Washington Trip - Day 10

During the winter of 2012-13 I was doing research for the upcoming bike trip for the summer of 2013, and discovered the Going to the Sun road in Glacier NP. I was stoked to add that to the list. I arrived there on Jun. 20/13, only to find the road was not yet open. One year later, I tried the road again, only to find an avalanche has closed it temporarily. Last year I didn't try the road on my trip. For over three years that road has been beckoning. Today was finally the day!

Leona and I started in Kalispell, departing at 10am under sunny skies and chilly temperatures. The ride to West Glacier was relaxing, though the anticipation was building in me. I half expected to be turned around again once we got to the park. Quite the opposite, we actually got in free (we still donated $20) because of the National Park Service's 100th anniversary!

In 2013 I was able to ride up to Avalanche Creek, but there's not much to see up to that point. The views just kept getting better after passing that point. Riding up to the Loop was relaxing, but it became exhilarating after that. Though I'm fairly comfortable on most roads, the fear of heights still rears its head on a road like this. It's absolutely amazing how far down it drops beside the road, no pictures can show it accurately! Leona and I were both a little nervous, but the majestic views were so worth it. 

One keeps climbing, hugging the edge of the mountains for miles, the views ever changing and becoming ever more beautiful! We will be coming back again someday I'm sure. We spent a lot of time at the look offs, drinking in the scenery and talking with people from all over the USA. There were so many people in Glacier today, but traffic moved smoothly, and it never really felt congested. 

It was around 4pm when we got to St. Mary, five hours to ride 80km. We got there just in time, as the clouds opened up minutes after arriving. We decided it was the perfect time to eat dinner and wait out the storm. By 5:30 we were back on the road, crossing back into Canada at 6:00. We caught a few drops of rain into Pincher Creek, though it was hardly worth mentioning. It did rain quite a bit after we arrived, but we were dry in the hotel room. 

The wait for today was worth it, and to share it with my beautiful wife was the icing on the cake! We have had an awesome trip together, enjoying each other's company and learning more of each other. It's such a blessing to be able to do this together, and we look forward to more of this in the future!

Just getting started

Turning at The Loop, it got crazy after this

Beside the creek in the middle of the picture, way down there, is only a few minutes away

Road hugging the side of the mountain

If you zoom in you can see the road way down there

The arches are beautiful

Amazing how far one can see

Picture of me taking a picture lol

Almost at St. Mary, looking west along the lake

Chief mountain

Back in Canada 

The pictures don't do justice, go and see this park yourselves, you will never regret it