Our Journey : Going to the Sun Road

9/01/2014

August 30–31, 2014 Going to the Sun Road

Saturday, August 30th

We just did some odds and ends today and hung out until the afternoon when we made a short trip to Kalispell for parts. While there, we also checked out the Elks Lodge where we plan to stay on Tuesday.

Back home, we enjoyed another great campfire.

Sunday, August 31st

This morning we decided to take a slow ride up to Logan’s Pass on the Going to the Sun Road and maybe even take the hike to Hidden Lake. So we packed a lunch and off we went.

It was beautiful when we started on the road. This is Lake McDonald:

The McDonald River with its falls:

Oh No!:

One of the bridges across the river to more hiking trails:

From the river valley, we started up the mountains – check out those clouds:

Can you imagine what it took to build this road – Impressive:

We got to Logan Pass and the parking lot was full. I dropped Andy off at the bathroom and drove around, then he dropped me off and drove around – Yikees! We then headed to Lunch Creek area where we had lunch – . This was our view of Logan’s Pass – it was fogged in, and rainy and very cold soooo we decided not to take the hike (another time when it is sunny.):

After lunch, we made our way back slowly – and it rained most of the way down. The clouds just rolled down the mountains:

But we do have videos of the road – Enjoy:

Going to the Sun Road - Coming Back

We finished the evening dodging the rain – boy did it get cold – Brrrr! The fall has definitely arrived in Glacier.

Enjoy today!

8/27/2014

August 26, 2014 Going to the Sun Road on the Historic Red Bus

We were up early this morning and at the transit center by 7:45 – yes, we were early. Today’s tour consisted of 5 Red Buses (lots of people). There were 14 on our bus so it was pretty comfortable and not “squishy”.

By8:30 AM, we were loaded up and on our way.

I was going to give you lots of info on the Going to the Sun Road and on the Historic Red Buses but I am giving you some links instead because I have LOTS of pictures!

Here are the links and there is much other info out there on the web:

http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrtop10.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going-to-the-Sun_Road

http://glaciernationalpark.mobi/going-sun-road/

http://www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/activities-red-bus-tours

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Jammers

Our tour guide and driver was Susan and we were treated to so much history and stories and geology along the way – she was great.

So here we go…

Lake McDonald:

Our first stop was at Lake McDonald Lodge:

Isn’t it beautiful!

There was even a roaring fire in the fire place – which was great because the temps were only in the 40’s and the bus had no heat.

McDonald Creek – notice the color of the water- it means that this creek water is coming from the glaciers:

Here is the avalanche chutes – there are many in the park:

The west side tunnel – 192 feet long:

One of the longest falls in the park – the Going to the Sun Road is right in the middle:

More Falls:

The weeping wall:

The triple arches:

At the top – the line across those mountains is the road:

Logan’s Pass has a visitor center, museum, hiking trails and so much more. It is also a great place to see desert sheep – and we were not disappointed (although they were in the distance):