Many have told us along the way that we’ve probably saved the best for last. Glacier National Park, in northwest Montana adjacent the Canadian border, does not disappoint. While Grand Canyon and Yosemite were glorious and unique, one also shares the natural beauty with hordes of tourists from around the world. Because of its remoteness, Glacier is more wild and untouched by the masses. It is only open four months of the year because the brutal winter weather.
We have spent three nights at Many Glacier Hotel, built in 1915 by the National Park service. This rambling old beauty sits on a crystal clear lake surrounded by mountains: glaciers and bears can been seen from the restaurant deck. Leslie and I were fortunate to see a female moose swimming in the lake within a few hours of our arrival.
On our big activity day, Leslie and Lydia went on all-day horseback ride to a glacier lake (the flakes from the glaciers turn the water to an otherworld turquoise) and Will and I went on an hike up the Grinnell Glacier. It was by far the biggest hike I have ever walked (I’m not a hiker). It was an eight mile hike there a back and we climbed 1600’ within an hour and a half (a lot of huffing and puffing) by the view was worth it. I’m glad that Will and Lydia have seen these glaciers in their lifetime because they are receding at an alarming rate. Grinnell Glacier has been losing ice since the 1920’s, so the debate continues as how much global warming is accelerating the melting.
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