-Flathead Lake is massive and beautiful and a fantastic prelude to Glacier National Park.  We got an early start from Polson but didn’t feel we needed to rush.

-Visits to Glacier National Park increased 22% for the month of June year to date, and a ranger told me today that no one in the park was ready for it.

-Avalanche Lake was beautiful (as always) but packed full of people.  We arrived at the parking area around 9 a.m. and had to park a half mile down the Road.

-The worst people in the world are: 1) People that smoke in parks.  2) People that play music on bluetooth speakers while walking in parks.  3) Trail runners on dusty trails in bear country.

-People also have a problem dressing for National Parks.  People were hiking the two miles up the trail to Avalanche Lake in full maxi-dresses and dress sandals, while complaining that it’s dirty. 

-Someone died near at Haystack Creek on the Going-to-the-Sun Road when he got on the rocks in the creek, slipped in his flip-flops, and fell into the culvert and eventually down a 100 foot cliff to his death.  I’m so sorry for the loss for his family but I don’t know how many times parks need to warn people that the outdoors is dangerous.

-That message didn’t get to the woman in her underwear doing yoga on the stone wall on the cliff of the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

-The bear grass is nuts this year. 

-The crowds are nuts this year.

-We are still happy with our cabin at Johnson’s of St. Mary.

-6 miles hiked today.