Glacier National Park Day1

We took TONS of pictures, too many to post here.  But this place was AMAZING.  We got in pretty late last night, but got up early to head out.  GORGEOUS views.  It's early enough in the year that there is still a lot of snow, and it's still pretty dang cold.  The main road that runs through the park, the Going to the Sun Road, literally just opened today.  We drove through it, and headed to a pass we wanted to hike.  The road may be open, but the pass trail was still covered with snow, and FREEZING.  I did not bring enough clothes, and was unprepared for literal winter weather.  Luckily that's the highest point in the park, and it was pretty early in the morning, so we found another trail that looked promising.  Even just driving the road was breathtaking.  Snow, and bright green growth, and mist, and an overcast sky.  It was surreal.

We hiked up to Cracker Lake, a freezing little lake up in the mountains.  It was a LONG hike, 12.6 miles round trip, and neither of us had good backpacks for long hikes.  We are learning a lot about what is needful for a hiking lifestyle!  We finally got there after hours, and it was absolutely beautiful.  Bright turquoise, and still.

Jonathan and I had decided long before we actually went on this hike that we wanted to swim in a glacial lake, and this one seemed likely.  We packed up our swimming suits and went for it!  It was SO COLD.  The ambient temperature wasn't very warm, either, so I didn't want my hair wet for the hike down, but I did finally get the courage to wade in and sit in it.  Jonathan threw himself in the water twice!  Amazingly invigorating once you can catch your breath, and it helped with our hike swollen feet!

It was actually really fun.

This is my video footage.

The hike itself was also beautiful.  Water everywhere, and the rocks there in Glacier are all this turquoise greenish color and a dark pinkish red.

The trek back down wasn't bad.  When we finally got to the bottom, we were starving, so headed for pizza and then done with the day. 

As we drove the through road again, we hit sunset, and the mountains gave another show.

I am exhausted, but today was such a fun departure from what I normally do.  I am thrilled to be here.