Glacier - Day 1 - Finally!

Finally, we have arrived at Glacier National Park and found a campsite to settle in. We left Johnson's in St. Mary around 9 AM and entered the park, heading directly to Rising Sun Campground, about 6 miles from the entrance. It was a good time to look for a campsite, if not a little early, but the time window is short at these popular first-come, first-served campgrounds.

We were quite lucky, finding a flat, open site overlooking the mountains to the south and upper St. Mary Lake , probably one of the best sites in the campground. We were also lucky that we did not tarry, as the campground was filled shortly after noon, as was the St. Mary campground near the Visitor's center.

After setting up camp, we wandered over to the Rising Sun Lodge and the General Store. The store was heavy on the souvenirs and light on the food, but they did have fresh milk and showers are available behind the store. A pleasant surprise at the lodge was an espresso cart--fresh lattes are available only 200 yards from our campsite. Will wonders never cease!

We returned to Speedy, unloaded our mountain bikes and had lunch. After lunch it was time to cycle down to the St. Mary Visitor Center, about five miles, to hear a talk on bears and a demonstration of the use of bear spray. A can was procured, hopefully not to be needed, to carry on our hikes in the park. Bear spray, for those who don't know, is a pepper spray especially formulated to repel bears. It comes in a can about the size of hair spray, complete with holster for wearing it on your belt. At a ranger talk this evening, a couple there mentioned that they had seen a bear while hiking in the area where we are planning to go tomorrow.

Then it was another five miles back up to the campground with a couple of photo stops on the way and our first large wildlife sighting of a buck in a field next to the road. They must be pretty common though; two of them walked right up next to the van this evening and just strolled on down the campground road.

It was a relaxing afternoon after that which we needed after eight days on the road. After dinner we went to the local ranger evening talk. Tonight it was on the park's frogs, presented by an young volunteer. It wasn't the best presentation we've attended, but she was very enthusiastic.

Tomorrow,the first of our Glacier NP hikes.

Photos