Going-To-The-Sun Road: Glacier National Park

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I had no internet access at the magnificent Glacier Park Lodge Saturday night, so now I get to fill you in many miles down the road.


Saturday August 15 was set aside for glorious Glacier National Park, featuring the drive across Going-To-The-Sun Road, traversing the park. It did not disappoint.


But first I stopped at a roadside attraction: The Montana Vortex and House of Mystery, where the laws of physics like gravity and perspective are questioned. It's a crooked shack that sits on the most dynamic part of an electromagnetic vortex. It has slanted walls and floors and makes people appear as leaning and objects look like they can go uphill. At other spots people and things appear to shrink and grow. I found it cool but way hokie. After the guide did this broom standing thingee, I asked if he would do it with the broom upside down (wood end down). It did not work. What a surprise. There are several of these vortexes around the country (amazingly always near highways or attractions).

The highlight of the day was travelling through Glacier National Park along the Go-To-The-Sun Road, a spectacular and scenic 52-mile highway, which crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass.

The drive offered dozens of waterfalls, blue lakes, lovely mountaintop meadows, and a beautiful view of the valley far below. But it was harrowing — a curvy mountain pass straddling precipitous drops. Some had low stone walls like these, but others had nothing.




I have a way with animals, I guess. At Logans Pass (the summit), I glanced down to find a ground squirell sniffing at my shoe. That close.


Here is another roadside attraction, found near the Lodge: The World's Largest Purple Wooden Spoon. Must be, cuz the sign says so...


By the end of the day I was exausted, and happy to arrive at Glacier Park Lodge. It was built in 1912-1913, by the Great Nothern Railroad. It features enourmous Douglas Firs, so is known as the Big Tree Lodge. Here is a photo from my room. Sorry, no TV or internet. But I was pretty tired, so it worked out fine, except for you blog followers!

Beer of the day: Charlie Russell Red by Harvest Moon Brewing Company of Belt, Montana. Smooth.

C.M. Russell, btw, was a famous western artist. Much of our ideas of the wild west are based on his work.

Speaking of which, tomorrow the spirit of the wild west in Montana and Wyoming beckons.