Day 6 - Glacier (the aborted mission and the wildlife)

 Remember the perfect weather yesterday?  It's the opposite today.  We were up late last night packing our backpacks for a full day of hiking the strenuous Highline Trail from Logans Pass.  We got up at 4:30 a.m. so we could leave by 5:00 to get a parking space.  Parking is limited, and word on the street (or the mountain, in this case) is that if you're not there by 7:00 a.m., you won't get a parking space.  It's only 29 miles up Going to the Sun Road, but it takes an hour and a half, because the road is winding and narrow, and the speed limit is 25. 

So Mike started the day at 4:30 a.m. by accidentally popping the safety cover off my can of bear spray.  I was nearby, packing food, and I hit the deck.  Thankfully, no spray escaped, and we took off in the dark for GNP.  It started raining on the way.  There was only a 20% chance of rain, so we didn't really think it would.  At one point, a grizzly bear stepped out onto the road right in front of us.  It was dark and raining, and I was startled so I didn't get a picture.  I was thrilled to see it, because my goal was to see bears and moose. 

By the time we got to Logans Pass, it was 37 degrees, windy, and sleeting.  Miserable hiking weather.  We got a parking spot, but after we parked, we just sat there.  Neither of us got out or spoke.  We looked at each other, and it was clear that we were going to abort this mission.  While we were sitting there, making a new impromptu plan, the sun hit the fog at an angle that made it look like heaven opened up and poured out its pink glory.  

It only lasted a few seconds, and then it was gone. That, combined with the grizzly bear sighting, made it worth getting up so early.  

We decided to drive the rest of Going to the Sun Road until it closed 12 miles up the road because of stupid COVID.  We were driving along in the cold rain/fog, talking about how beautiful the scenery would be if the sun were shining on it, when Mike hit the brakes and said, "What was that?" He was looking on my side of the road, but I hadn't seen anything.  He said he saw something "big and brown" and thought it was another bear.  He backed up and announced that it was a moose, but I still didn't see it.  Finally I spotted her, and she was looking right at us.

She was way far off, down in the trees, and I was amazed he saw it, because he was driving and was on the opposite side of the road.  I told him his Indian name would be Moose Spotter, and mine would be Moose Misser.  

We saw what's left of Jackson Glacier.

We made it to St. Mary's Lake and had to turn around because of the closed road.

More driving through the cold rain and fog:

And then, the highlight of the day:  a mother black bear and her 3 cubs playing in the woods right next to the road!

I didn't get many pictures, because I was too busy watching and videoing. 

We stopped for groceries and gas on the way back, and we're going to crank up the fireplace and take a nap.  

GAS at Junction Gas in Columbia Fall, MT.  8.4 gal x $2.23/gal = $18.83.