July 4, 2008 - Day Trip

I took a short drive (approximately 20 miles) through part of the Flathead NF and Coram Experimental Forest during the day on July 4, 2008. Not much commentary, just some pretty pictures. Notice the altitude change and snow capped mountains.

Driving in.

Below is Belton Point on Desert Mountain at about 6,400 feet. End of the road for driving.

Hiking.

Me relaxing after short hike. Planned to roast hot dogs, but the lightening started and I decided to seek shelter!

Driving out a different route.

Spent the evening in Hungry Horse, MT where the July 4th celebration was something else. It was basically a street party with anyone and everyone setting off their own fireworks. Maybe I'll post a few pics and a couple of videos later.

Odds & Ends

First series of pics were taken on the Going to the Sun Road last week. It was opened a little farther up the mountain. I understand that today, July 2, it was finally opened all the way across to St. Marys, although there will still be some construction going on all summer. They're eventually going to have to close this road to all but park shuttles.





Left pic above is "Bird Woman Falls" It drys up after the snow melt is over.



Right pic above is looking back down at the road up from Lake McDonald area.





Left pic above is of the "Weeping Wall". It's a great car wash until, it too, dries up after snow has melted.



The following are "Sunset Over Lake McDonald". Sunset at 10:00 PM. Not the prettiest I ever seen, but still not too bad. Good night !!!

Lake McDonald Lodge

Thought I'd post a few pic's of Lake McDonald Lodge. It's really one of the more homey of the Glacier Park lodges. The lobby is small and very cozy feeling. There is always a fire going in the large fireplace. The lodge was originally built as a hunting lodge, so there are many stuffed animals in the lodge.





























The pic's below are of the General Store at Lake. I love to hang out on this bench with the 'old guy", but I get damned tired of people asking "which one is the dummy"!

Jammer Joe's is the restaurant at Lake. It's not to be confused with the Lodge dining room. Food is much, much different. "Jammer Joe's" are the guys who used to drive the old Red Buses. The buses are the 1934 originals, refurbished by Ford and switched over to propane. Propane out here is only $2.55 per gallon. I'm switching my Ford over ASAP.

Below is a "whistle pig" or Colombian ground Squirrel and her babies. Yep, they look just like a prairie dog.