St. Mary Lake and Wild Goose Island

After completing my assignment at Billings and checking out of my motel, the clerk with a cowboy hat at the front desk asked me with a smile: "Where are you heading?" "Glacier National Park," I replied. He very kindly marked for me the route on his map. "I've been there once. If you get there, be sure to drive to the Going to the Sun Road. That is the best view in the world and makes Montana proud."

Chipmunk

I took Route 90 to the West on a beautiful day. Montana's sky was high, blue and clear. Listening first to music from a country western station, I shifted to a George Winston CD. His music made me somewhat melancholic and lonely as a big dark cloud appeared far away on the horizon. Rain splashed heavily on my car’s windshield and made it hard to see the road. It took two more hours of driving north from Missoula to reach the West Glacier entrance to the park. When I reached the town, the rain had stopped and a rainbow welcomed me.

Glacier National Park is adjacent to Waterton National Park, Alberta in Canada. The parks are on different sides of the boundary separating Canada and the United States. These two parks are jointly known as the Waterton-Glacier National Park that was recognized as the world's first International Peace Park. In 1995 UNESCO designated the combined parks as a World Heritage Site.

The Going to the Sun Road connects the west side of Lake McDonald with the east side of Saint Mary Lake. It is 50 miles long and runs along the mountains. As one drives higher into the mountains, it is easier to see the glaciers. At the top is Logan Pass at the Continental Divide and the road begins its descent among glacier-covered mountains and lakes of different sizes. There are almost fifty glaciers. Indeed, this is the "Alps of America." When I took a break at Logan Pass to hike on the trail, I saw a mountain goat on a slope. Only half of its white hairy coat had regained color--a sign that the long hard winter had not yet fully given way to spring. The miserable-looking goat seemed sad and unprepared for my picture taking.

Prince Wales Hotel

On this day I planned to check in early at the famous Prince Wales Hotel located within the Waterton National Park. Before entering Canada I wanted to walk up the trail at Many Glacier. However, I changed my mind and climbed up to the top of Iceberg Lake, thinking that the five-mile hike could be made before nightfall. It was an unrealistic decision as I took time to stop at Bear Grass and enjoyed lovely yellow glacier lilies as well as taking pictures. Then all of sudden the mountain weather changed and rain clouds started to increase. My holiday feeling evaporated. Finally I arrived at Iceberg Lake. Even though it was June, the lake was still covered with deep snow. Then cold rain started, and I hurried to reach my car. I was all wet and anxious to leave for my hotel.

But I had difficulties with the Canadian Custom Service. When entering Canada's Waterton National Park from Glacier National Park, one must check with the Canadian Custom Service. I didn't know that the nearest Custom office closed at 10 PM. I arrived there just before its closing time, when three motorcycle riders were also waiting. However, a custom officer told us very coldly, "Unfortunately you can't enter here. You must finish your paperwork ten minutes before the gate's closing time."

We had to go to another custom office that was open until 11PM. By the time I arrived at the Prince Wales Hotel it was almost midnight. It had taken an additional 100 miles of driving to reach the hotel. I was hungry and tired. Instead of enjoying a delicious dinner at the elegant hotel, I ate sandwiches left over from lunch and downed them with wine. Then I went to bed right away. Next morning, a bright morning sun greeted me. I got up and sleepily climbed the hill to view the hotel setting. White fog was mysteriously surrounding the castle-style hotel.

Mountain Goats

The world of glaciers that had seemed so mean on the previous day was now welcoming. There was not even one storm cloud. I could see the Glacier Mountains that were so protective of their wild flower gardens with lilies. Chipmunks carried flowers and hid behind rocks from where they greeted me. The sweet flower smells and bird songs were sure signs of the coming of spring to glacier country. Three days of photographing went all too fast. The time had come to drive back on the Going to the Sun Road.

En route I stopped my car at the Logan Pass and I walked the trail again. I noticed the same mountain goat that had been here on my way to the hotel. This time, however, she was not alone. Now a baby goat, or kid, with pure white hair accompanied her. The mother must have given birth after we met. Even though the kid looked like a staffed toy animal, it was sure footed following the mother on the mountainsides. This lovely sight called for "congratulations." Perhaps remembering that I didn't take her picture on our previous encounter, the mother goat seemed to pose with her kid and show off until I clicked my shutter button. Many cars were rushing past us and snow was melting on the Going to the Sun Road. Glacier's busy summer was just returning.

Glacier National Park West Glacier, MT 59936 Phone: 406-888-7800 www.nps.gov/glac

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