Montana Adventure Part III

 This is Glacier part one because pictures.

We left early Thursday morning and headed for Great Falls. We went to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. It was really neat to see exhibits of things Cooper and I have read. We had a picnic lunch at Giant Springs State Park then were off to Glacier. Our first night we stayed at the Many Glacier hotel. We checked in then took a stroll along the easy, nearly 3 mile nature trail around one of the lakes. After eating supper in the lodge lobby, we went to Fishercap Lake to look for moose. No luck.

My alarm was apparently set for PM, so good thing the kids woke us up early Friday. We had to be checked out and at the boat dock by 8am. We did it! We took two boats across two lakes to begin our hike to Grinnell Glacier. John and June fell in the first 0.5 miles. It took the wind out of June for a bit, but once she had a snack all was good. Our total mileage for the day was 8! Except the the fall at the beginning, it was a great hike. The weather was perfect (although I could have done a better job with the sunscreen), the views were amazing, and we saw big horned sheep right on the trail! We had a picnic lunch on the rocks of the glacial lake and watched crazy people jump in! Then back down we went. The return boat rides are only at scheduled time and are first come, first served. They told us to be prepared to wait an hour or more. Cooper was determined we would make the 2:45 boat. We hustled the last 0.4 miles and waited to see how many people would get off the boat. Thankfully, most people did, so there was room for everyone in line to get on the return boat! Two boat rides back to the hotel, then on to our new accommodations for the next two nights- Rising Sun Motor Inn cabins. After checking in, we went to eat at the restaurant at the lobby/gift shop. Then it was time for critter creeping (as we called it.) June was so happy when she saw a bear! It was a cinnamon black bear. Showers and bedtime were calling, so that was it for our first full day. 

The pictures are somewhat backwards today. Oh well.

Many Glacier Hotel

Wild Goose Island while critter creeping

bear!

Black Eagle Falls

Giant Spring