Dad and I are perfectly happy to stay in campgrounds whilst on our travels. Sometimes though, more luxurious accommodations look tempting. Case in point: the East Glacier Lodge outside its namesake park. It’s been here for over a hundred years and is actually quite famous. Out of curiosity, we looked up room rates. Expensive, but not outrageously so.
Maybe I can convince Dad to stay here next time.
If you’re traveling from Missoula, Montana to Glacier National Park, you’ll probably notice the Mission Mountains to the east. They are named after the Jesuit St. Ignatius Mission in the region. Much of the range lies within the Flathead Indian Reservation and a large part is protected as a designated wilderness area.
Interestingly, a portion is set aside as a grizzly bear protection zone where humans are not allowed for parts of the year. (There is something similar set up for bighorn sheep in the Eastern Sierra Nevada in California.) The grizzlies are cool, but not cuddly. I think it’s wise to keep one’s distance and just let them be. By the way, one of the bears’ favorite foods up here is ladybugs.
The Salmon River in central Idaho is a special place for me. It’s part of a scenic byway that we’ve been on twice before on the way to Montana. However, this is the first time we’ve camped on the river. It’s gentle in this part, but the water is deep and fast flowing this time of year. The campground here is exceptionally well maintained. It’s very clean and there’s even a fence to protect little kids from falling in the river. From the looks of it, anyone under the age of ten wouldn’t have a chance in that water.
Downstream from where we camped, the river enters a deep canyon with huge rapids for many miles. When Lewis and Clark came through this area in 1805 their Shoshone hosts basically said: “Dude, only go down this river if you don’t mind dying.” Despite their impatience to reach the Pacific Ocean before winter set in, the party made the wise choice and retreated back over Lost Trail Pass, down through the Bitterroot Valley, over Lolo Pass in an early snowstorm, and west via the Clearwater River. Nobody got hurt.
Dad and I went to a big box store today to buy some little boxes. Actually, they were fairly big boxes, and we got a lot. I found out that Dad and Pam are moving away soon. I’m a bit sad about that, but I’m also looking forward to visits and many Excellent Adventures in the years to come.
It’s good to make life changes from time to time. Keeps things interesting.
Today was a really fun day. My Uncle Eliot came for a visit and we went for a hike in one of the American River Canyons (North Fork). We hung out at the river and then had some dinner at Dos Coyotes in Davis.
This day combined three of my favorite things: hiking, family, and food.
Some of my readers may know that UC Davis is a center for the study of viticulture. Apparently, it’s more complicated than just squashing a bunch of grapes in tub like Lucille Ball.
If you explore the outskirts of campus, you’ll run across experimental vineyards researching who knows what. It’s a profitable industry, so as the sign behind me implies, don’t mess with it.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone.
