More July Fun

Though our trip to Glacier and our camping trip to Cove Mountain took up most of July, we did manage to squeeze in a few more fun things this month.  

First was a trip to Provo to attend Ashley's bridal shower.  Ashley and Tyler will be getting married in September so it was fun to go to her shower and get to know her a little better.  It was also nice to hang out with Jen and the girls.  

While the girls were at the shower, the boys and the little girls (Charlotte and Kari) had even more fun at Jen's house playing in the pool.

These cousins definitely know how to have fun.  They all did Superman tricks into the pool, splashed around, and just cooled off in the water.  There is never a dull moment when these guys get together and Russell is in charge!

This picture tells another funny story.  I don't remember if we had just gotten home from the pool or the splash pad but whatever it was must have worn Charlotte out.  I got in the house and got everything put away and then thought "Where is Charlotte?"  I went into her room and this is what I found.  She had put herself to bed, swimming suit and all, and was sound asleep.  I just had to snap a picture and laugh.

Russell and I also celebrated our 13th anniversary this month.

We decided to just take it easy and spend the day on the lake.  We got the kids' favorite babysitter, Ashley Randall, and headed out to Porcupine Reservoir.  We took the kayaks and tin foil dinners and just had a good kid-free time.  The water was so calm which made kayaking so easy and relaxing.  The two of us cruised all over the lake and even found this cove in the back to explore.  It was nice to get away together and have a fun date night.   Happy 13th anniversary!  I'm pretty sure I won the husband lottery when he asked me to marry him. I love you Russell!!

Going Home - Glacier Trip Day 8

After a week in Glacier National Park, it was time to say goodbye to this spectacular country and head back home.  Back to work and back to life.  We were sad to leave.  Before leaving though, we decided to go on one last hike. 

This hike was the Lake McDonald shore trail.  It took you to different stops around the Lake.  We didn't do the whole trail because that would have taken all day.  We just did about a half mile of it.  The trail went right behind our campsite so we go on there and walked.  One way led to this cool bridge that crossed this beautiful river.

The other way led to Lake McDonald.  The kids had to throw a few last rocks into the Lake before we could leave.  We loved camping at the Fish Creek campground.  It was a great campground right on the edge of Lake McDonald.  The only bad part was that we could only run our generator at weird hours and times we were always gone.  Because of this, our trailer battery died a few times and we had to break the rules and start the generator anyway...  

Another thing we did before we left was pick huckleberries.  Our campground was full of huckleberry bushes and the berries were ripe for picking.  They were really good to just eat but we also picked a bag or two to take home and make jam.  

Emily did not want to go home so we let her stay with Grandma and Grandpa for a few more days.  This was the first time she has been away from us by herself for that long.  She was nervous but excited at the same time.  She kept checking and double checking that she had everything she needed.  Okay I will admit I was nervous too.  We told her to have fun and to mind Grandma and Grandpa.  She had a great time with her cousins and was able to see more sights with them. She also came home singing all of the golden oldies of country music because that is what Grandma and Grandpa listened to on their drive back home. 

As we were pulling out of the campground, Russell noticed that the trailer brakes were not working.  He could not figure out what was going on so he, my dad, and Clay spent about an hour or more at the campground amphitheater trying to fix them.  The boys, Charlotte, and I explored the amphitheater and played trucks in the dirt while we waited.  I have learned to just let the guys figure these things out without getting in the way.  I still don't really know what was wrong and I don't think they really pinpointed the problem but something they did fixed it and the brakes and tail lights finally started working.  I was glad for every one's help and we finally got on our way home.

As we drove home, we took a different route than we did to get there.  This was a more scenic route through Montana and we saw some nice country.  We kind of thought we would stop somewhere for the night but decided to push on home instead.  We finally arrived home at around one in the morning.  We had a great trip and want to go back soon.  Everything we saw was beautiful and we loved being outdoors enjoying nature.

We definitely had a great family vacation.

Oh Canada! - Glacier Trip Day 7

Being so close to the Canadian border, we could not pass up the opportunity to cross into another country.  We decided to go ahead and get passports for all of us so that we would be able to do just that while we were on this vacations.  Today was our Canada day.  The Canadian border was about an hour and a half away from where we were staying in Glacier so we go up early and headed that way.  

As we got to the border, we were worried that we would be searched or not be able to take any food or anything with us across the border.  We had asked our friends from Canada what to expect and they were telling us that we couldn't bring certain things with us and we would get questioned about what we were going to do in the country.  We packed and prepared according to what they told us and then hoped for the best.  When we got to the border though, it was really easy.  All they wanted was our passports and then asked us where we were from and how long we planned to stay in the country.  They didn't care about our food or anything we were taking in.  I think they did ask if we had any guns but that was it.   It was really slick.  As we drove passed the border guards, we saw this huge sign welcoming us to Alberta, Canada.

We had to get a photo!  Then we were on our way into Canada.  Our first stop was Cardston, AB.  Cardston is where our friends live so we stopped by their house to say hi to them.  We were able to chat with Janet for a while but Jim was at work and Sineve was at a school picnic.  We were sad to miss them but happy to talk with Janet.  

Our next stop was the Cardston Temple.  This temple was quite beautiful.  We were able to check out the visitor center while the Hughes went inside for a tour of the baptistery.  We didn't bring our recommends to go inside but we couldn't take the kids inside anyway.  It was just nice to walk around the grounds.  

In front of the temple is this cool bench that says "I Love to See the Temple."  We just had to get a few pictures by it.  The bench was placed perfectly for you to see the temple while sitting on it.

The Cardston temple was the first temple built outside of the United States and is actually the 5th temple built.  It was built just after the Salt Lake Temple.  Cardston was one of the first towns settled outside of the US by Mormon Missionaries so it is mostly made up of members!  Those are some fun facts that I learned on this trip to Canada.

When the Hughes came out of the temple they told us how amazing it was inside.  We were wishing we could have gone in too but maybe another time.  We all headed to A&W to eat lunch and then plan the rest of the day.

After eating, we headed to the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.

This park was really fun for us.  Waterton is part of Glacier National Park but in Canada so it is called an international park.  Unfortunately there was a huge wildfire here a year ago so most of the trails and scenic roads were closed due to fire damage.  That was okay for us though, we still had fun.

The first place we stopped was the Prince of Wales Hotel.

This hotel was beautiful.  Just the outside alone was pretty but then when you went inside, it felt like you were in a mansion or castle.  We walked around the gift shop in here for a while trying to find some cool Canada souvenirs.  We ended up getting some t-shirts, our traditional shot glass, and some real Canada maple syrup.  We probably paid way too much for the syrup but it was authentic, right!?  

As we walked around the back side of the Prince of Wales Hotel, we were able to this spectacular view of Waterton Lake.

This overlook was seriously phenomenal.  Like the waters in Glacier, Waterton Lake was clear and bright blue.  It was also so smooth it looked like glass.  We stood and enjoyed the view for a minute before we headed back to the truck.

One crazy thing about Canada was that it was so hot!  I guess we always imagine Canada as being cold and snowy but this was not the case today.  This day in Canada was probably our hottest day of our whole trip. It was probably only 80 degrees but it felt like we were baking in the sun.  Janet told us the reason it feels hotter up here is because we are closer to the sun this far north.  It must be true because it was warm!

Because of this, the rest of the family was really upset with Canada.  They said they were not impressed at all with Waterton and Canada.  To tell you the truth, I don't think they even gave it a chance.  They went to the Prince of Wales Hotel and then left Canada mad.  In fact, Russell and I didn't even know they had left because we were still looking at souvenirs.  Oh well we told each other, we were going to have some fun on our own.  So that is what we did.

Our next sight to see was the Cameron Falls.

These Falls were right off the road so we didn't have to walk very far.  They were quite stunning.  While we were checking out the falls, we saw a few people cliff jumping into the water below the Falls.  It looked quite dangerous but also very fun.  They people jumping said they do this a few times every year and it is a blast.  But they warned us that is was really cold too.

One cool and rare thing about the Cameron Falls is that at certain times of the year, like during the rainy season, this waterfall turns pink!  The cause of this special water color is a result of heavy rains stirring up a sediment called argolite. When light gets reflected off this mineral, the water turns into a beautiful pinkish-red. Crazy huh!  Too bad we were not there at that time of year to see it turn pink.  We saw it during a beautiful clear blue day.

Unfortunately the trail near this waterfall and the trail leading to Bertha Falls were closed for maintenance due to the fire damage.  So instead of hiking into nature, we walked around the Waterton town.

This little village reminded us of Springdale near Zion National Park.  It is just a little tourist town full of souvenir shops and things like that.  One place we were told we had to check out was "The Big Scoop" ice cream shop.  

This little shop did not disappoint.  We each got huge ice cream cones of all different flavors.  The best part was that it was not that expensive either.  As you can see, we loved every bite.  I got a really good flavor called Tiger's Tail.  It was orange ice cream with stripes of black licorice.  It was so good but I have never seen it anywhere else.  The kids got their own favorite flavors like mint chocolate chip, bubble gum, cotton candy, and birthday cake.  Russell got a really good chocolate peanut butter something that was yummy!  We definitely recommend this place if you are ever in Waterton.

After cooling off with the ice cream, we decided to continue the cool down with a dip in the Waterton Lake so we all got our swimming suits on and jumped in.

The water was FREEZING!!!!!  For how hot it was outside, we thought the water would be perfect but no it was ICE!  Well that did not deter the kids and Russell for very long, they were there to swim and get wet and have fun whether the water was cold or not.  Because of the cold they mostly just splashed at the edge of the water and threw rocks but they did have a good time.  Russell and Emily had a competition to see who could dunk under the water the most times.  I think they each dunked about 10 times under the ice water before freezing.  Then while Russell was taking Logan to the bathroom, Emily dunked 3-4 more times to try and win.  When Russell came back, he realized he was behind so he had to make up some dunks quickly.  He dunked under the water 5 more times right in a row and then when he came up, he was frozen and said he had a headache.  More like a brain freeze from the cold water.  That didn't stop him though from trumping Emily but doing a handstand under water (and getting another brain freeze).  Emily finally said he won and they both came out of the water to warm up.

Everyone had a good time in the water.  Even though it was cold, we did not want to leave.  This was another relaxing day for us.  We had a great time at Waterton and Canada.  I think the others missed out. 

Finally we decided we better head back to camp because it was starting to get overcast and looked like a storm was coming.  We still had to cross back over the border and travel quite a ways to get back.  So we got dried off and changes back into our clothes for the drive home.

On our way out of the Park, we saw this little bear on the side of the road.  These are not good pictures because he is covered in grass but he was pretty close to us.  He was cool to see.  I wish we would have been able to see more bears and other wildlife while on this trip.

Instead of crossing the border where we did this morning, we decided to go to another border station called the Chief Mountain Port of Entry.  This was a more scenic route back home through the forests.  Once again we were nervous to go through border patrol.  This entry though was even easier than before.  The guy took our passports, asked us if we had a good time and sent us on our way.  So easy!  

We had a great time in Canada today.  Now our family can say we have been out of the country.  We also have our passports which are good for at least 5 years so maybe we will have to check out Mexico some time!

Logan Pass - Glacier Trip Day 6

Logan Pass was something on our Glacier bucket list but every time we went there, the parking lot was so full and there was no way to pull off and see this area.  Finally, on our last full day at Glacier we decided we were going there no matter what.  So we did!

Logan Pass is on the Continental Divide and one of the highest points in Glacier.  Water running off the west side of the mountain would go to the Pacific Ocean while water running off the east side would eventually make it to the Atlantic Ocean.  It is cool to say we have been on the Continental Divide.

It was Logan Pass or bust today so when we saw how full the parking lot was again, we decided it was time to find the shuttle.  We drove passed Logan Pass a few miles and stopped at the Jackson Glacier lookout and parked the truck.  From here, we waited for the Park shuttle to take us back up to Logan Pass.  The shuttle was also very packed because everyone else seemed to have our same idea.  Finally we made it to Logan Pass and began hiking the Hidden Lake overlook trail.

Along this trail, we saw some pretty amazing views and sights.  There were waterfalls coming down the mountains from snow runoff, beautiful meadows and valleys, and even some awesome wildlife.

We even got to walk on a real glacier!  Okay it was probably just a big snowdrift but we called it a glacier.  Everything was so beautiful!  

The hike up the trail was just that...up!  We had to stop every little while to catch our breath and admire the scenery of course.  The kids loved collecting the colorful rocks along the trail.  Glacier is known for its colorful rocks.  Because of all of the different mineral deposits, there were red, green, gray, and other colors of rocks.  The crazy thing about it though is that if you just looked at the rocks, you would think they were just normal old rocks but once you get the rock wet, their true colors show forth.  It was pretty cool dipping them in water and finding out what colors the rocks were.

Another cool thing we saw while at Logan Pass and on the trail to Hidden Lake was a herd of mountain goats!

The were so cool to watch!  The goats were so close to the trail we could have reached out and pet them.  We just stood there for a while and watched them.  The funny thing about it though is that the mountain goats were so used to people that they didn't even care that we were that close to them. The cutest thing was watching the mom and her baby walk around and eat the grass.  This totally made the hike worth it.

As we continued to hike along, we finally made it to the Hidden Lake Overlook.  This was an amazing view.  It felt like you could see forever all around you. The view of the lake below was pretty breathtaking. The water in the lake was so clear and blue and the mountains surrounding it added a beautiful mixture of snow caps and green foliage.

We had a great hike up to this point.  We really wanted to continue to hike down to the lake but the trail was closed due to maintenance and bear sightings.  We decided we didn't really want to become bear food so we didn't continue.  Instead we had our picnic lunch while we looked over this amazing sight.  The squirrels and chipmunks loved us because we threw them a few crumbs as well.

Before hiking back down, I had to get a inconspicuous picture of this Amish family we met at the top.  You all know that I am very intrigued by the Amish people so it was fun to actually see some up close.  While we hiked down with them, we found out they were from Ohio and on a family trip.  I wanted to keep talking to them but I felt really awkward.  Really though they were not that much different than us except for their dress.  They had the same hiking backpack for their kids as we had for Charlotte, they were feeding their family peanut butter sandwiches just like us, and they were enjoying nature like us. 

On our way back to the Logan Pass Visitor Center, we passed the herd of mountain goats again and watched them for a minute more.  Then while we waited for the shuttle back to our truck, we took some fun pictures by the Logan Pass sign.  

Logan especially wanted his own picture by the sign that had his name.  He told everyone it was his Pass.  The shuttle back to the car was packed once again but it was worth not having to search for a parking spot.  

As we piled back into the truck, we headed to the last part of the Park we hadn't been to yet, Two Medicine.

Like Many Glacier, we had to go out of the main park at the East Entrance and then drive for a ways before heading back into the park through another way.  Two Medicine is at the southern part of the park while Many Glacier is at the northern part.

When we got to Two Medicine, we found the rest of our family.  They had been there for a while and had seen some fun things.  We all got together to hike to Running Eagle Falls:

This was a pretty amazing waterfall.  It looked like it was just coming out of the rocks underground.  In high runoff, water runs over the top of the rocks as well so it looks like a double waterfall.  Because of this it is sometimes called Trick Falls.  We saw it at a lower runoff time so it was just coming out of the underground fall.  Up above the Falls, the river actually plummets though a sinkhole in the rocks and flows out through an opening in the cliff face, which is what we are looking at.  

This waterfall was awesome to see.  After hanging out here for a while with the family, we hiked back to the vehicles and found these beautiful wild flowers.

Charlotte and Logan are our kids that remind us to stop and smell the roses, or wildflowers in this case.  They love finding pretty things.  The rest of the family wanted to head back to camp because they had been here all day.  We did not however because we had just gotten there.  We drove to the Two Medicine lake and went for another hike around the lake.

During this hike, we saw some more amazing views.  The kids didn't really care about the views as much as they cared about throwing rocks into the water.  That is seriously all they wanted to do this whole trip.  They love skipping rocks and watching them fly across the water.

It was starting to get dark by then so we hiked back around the lake to the truck.  Before leaving, I snapped this picture of Two Medicine lake.  I wish the lighting was better because this picture does not do the beauty of this area justice.  

Another fun day at Glacier.  Tomorrow: north to Canada!