Glacier National Park Hiking

With just a couple of days between saying goodbye to our PA Edelman’s, and meeting up with our Woodcliff Lake Levy-Edelman’s, we stopped at Glacier for an adventure.

Reserving a room at the Granite Park Chalet last January, we were ready to experience the back country of Glacier NP . We started with an early morning 90 minute shuttle ride from our Apgar Campground to Logan Pass.  Checked in at the trailhead for the Highline trail, and started our glorious hike along the weeping wall.  Throughout the 7.6 miles, we marveled at the views, the wild flowers, and the animals.

 

 

At last, the Granite Park Chalet came into view!  Built by the Great Northern Railroad Company in 1914, the Chalet was one of 16 built to encourage Americans to stay in this country instead of heading off to Switzerland.  The GPC was only one of two surviving chalets, since it was built of local stone.  The chalet fell into disrepair and was closed until “refurbishment” in the late 1980s. 

When we arrived, we were shown our rustic room on the second floor with a great view of Heaven's Peak.  We unpacked and prepared for our first Mountain House freeze dried dinner by signing up for the 5:45 kitchen slot.  We also asked for extra blankets (no Roxul insulation here!).  Then some Scrabble playing and dinner, before checking out the sunset and then the stars.

 

In the morning, refreshed, we headed down to the “Loop” on a 4.2 mile, 2600 elevation drop, trail.  Another beautiful day, and great hiking.

The Great American Eclipse, August 21, 2017

Dr. Sky, a Phoenix AZ astronomer and radio commentator, lead us on a mission for the future.  It was on this day in January of 2016 that we decided that we had to see a full eclipse of the sun.  So over the next 18 months, Morey started planning.  We needed to get a camping reservation under the eclipse track.  Not to go into all of the trials and tribulations, let’s just say that we were SUCCESSFUL!

Camped at Mike Harris National Forest Campground, just miles from Victor, Idaho.  Got a great campsite – lots of room for our Eclipse Party.  Our guests arrived: my sister Kathy and her husband Mel, our best friends Ray & Ann, our RV friends Gail & Dan, the PA Edelman’s which we brought with us. 

We moved to an open area which was the road coming into the campground, set up our chairs, got out our cameras and waited.

At 10:16am the moon began its path in front of the sun.  We watched as the sun become eclipsed, first what looked like the Apple trademark, then a half sun, then a crescent sun, and then

TOTALLY AWESOME………..A full eclipse at 11:36:25.4am.

Weird stuff happens……..wavy lines moved across the light dirt road, shadows from the trees become crescents, the temperature dropped 20 degrees.  And at full eclipse, a number of stars including Venus appear in the sky.  again, Totally Awesome.

As the eclipse ended, we headed back to our campsite to party and celebrate.  In addition to the eclipse, Today was also both Ray & Ann’s, and Morey and Ruthie’s, 46^rd wedding anniversary.  Also Liz’s birthday.  Very Special !!!

Yellowstone National Park

Four days in geyser land………..  So enjoyable to see Dan, Liz, Jack & Logan seeing the wonders of this park. 

First, a stop at Old Faithful; and yes, it was faithful when it blew!  Then off  to many of the geyser and mud pot walks.  Due to the summer visit and the upcoming eclipse, the park was crowded (we did miss the quiet of September). 

While the PA Edelman’s went touring, we headed for some hiking.  (Need to get in shape for our upcoming hikes in Glacier and the Grand Canyon!).  We hiked Mt. Washburn, 7 miles and 1,400 ft, lots of wildflowers and a “knock your socks” view when we reached the summit.

We all got together for a chuck wagon cookout.  A great event with the entire family!  This followed a horseback ride.

 

And remember how Morey had developed a Solar Cell system for BIW?  With a great sunny campsite at Madison Campground, he hooked it up.  Viola!  Works great, totally eliminating the need to run our generator.

Two Incredible Days in our country's Heartland

Try to top this!

>Setting up camp in Forest City, Iowa, where a local farmer stopped by and insisted on giving us some of his sweet corn.  And he wouldn't accept any payment



>Touring the Winnebago Factory, where Blowin-in-the-Wind (our motorhome), was born 11 months ago.

>Enjoying a campfire on the shores of Lake Mitchell (our campsite for the night).


>Stopping to see the Corn Palace...............The Only One in the World!

>Checking out Wall Drugs.  Free ice water, and lots of souvenirs!

>Driving through the Badlands National Park.  Getting caught in a rain storm while we were climbing a steep trail to the "saddle".



>Relaxing at our Badland campground...........Getting ready to head over to the amphitheater for tonight's Ranger Program.

Our Trip Begins !!

Is it crazy to head out in our RV with two of our grandkids, Jack & Logan?  We didn't think so, and now we know we made a great decision.  We've been on the road for three days, and what a grand adventure.

Our first day was an afternoon stop at Fort Frederick in Maryland.  This French & Indian War era fort has been restored to its original condition.  We arrived with soldiers from this war, our Revolutionary War, and even the Civil War all represented.  The fort was in use for all of these conflicts.  Demonstrations included musket firings, cooking in the time period, and we even stopped at the Nature Center to learn about todays critters living in the surrounding woods.

Our second day was mostly a driving day, culminating in a rather rundown private RV park.  But there was a nice pool and a 70s era miniature golf.

And this day began at the Indianapolis Speedway.  Once we figured out how to get to the museum (under the actual race car track....Would our RV fit?), we parked and headed for sports car history.  Almost all of the Indy 500 race car winners are on display.  Really cool!  Then we took the tour around the 2.5 mile track including checking out the checkered flag at the finish line.

"Camped" tonight on the Mississippi River, looking across at the state of Iowa, that we be in tomorrow.  Wow, 8 states and over 1,000 miles!