Glacier Episode III, Revenge of the Pure Glacial Water

<== Last day at Glacier... got to make sure we do it right, so we get started with a great gas station breakfast. Thomas decides he should get a meal replacement bar to supplement his sausage egg and cheese biscuit... it's... colossal I guess...

We are headed to West Glacier... and as we drive around the south rim of the park there are some beautiful sights... ==>

<== It's so beautiful... but wait! What's that?!!

Over there!! ==>

<== Mountain goats?!!

Meh.. they are so far away... might as well skip stones on this gorgeous crystal clear glacial lake... ==>

<== The Avalanche Creek has Joe enthralled... he decides to take a zen morning to himself...

The Toms and I decided to head past the Trail of the Cedars to Avalanche Lake... The Trail of the Cedars is a section of forest that hasn't seen fire in 500 years, so the trees are all old and magnificent... ==>

<== It's a beautiful hike...

With many terrains... ==>

<== And leads to perhaps the most beautiful place I've ever seen... Avalanche Lake.... it's as if we stepped out of the forest into the lost world... I would not have been surprised if there were dinosaurs flying around... this is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen...

A close up of some of the waterfalls... there were at least a dozen of them flowing into the lake... ==>

<== The valley behind us was amazing as well...

This is truly an amazing place... ==>












<== Hiking to the opposite end of the lake...

There are deer in this valley.... here a couple of them cross a stream... ==>

<== And they're not afraid of people at all...

Here's our deerfriend just hanging out in the shade... what a backdrop! ==>

<== Someone had the genius idea to go for a swim in the lake... (that's me!)...

Have you ever jumped into a lake filled with water that's literally flowing off a glacier? It's clear, beautiful, and so cold you can't breathe when you're in it!! It's a once in a lifetime chance to swim in a glacial lake... and we definitely took it! (although swim might be stretching it) ==>

<== So cold after...

It's a great time to chill (ha!) in the sun for a bit, to warm up and dry up.... ==>

<== It was one of those places I wish I could have stayed forever... but eventually time caught up and we had to go. On the hike back, there's still deer just wanting to get to know us better...

And reunited... one last photo of us at Glacier before we hit the road... we have to get to Seattle! ==>

<== We make it as far as Kalispell, MT before we need to eat... delicious ribeyes and big hefty glasses of beer at the Big Montana Club/Restaurant/Casino...

Some after dinner video poker strategizing... Thomas is giving me his expert advice on what to do... ==>

<== And finally... back at a hotel room... ready to drink a delicious can of wine. We're also showing off our carton of Reisling and another four loko ;)










MMMMmm... cold, delicious, cabernet sauvignon straight from the mountains of Chile... in a can.... and we're done for tonight! ==>