Glacier National Park/Waterton Lakes
Finally, the trip to Glacier National Park was coming to fruition. Unfortunately, a haze filled the sky because of smoke from forest fires in Idaho and British Columbia. So I had to make do with the smoke, less than ideal for taking photographs.
The drive along the Going-to-the-Sun highway was pretty good, but not quite as spectacular as the Beartooth Highway Pass. Maybe it was because there were too many vehicles on the road, and the first drive through a glacial pass leaves a strong impression that can't be beat -- almost like remembering first impressions of individuals because they always last.
If it were a clearer day, maybe it would have mattered more. So, maybe that view will change should I travel back here another time. Hopefully before all the glaciers are forecasted to disappear by 2020 as a result of global warming, according to the National Parks Service.
After the 50-mile drive, the natural decision was to drive to the Canadian side of the glaciers, an area known as Waterton Lakes. With passport in hand, the drive took about 90 minutes, and it was worth the short travel. The view overlooking the lakes was better than the U.S. side, because the haze wasn't as obvious.
As a bonus, three cubs and an adult bear happened to be traveling by, and that just added to the list of wild animals -- bison, elk, deer, horses, prairie dogs and chipmunks!
No comments:
Post a Comment