GLACIER NATIONAL PARK - May 30 - 31

The beginning of the tourist season has barely begun at Glacier National Park.  Not all of the facilities are open, and The Road To The Sun which winds its way through the stunning mountain vistas connecting the east and west sides of the park was still closed.  A Park Ranger said crews are working to clear snow off Logan Pass and expects the road will open the end of June.  

By the way, if seeing the glaciers at Glacier National Park is on your Bucket List, you might want to visit soon as scientists predict the remaining few glaciers will be gone by 2030.

Grinnell Glacier is quickly melting.

A CAMPSITE WITH MILLION DOLLAR VIEWS
We stayed 2 nights at Johnson's of St. Mary campground.  This family owned campground/cafe/motel began in1950's.  

We had views of the mountains and a view of St. Mary Lake; doesn't get much better!

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY...WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME - May 31
We drove to Many Glacier area of the Park with the plan of exploring, hiking, and having a birthday lunch or dinner at the historic Many Glacier Lodge.

At the Swift Current Lake trailhead, a woman just coming off the trail said she and her husband had spotted two grizzly cubs on the trail, but didn't see their mama.  Another hiker reported seeing the mama bear.  Now we started to have second thoughts about hiking this trail, until a couple of fellows, who were also hesitating at the trailhead, asked us to join them to form a bigger group...safety in number, I guess.

We are carrying big sticks, but note to self:  Leaving the bear spray
in the RV will not  help you if you meet a grizzly on the trail.

Our fellow hikers were locked and loaded with bear spray.
We followed closely behind them.

Hiking over the snow at an avalanche chute was exciting. 

Delicate spring flowers brightened up the trail.

After surviving the beautiful and uneventful hike, we were starving and ready for lunch.  It was a disappointment when we got to Many Glacier Lodge and found out it was closed.  There was a flurry of activity at the lodge as workers prepared for its summer season opener on June 12th.  

Many Glacier Lodge on the shores of Lake Josephine.

BIRTHDAY DINNER - PLAN B
The cattle Barron Supper Club, located 8 miles from the campground in Babb, was open and I chose as the place for my birthday dinner.  When we arrived, we discovered the supper club wouldn't open for another week but the Bar/Grill was open and we could order from the dinner menu.  I ordered a celebratory martini, and was told the liquor hadn't come in yet, but they had beer and wine; ok, I'll have a glass of wine!  Steak and seafood are the specialties at the Cattle Barron; I love seafood!  Oh, the shipment of seafood was coming next week; ok, I'll have a steak! 

The perfect place, with my perfect man, to celebrate a wonderful birthday.