Glacier Park - the east/eventful side

The Going To The Sun Road was closed part way up the west side because of some construction they are trying to squeeze in before the snow hits hard (They had better hurry up because some fell on Tuesday) so we drove around the Park to come in from the east side. It is a beautiful drive even if not actually through the park. The aspen stands were fantastic, especially when surrounded by the dark evergreens. When we got to the Visitor Center at St. Mary (the east end of the Going To The Sun Road)the sun was shining. We found out that the road was closed right before Logan Pass because of snow but that they expected it to be cleared by 1:00. So we lunched at Sun Point and enjoyed the fabulous views up and down St. Mary Lake. We took a short hike to another beautiful falls and then up the road to the pass.
The mountains were all out and it was even warm in the sun. We hiked along the Highline Trail which is cut into the wall above the Road on the west side of the pass. Did I say “above”? I meant “overhanging”! Part of the trail is a narrow catwalk literally cut into the rock wall. Fun!
Our next and final stop in the Park was at Many Glaciers. Seems like a cutesy name until you see it – there ARE many glaciers visible from the deck at the lodge. The lodge had just closed but the mountains and lake were still there for us to see. On the hillside we saw more big horn sheep and some mountain goats.
Park mammal count: 4 – deer, chipmunk, big horn sheep, mountain goat
Trip mammal count: 5 - deer, moose, chipmunk, big horn sheep, mountain goat