Christmas in July!

We woke up like kids on Christmas morning, excited about the day ahead--our drive on the Going to the Sun Road.  It is a 50 mile road built in the 30's, and extends through the heart of Glacier National Park.

 It's been designated as a National Civil Engineering Landmark, placed on the National Register of Historic places, and designated a national historic landmark.  It is also featured in a book on the most scenic drives in America (someone gave me the book as a retirement gift.)  


St. Mary's Lake
 

At the first overlook, we pulled over and when we stepped outside, the smell of fresh pine trees permeated the air--the smell of Christmas!  Nature's gifts were under the trees--just like presents under the tree--St.Mary's Lake looked like a mirror. The water was still and quiet, and reflected the landscape so that when we looked at the picture, it was hard to tell which way was up!
It was an awesome sight---peaceful, calm and beautiful.

We continued to gawk at the sights along the way. We began to see more and more snow. Apparently the snow is so heavy it takes them about 2 1/2 months to clear the road!   The road opened just last week after the final winter snow was cleared.  We got out at Logan Pass and tromped through the snow--note the glacier on the mountain behind Jim. 


 
 
We followed a guy who had his skis with him, and planned on going up the mountain to ski down!  (We didn't follow him very far!)  It was just like slogging through snow at Christmas time--but here, in July, we saw people "body-sledding" down the snow covered hills in tank tops and shorts...one guy lost his flip flops on the way down...very weird!



The melting snow coming down from the mountains creates many waterfalls in the mountainsides. 

A view through the windshield

As we drove along the road, we would often get a "carwash" because the water was coming down so hard!  It was funny to see the motorcycles,  convertibles, and even some bicyclists maneuver by the waterfalls. 







Bighorn Sheep


We saw all kinds of animals--shaggy mountain goats, bighorn mountain goats and a mommy deer and two babies crossed the road right in front of us. 



 

Spot even got into the scenery.  This is at MacDonald Lake--he even took a dip!

Everywhere we looked, there were majestic mountains and ribbons of waterfalls throughout. 

We drove the 50 mile Going to the Sun Road, and then turned around and drove back, enjoying a different view of the scenery on the way back.  We couldn't resist stopping at the Continental Divide.

This is surely a place we will visit again.  

Tomorrow we head to Calgary for the Calgary Stampede.  We met two couples staying in this rv park that are also headed to the Stampede, so at least we will know somebody when we arrive.