Glacier National Park is similar to Olympic National Park in the sense that each has distinct areas. The West side you have already seen in my previous entry, now enjoy the East side which by comparison is like another park in itself. Actually, taking Rt. 2 out of West Glacier is almost like driving through another state, with a totally different topography. It is, as my bicycling friend Dave told me while camping on the West side, "like what Montana really looks like". His analogy was perfect. "Big Sky", rolling hills, vast open spaces, lots of horses and beautiful vistas with few stores and homes to take away from the natural beauty of the land.
The campground was full, so I was directed to Chewing Backbones Indian Reservation Campground. Yes, that's really the name. Read the photo to understand. Several days of park and area exploration along with some quality hikes proved to be quite enjoyable as well as the Montana towns of St. Mary, Babb, Duck Lake. I was rather close to Canada and a senic ride on Rt. 89 brought me right up to Customs door.
It is the Centennial Anniversary of the park, but talking to some of the Blackfeet Indians, actually puts a different slant on the "celebration", that not all are celebrating. At the visitors center there is actually a tee pee with 9 short films showing that same opinion about the parks true ownership and the feelings of the the different tribes in the area. I was surprised to see the National Park System offer such an open attitude about Glacier National Park and the controversy that still seems to exist today regarding it's true ownership and how the Park was obtained. Enjoy some photos. TC...
The Indians call that Lizard Glacier in the center.
I was hoping to see these guys, but was not that lucky.
Natures own art.
If you look really closely you will see the bear on the mountain side.
