Montana Prairie and Glacier National Park

Day 25 & 26 April 25 and 26, 2006







Yesterday we left Helena and drove northwest on the scenic route US 89 toward Glacier Park. We traveled in beautiful weather through endless rolling gray prairie for 140 miles with almost no traffic (several minutes between cars). This was mostly cattle ranching country but when it was flat enough, wheat fields were seen. Thousands of cattle, mostly black Angus, with many calves were like black dots on the endless peaceful plains. While driving I was thinking the part of Montana we drove through could have easily accommodated the whole state of Vermont. The rolling prairie was dotted with crossroads towns amid mega-ranches with cattle and fences all that could be seen up close, but the whole vista was framed by the snow capped Rockies to the west. Wonderful warm weather the whole trip.

After passing through the Blackfeet Nation and East Glacier we went around the southerly end of the Park on US 2 for 60 miles to West Glacier, both nothing much more than small villages. We found the North America RV Park a few miles beyond the entrance framed by the mountains and stayed the night among a few RV people who work in the concessions and stores at the entrance to Glacier and are basically full time RVers, working in the summer and doing whatever they want wherever they want the remainder of the year. None of the concessions were open, but these folks were the 'opening up' crews, some of whom had arrived in late March. This RV park was recommended by "Ken" who I met in the RV park in Livingston after leaving Yellowstone. He had worked at Glacier last year and the folks here knew him.

Today we went as far into the park as possible, about 14 miles, but The Road to The Sun will not be open for another month. We are about 6 weeks early to have seen the whole park, but the taste we got was enticing.

After visiting the Hungry Horse Dam, we made our way via Kalispell to Polson, MT where we are now camped high above Flathead Lake, the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi, at Montana's highest rated campground. It is very nice, probably eight rigs here tonight, with a fantastic view to the west of the lake, Polson and the Rockies beyond. Dogs have their own fenced run and the place is grassy and very clean inside the buildings and out.

After a great meal of ribs, chicken and steak with a Caesar salad, we will sleep well, I'm sure.

Tomorrow we're off to visit Airedale people in northern Idaho. After that, Banff beckons.