We realized, after having just spent the better part of a vacation week doing a little more work on StepsAway 244, we needed a Glacier National Park fix! That’s the beauty of being in a cabin in West Glacier at the entrance to the Park – we can pop in whenever we want. And, at this time of the year, we practically have the Park to ourselves.
First stop was Lake McDonald Lodge. On this crisp, partly sunny October morning, we took a stroll along behind the Lodge, along the Lake, to the boat dock. I wanted to get a view of the damage across the Lake from this summer’s Howe Ridge Fire. The burn area is very clearly visible. In a few years, it will be green again…
The view of the “backside” of Lake McDonald Lodge is stunning. Before there was a road to the Lodge, guests arrived at the boat dock which IS actually the front of the Lodge. Did I mention how nice it was to be here with no summer crowds! We were also studying cabin railings and all the Park fences for inspiration for both cabins. We would like to put a knee-high fence across the front of the StepsAway cabins.
Although Logan Pass has been closed all week from early mountain snows, we decided to venture up Going-to-the-Sun Road as far as we could. It won’t be much longer and people will be parking at the Lodge to continue on cross-country skis up GTSR. That’s on my list!
We stopped at a pullout for a better view of the crystal clear waters of Upper McDonald Creek. There are numerous rapids, canyons and waterfalls along the route. Pick one! Amazingly, we’re pretty sure that we had never stopped at this one before. I was probably in too much of a hurry to get up Logan Pass…
I wish we could share the entire sensory overload that is Glacier National Park. Here’s a snippet of waterfall relaxation for you. Oh, and we were back in the cabin in time for lunch!
