Glacier National Park--Day #3September 8, 2008
Some days on a busy trip like ours are so chock-full of surprises and wonders of nature that it takes time to digest it all. After a full two days exploring in Glacier, we just had to slow down and let it all sink in.
We debriefed each other and tried to organize our many notes into some semblance of order. The lodge was the perfect place to do this. There is a vastness that one looks out on--actually over a million acres of wilderness with towering mountains just behind our lodge.
We read that Glacier Park was actually named, not for the glaciers themselves, but for the glacial U-shaped valleys that had been carved by huge glaciers through these rocky mountains. Nowadays there are only 27 small alpine glaciers at the tops of some of the high peaks. One has to hike there to be able to view any of them.
The day went by quickly, and before we knew it we were being transported to the nearby train station by one of the picturesque 1959 vintage Checker limousines.
The day went by quickly, and before we knew it we were being transported to the nearby train station by one of the picturesque 1959 vintage Checker limousines.
Our train was on time, in fact, just in time for us to join a couple from Chattanooga in the dining car, as we set off through the rocky mountain valleys at the southern reaches of Glacier Park.
We wondered how the train would be able to go to both Portland and Seattle. Now we know that the train was basically split in two at Spokane during the wee hours of the morning. The dining car went to Seattle, but we got the Sightseer Lounge, which, had we had a choice, would have been our clear favorite to stay on the train to Portland.
As it turned out we were able to take in some of the richest scenery in all of our beautiful country.
Along much of the final part of the route, we hugged the north side of the Columbia River Gorge, a gorge formed by the awesome force of the river, as it cut through ancient volcanic lava rock.
We wondered how the train would be able to go to both Portland and Seattle. Now we know that the train was basically split in two at Spokane during the wee hours of the morning. The dining car went to Seattle, but we got the Sightseer Lounge, which, had we had a choice, would have been our clear favorite to stay on the train to Portland.
As it turned out we were able to take in some of the richest scenery in all of our beautiful country.
Along much of the final part of the route, we hugged the north side of the Columbia River Gorge, a gorge formed by the awesome force of the river, as it cut through ancient volcanic lava rock.
No comments:
Post a Comment