Down By the River, Kalispell MT

Thursday July 26

Today we puttered around the camp for most of the day. We went into West Glacier to visit some gift shops. We also went to the Alberta Province Visitor's Center. That made us wish we had another month so we could go up to Waterton, Jasper and Banff National Parks in Alberta Canada. Maybe next time.

Friday July 27

Today we hiked from Siyeh Bend over Siyeh Pass and down to the Sunrift Gorge. This 11.5 mile trail circles Going-to-the-Sun Mountain and offers good looks at Piegan Glacier and Sexton Glacier. It climbs almost 2400' feet to the the pass. The trail starts in sub-alpine forest with spruce and fir and climbs above tree line into the tundra before descending back into the sub-alpine zone. At the pass we saw a large heard of 24 bighorn sheep. It is unusual to see such a large heard. It was also unusual because they were chasing each other and playing in a snowfield. They were much more active than any we we had seen them before.

After the hike we enjoyed another event in the Native America Speaks series in the park. Someone had told us about Jack Gladstone, a Blackfeet tribe member, who sings and tells stories, and who is an outstanding entertainer. We weren't disappointed. Actually, he looks a little like Chevy Chase with a ponytail. We were lucky and got seats on front row center and had a grand time.

Saturday July 28 - Another Big Move: 35 miles, Kalispell MT

Today we moved to Spruce Park-on-the-River, a private campground on the Flathead River in Kalispell. We will stay here two nights, then they will store the coach here until we come off our backpack trip. $1.00/day for storage, including electric to keep the batteries charged is a great deal. Our friends from home flew in today, and we ate dinner in town with them

Sunday July 29 - Packing day
Today was a packing day. Tomorrow we will put on in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area for a 6-day backpacking and fishing adventure. The cushy camping is over, at least for a while. We dragged out all the backpacking gear and flyfishing tackle that we have been hauling around for the last 11 weeks. After all that time we couldn't remember what we had packed and what we may have forgotten. Thankfully, it looks like we had most everything we really needed. We went to town the get a fishing license and the last of our groceries. In the evening our friends came over and we grilled steaks and had a big time watching the rafts and float tubes come down the river by our campsite. We got everything packed up and got the coach ready to roll. We will leave here about 7:00 to go to the Meadow Creek access in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area.

No more updates here for at least a week. Signing off!