So, for your viewing pleasure, please enjoy some of the sights of Glacier Park, a tremendously beautiful national park in north-western Montana. This journal is as much for myself as anyone reading, so please forgive how gratuitous it may be.
Upon entering the park, there are hundreds of acres of old-growth forest like this one (To you guys in my RP- when I think forest, this is the kind of place I think of wink ). The cedar forests in Glacier are ancient and have gone without burning for hundreds of years. There are thick ferns underfoot and water trickles from the rocks.On The Path of Cedars, one of the countless walkable trails on the Road to the Sun, a waterfall in this hidden grove feeds one of the streams of the park. Because of the heavy drought we're suffering currently, the streams are terribly shallow and the flow from the falls is diminished.
One of the beautiful views from the Road to the Sun, clogged with smoke from the rash of fires in our area. These mountains were carved by giant glaciers, hence the name of the park. --->
A stream where we witnessed a strange troupe traveling up the falls:
For whatever reason, these little birds repeatedly hauled their feathery butts up the rapids only to get washed away. It was amazing how far they could get against the force of the rushing water.
More smoky scenery from the Road to the Sun, on our way to the Visitor's center (just look at the smoke in the bottom right corner... what a shame)
And a quick look at Heaven's Peak. The 'snow' on top is actually the remnant of the glaciers that carved this park. Each year, the glaciers have diminished more and more, and will someday melt completely. The smoke this year made the breathtaking sight somewhat somber.
At the Visitor's Center, there is a long walkway that takes a constant stream of tourists up into the alpine highlands where a variety of wildlife can be found. We stopped for lunch at the center and met some of Athena's cousins:
We have Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep not twenty miles from our town, but it was still fun to see them wandering around. We only realized they were behind us after we'd stopped to get the food out, and had to pack up and pay attention to them. So many people forget that the animals are wild and being close to them is dangerous, even if these particular fellows are so acclimated to humans.
Speaking of being Acclimated...
The poor goats were so hot. Even in the windy highlands, the sun was overwhelming. Apparently mountain goats have two stomachs, and one works like a furnace to keep them warm in the freezing winters. The furnace doesn't turn off in the summer, though, and the goats we saw were seeking any way to keep cool. A bunch of gawking human visitors weren't of much concern. We snapped a photo or two and left them to their shade.
Least concerned of all the animals are the ground squirrels who can be found in every corner of the park and enjoy barking their squeaky little chirps at each other in-between following humans for handouts. They might be little rodent beggars, but they're so cute. The number of tourist children asking to be bitten by these things at the Visitor's Center was staggering. I won't even go into it. This little dude and his fat friend were checking out my shoes, so I snapped an opportune shot. Isn't he handsome?
Later, on the other side of the park, my mom took me to see this picturesque clearing in the forest. The beauty of this place can't be diminished, even by the thick smoke in the air.
As we left the park, driving along Lake MacDonald, the sun was dyed blinding neon red by the smoke. It bored holes into our eyes and the light became eerie and otherworldly. Don't be fooled by the darkness- this is not true sunset. Traveling through the smoke makes me feel as though we are taking part in space travel. You can't really see smoke around you while inside of it- it only dims things from view far away and makes all light neon orange. Montana is burning- even the glacial waters can't protect the dry, dead forests. So many stupid rules make it illegal to log even dead, dry timber, or clean the forests of debris, and we've lost an unprecedented amount of acreage in the past few years.
At last, the smoke rose high in the air and the light was clean again. The sun set gently. Isn't it a beautiful color?
=============================
Three final photos unrelated to anything, but still worth posting (while i'm at it)-
The kitten, Boo, one day after we brought him in from the barn:
And today.
What an ambitious boy whee
Hope you enjoyed the photos! My friends, you are in my heart. Tell me how you're all doing, too.
Community Member
And indeed, Athena's cousin. >D
I'm glad you had fun in Montana! And that's a lot of writing.