Today we left Polson and headed to Glacier National Park.  We had the Mission Mountains on our east...

and the Flathead Lake to the west.  The lake is the largest fresh water lake west of the Mississippi.  It is 28 miles long and 15 miles wide.

The lake had kayakers, boaters and jet skis.

We went through an Indian Reservation and several cherry orchards.

We arrived at Glacier National Park - Going to the Sun Road.  Unfortunately, for the first time since WWII, the Going to the Sun Road is not open to go from West to East.  The snowfall had been so heavy this year, they are still trying to plow 150' of snow from the road.  We went the Apgar Transportation Center hoping to get a shuttle - unfortunately they were all booked so we drove ourselves up to Avalanche.

You go under train tracks - a train happened to be going over.

When we got to the transportation center, we thought we had hooked up with Dee - your van was parked right there!!!

unfortunately, it had California tags!!!

After we couldn't get a shuttle, we drove up the mountains - we continued higher, and higher

The largest lake is Lake McDonald.  Across the river you can see the results of a 2003 fire.

Lake McDonald Lodge



McDonald Creek feeds into McDonald Lake.  This creek looks like anything but a creek.  With all the snow melt it was a roaring river.

Avalanche is usually the highest point you can go with a 21' or larger vehicle; however, today, no one can go further on the Going to the Sun Road.  The park shuttle could take you a few more miles but not all the way to the east.

Unfortunately, there was no parking either so we headed back down.  We left the park and headed for Missoula, Montana.  We passed the highest peak of the Mission Mountain.  McDonald Peak is 9820 feet.

We also stopped to see St. Ignatius Mission.  Established in 1854 by the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers.  The church was built by brick in 1891.

Thought this was interesting - a crossover for animals.