A Crown of the Continent
It is hard for me to come up with a better definition than the way the National Park Service describes Glacier Park: “A showcase of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a paradise for adventurous visitors seeking wilderness steeped in human history. Relive the days of old through historic chalets, lodges, and the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road.”
Glacier Park Lodge
The lovely, rustic Glacier Park Lodge was built over a century ago, built in 1912-1913. The immense timbers that support the Lodge are 36 to 42 inches in diameter, 40 feet long, and all retain their bark. The Lodge is situated on the Blackfeet Reservation.
I was prepared for no elevators and I barely noticed not televisions. What I DID notice was very weak internet service and next to no cellular service (for my carrier). So I feel like I have been cut off from civilization during my stay.
New Friends
Shuttle Driver
On my first day, I met the shuttle driver. She is a few years younger than I am and I soon found out about her life on the ranch. She and her husband are now seasonal employees at the park. I was fascinated since I thought that the seasonal workers were primarily college kids. Hmmmm. Maybe this is something I can look into for next summer. Who knows.
Bartender
The first day, I met a young man who is a bartender down in Palm Springs, CA. He has been coming to Glacier for many years since since his grandmother lived here. As we continued on the hike up to Twin Falls, he pointed out interesting details and told me stories of growing up not far from here. It was delightful hearing about life in this part of the country. It is so different from San Antonio
New Retirees
On the second day, I met a wonderful young couple who are on their first month long road trip. They started from Baltimore, headed to Indiana for their son’s college graduation, and has continued west. No big plans, just going with what feels right at the moment. Their enthusiasm and joy was contagious. What fun it was sharing time with them. Happy travels!!!
Blackfeet Nation
Glacier National Park, established in 1910, predates the National Park Service itself, which was created in 1916. When the first white explorers began arriving in the region, the Blackfeet controlled the prairies on the east side of Glacier, while the Salish, Pend d’Oreille, and Kootenai lived in the more forested west side.
My all day tour was conducted by Sun Tours which is an a local Blackfeet Tribal Business. During our tour, our driver Dan not only showed us features deep within the Park, but also told us about his Blackfeet heritage and traditions. It was a wonderful, educational day that I really enjoyed.
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Glacier Lodge, where I stayed, is located next to the Amtrak station on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. This Reservation is home to the 17,321-member Blackfeet Nation, one of the 10 largest tribes in the United States. Established by treaty in 1855, the reservation is located in northwest Montana.