The approach to Avalanche Lake was very jungle like, the way the landscape revealed itself was something out of a storybook. An almost fully risen sun cut diagonally across our view so we sat, ate a packed breakfast snack, and watched the sun come all the way up over the highest peak to fully light the area. The waterfalls here were breathtaking. What more could you do but sit and marvel and take it all in.

We got back to the car before 11 and continued on to the Going to the Sun Road. The main feature through Glacier National Park,…words are not sufficient to describe this amazing drive so here’s a bunch of pictures:

Tired and filled with a beautiful day we headed back from whence we came. On one of the last turns before the main entrance we spotted yet another black bear, this one on the side of the road on its hind legs getting berries out of a tree.

After an ice cream stop and FaceTime with the parents in West Glacier, we headed back to camp to rest.

Our final wildlife encounter for the day was a buck mule dear encroaching on our camping spot for the fresh greenery. We watched him for well over an hour taking a nap nearby then continually approaching the greens at the edge of our site. He made our camp rest time peaceful and interesting. It was finally a cool enough day for another fire so the day ended late with a big pasta dinner topped with s’mores.