Day 17

Day 17 - Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

Great Falls, MT to Rising Sun Campground, Glacier National Park

Following a delightful nights sleep in the Collins Mansion in the Black and Gold Room, Tara and I went down stairs and were pampered with berries and cream, blueberry stuffed french toast, bacon, home fries, coffee and OJ. We said our goodbyes to Bobby, packed our items in the car, and heard the sound of freedom; two F-15s from Malmstrom, AFB flying low and slow overhead. This was the closest Tara had ever been to a military plane that wasn't on a stick and was awed as it made a lazy circle of our general area. We started our drive along the Missouri River until we reached the Falls.

It appeared that Great Falls was harnessing the natural power which only added to our respect for the amount of Green Energy Montana produces. After a much needed car wash, we jumped onto Interstate 15 and headed north toward Glacier National Park. We stopped three times on our drive. First was a post office in Dutton, MT, where we were likely the only customer of the day. The attendant talked our ears off as we slowly and politely exited the office, though he did let us know that for his money Bryce Canyon National Park, UT is better than either rim of the Grand Canyon. Our second stop was for lunch at the Lighthouse in Valier, MT. Finally our third stop was for groceries and gas in Browning, MT before we hit the St. Mary's Gate on the Eastern end of Going-To-The-Sun-Road.

Glacier NP has very few campsites that can be reserved in advance, working primarily on a 1st come 1st served basis. I had selected the Rising Sun Campground before this trip even began, in part due to its ethereal name, and due to the fact that on the map it looks like it sits right the bank of St. Mary's Lake.

In actuality it is across the street and deep into the woods to the point that you can not even see the lake from any site. On the website, it suggests that you find a site by 5 pm or else they might all be filled. We arrived around 3:30 and found a great location in the back of the campsite and were soon told that a black bear had walked by just that morning. We set up camp and went for a brief hike along Rose Creek

which leads to Otokomi Lake. Upon our return we stopped at the Camp store, bought a T-Shirt, a bear bell, and bundles of wood. For dinner we cooked up some more corn and a couple of well done steaks, topping the meal with S'Mores. Clouds were obscuring the stars so we got in the tent, hunkered down against the cold

and fell asleep.

Map