Day 10 (Aug 16): Glacier National Park II

A beautiful hike along Avalanche Creek to Avalanche Lake

You can see the multiple streams feeding the lake which are created as the glaciers above melt during the summer.

We stopped for lunch by the lake side

Huckleberry - I had this in my salad dressing the night before and was wondering what it looks like. Here it is!

On our way back, we saw a big pile of animal waste with lots of berries in it. We thought it's likely from a bear so we hurried out from the thick woods.

It was raining on-and-off all day so we decided to head out of the park after the hike for a relaxing Mexican dinner. At this point of the trip, we have been eating only local food (aka bison, elk, steak) so we are craving something different. After dinner, we were treated with the sight of a FULL rainbow and a double rainbow on one side.

Day 9 (Aug 15): Glacier National Park I

After a night rest at Helena (where we had an amazing yet affordable dinner), we continued on the mountain country road up to Glacier. We were lucky to arrive during the weekend special so entry to the park was free! We drove in through St. Mary along Going-To-The-Sun Road to Lake McDonald where we spent the night.

At St. Mary, we saw a nest of Ospries trying their wings for the first time. We were just stopping to pick up a park map when we saw this so I didn't have my tripod with me at that time and I had to zoom in to get this frame. It is the moment so no time to get anything. Just click.

It is August, it is snowing on the east side of the park, and raining on the west side of the park. The snow was too heavy to drive in so we took a break at Rising Sun for lunch (elk chili soup). Bikers riding from the west side of the park underprepared for the rain/snow find the perfect spot to dry their gear.

Similar to earlier parts of our journey, we run into bikers everyday enjoying the parks along their road back from Sturgis, South Dakota after the Harley rally. These bikers arrived shortly before we did at the lodge where we are staying.

The main building of Lake McDonald Lodge. We decided to take it easy for the rest of the evening and just walk around the lodge we stayed.

Harp performance in the lobby

Around Lake McDonald

Day 8 (Aug 14): Yellowstone again

Mammoth Hot Springs

We drove back up north through Yellowstone to spend another day there before driving further north west. We first stopped by Fishing Bridge. Chris was rather focused on looking for salmon in the river.

Yellowstone River

Mud Volcano

Dragon's Mouth Spring in Mud Volcano

Canyon carved by Yellowstone River

Upper Falls

The photographs below are of Mammoth Hot Springs

More bison in Yellowstone

After another amazing day in Yellowstone, we exited the oldest national park of the country through its North Entrance where the original gate to the park stands.

Another beautiful sunset on the road. The good thing about driving west is that we get sunset view everyday when we are on the road.