#ProjectAlaska: Back Into the USA

After thoroughly enjoying my travel on the Alaska Highway, it was time for me to discover a few new (and old, for that matter) places in my own country. I originally visited Glacier National Park in 2008 after a failed attempt to visit there in 2006. The 2006 attempt failed due to the Red Eagle Fire and the road going to the entrance on the east side of the park was closed.

My visit to Glacier NP in 2008 was one of sheer joy. At the time, I didn't realize just how quickly the glaciers here were melting. At the time, it was believed that the glaciers would be gone by 2030.

Fast forward to 2016. To now realize that most if not all the glaciers in Glacier National Park will now be gone by 2020 was a shock, to put it mildly. Areas which were covered in snow in 2008 had no snow whatsoever in 2016. Areas which were lush and green in 2008 were full of gray, dead trees; killed by pine beetles and other invasive insects or burned out by wildfires. Upon arriving in St. Mary the night before I was to traverse the park, there was a haziness caused by wildfires burning hundreds of miles to the south (which I would get to experience firsthand as I made my way south). You can see it here in this picture:

Luckily, no fires were burning at the time near the park; and the winds shifted overnight clearing the skies somewhat the next morning. Still, the pictures here contain a lot of haze that isn't usually here during times of calm with no wildfires. Here is a picture of Saint Mary Lake showing Wild Goose Island:

Just a couple of pictures of what wildfires have done over the past decade:

Finally, a couple of last pictures for today. I will save for tomorrow the bulk of the pictures in the high country near Logan Pass.

#Project365: Chief Mountain, Crossing the Border, and Pincher Creek

So far, my trip had been pretty tame and on fairly familiar ground; as I had already been in every state I had traveled through. As I wound my way up US 89, I recognized the familiar towns of Browning, Kiowa, and St. Mary. My excitement was building as I was entering the front range of the Rocky Mountains.

As I entered the mountains, I came upon Chief Mountain; a grand sight indeed:

As usual, it felt great to be back in the mountains. Knowing that I would spend the next 4 weeks traversing mostly mountains, I was entering a new realm. I was about to experience quite the interesting time at the border....

Unbeknownst to me, apparently guns are big issue with regard to crossing the border. What held up my crossing had more to do with a lack of border agents where I chose to cross and the fact that the couple in front of me was found to have a gun in their car without declaring it. Furthermore, when asked why they didn't declare it; their stories apparently didn't hold up. Luckily for me, an agent quickly got to me after finishing up with their vehicle and asked me a few questions and told me to enjoy my stay in Canada without ever searching the van.

I arrived safely at Pincher Creek about an hour later and discovered that the campground had a lovely flower garden where I took these pics:

The only problem I had encountered was the fact that my phone no longer worked in Canada...ack! Tomorrow I shall describe my most exciting day yet.