Glacier National Park Day One - Lake McDonald
The first day we left the Outlaw Inn in Kalispell early on Sunday morning and for the next few hours we battled cold temperatures (49 degrees), rain, cross-winds, and flat tires. This came as a shock - or at least the cold temperatures and the rain. Kevin and I had been training for our trip in the 95+ degree heat and humidity of Washington DC. The DC area was also suffering a severe drought so rain was not something we had to deal with all summer. To prepare for the trip it was suggested that we bring (just in case) arm warmers and leg warmers. I went to my local bike shop and asked Chad the manager for leg warmers. Mind you it was close to a hundred degrees that day and he looked at me like I needed to be institutionalized when I mentioned what I needed. I have to tell you, I was sure glad to have both my arm warmers and leg warmers. I lived in them throughout the week.
By the afternoon, however, the sun came out and we were rewarded for our morning efforts with a blue-sky treasure. We entered Glacier National Park at the West Entrance of the park. As we were standing in line to enter the park, we witnessed something even the locals find unusual. A female black bear crossed the street. At first, Kevin thought it was a large dog (we are city folks), but quickly realized that no dog could that be. Trailing behind the moma bear was not one, not two, but three small cubs. The forest ranger we spoke to was very surprised and pleased to see the bear family. She said it was unusual for a black bear to have three cubs.
We stopped to have lunch at Eddie’s the local restaurant in Apgar Village - I must say that the peanut butter and huckleberry jam sandwich hit the spot.
We decided to take advantage of the warm and sunny weather and get in some additional mileage. Tour-guide Dave suggested that we ride on Camas Road on the way to Polebridge. It would be about a 20 mile addition (10 miles out 10 miles back)- we would not go all the way to Polebridge - about 10 miles into the ride, the road ceases to be paved and turns into a dirt road. Neither Kevin or I are into off road cycling - we are strickly roadies.
As we rode along Camas Road we saw few cars, beautiful wild flowers, spectacular mountain peaks, lush forests, and rolling hills. One thing we also saw was fire damage. Last summer, this area was hit by lightening strikes which led to a serious fire. We could see the fire damage - acres and acres of black burned spears - no leaves, no branches, just blackened stripped spears that used to be trees. But you could already tell that the forest was coming back. The undergrowth was a vibrant green and wildflowers were also visible from the road.
We came back to Apgar and cycled our way around the Lake to Lake McDonald Lodge. Lake McDonald is the park’s biggest lake. The lake is ten miles long, 472 feet deep, and surrounded by mountains on the north, south, and east. Lake McDonald is at the foot of the Continental Divide which runs north-south east of the Lake.
We stayed the night at Lake McDonald Lodge, where we had a great dinner and began to get acquainted with the other riders on the tour. The cabin within a cabin was very nice, clean, dry, and quiet.
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