Glacier National Park

We have been trying to outrun this mega Pacific storm for six days now.  We continued heading west to Glacier National Park only to have rain pummel the camper again all of last night.

Because the Going to the Sun road is permanently closed for the season because of snow and ice, we took the 2-1/2 drive around the park to East Glacier through sleet and snow flurries, hoping to find animals to photograph.  When we arrived at the park gate, the attendant told us that while the park would remain open, the campground had closed as of noon today.  Many Glaciers campground is suppose to be open all year round... a park attendant on the west side had told us so just yesterday.  When we asked why, she told us that it was because of the sequester.  Well, that made no sense, but it certainly did change our plans.

It was nearly three in the afternoon.  With all of the commercial campgrounds in the area closed for the season, we knew we had a drive before us.  We quickly drove through the park, hoping to find animals.  We felt blessed to find the same bear as two years before grazing berries again on the hillside.  While the sun was in the wrong position for a great shot, I was happy to get this one...

We sit in another motel tonight in Browning, Montana, unable to find a campground.  As the front settles in over Glacier National Park, temperatures have hovered in the mid to low 30s all day.  The wind chill has easily dipped into the 20s this evening.  We have been driving in snow flurries off and on all day but are grateful to have finally found signs of clearing.  The surrounding mountains are covered in snow.

Tomorrow we will head south and, hopefully, find better and warmer weather.  We plan to return to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.  The animals should be more settled now.  Perhaps I will even find my elusive moose shot… hope springs eternal!