The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
at Glacier National Park, west Entrance
in Montana - Pag 1 of 2
August 23, 2016

USA map showing location of MontanaUSA map showing location of Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is a national park located in the U.S. state of Montana, on the Canada–United States border with the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The park encompasses over 1 million acres and includes parts of two mountain ranges (sub-ranges of the Rocky Mountains), over 130 named lakes, more than 1,000 different species of plants, and hundreds of species of animals. This vast pristine ecosystem is the centerpiece of what has been referred to as the "Crown of the Continent Ecosystem", a region of protected land encompassing 16,000 square miles.

Going to the Sun Road sign

Karen Duquette at the Glacier National Park sign

history clipart bookThe region that became Glacier National Park was first inhabited by Native Americans. Upon the arrival of European explorers, it was dominated by the Blackfeet in the east and the Flathead in the western regions. Under pressure the Blackfoot ceded the mountainous parts of their treaty lands in 1895 to the federal government; it later became part of the park. Soon after the establishment of the park on May 11, 1910, a number of hotels and chalets were constructed by the Great Northern Railway. These historic hotels and chalets are listed as National Historic Landmarks and a total of 350 locations are on the National Register of Historic Places. By 1932 work was completed on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, later designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, which provided greater accessibility for automobiles into the heart of the park.

west entrance to Glacier National Park

west entrance to Glacier National Park

Lake McDonald - As usual, Karen Duquette must touch the water whenever possible. Sometimes she even walks or swims in it, depending upon the weather and how safe the water is.

Karen Duquette at Lake McDonald

Karen Duquette feeling the water at Lake McDonald

Lake MacDonald

Lake MacDonald

Below: The two RV Gypsies at McDonald Falls

bridge

the two RV Gypsies at McDonald Falls

Lee Duquette at McDonald Falls Lee Duquette at McDonald Falls

Karen Duquette at McDonald Falls

Karen Duquette feeling the water

The two RV Gypsies just loved the big red colored rock among all the smaller, plain rocks.

Lee Duquette and the big red rock

Karen Duquette and the big red rock

The top of the rock had an image shaped like a spear.

the big red rock

spear image on the red rock

Below: Avalanche Creek

bridge at Avalanche Creek

Avalanche Creek

Avalanche Creek

Avalanche Creek

Avalanche Creek

waterfall at Avalanche Creek

waterfall at Avalanche Creek

Below: Heavens Peak

Heavens Peak sign

Heavens Peak

The mountains of Glacier National Park began forming 170 million years ago when ancient rocks were forced eastward up and over much younger rock strata.

Heavens Peak

Heavens Peak

scenery in Glacier National Park USA scenery in Glacier National Park USA

scenery in Glacier National Park USA

scenery in Glacier National Park USA

Below: Lots of waterfalls in Glacier National Park USA

waterfall at scenery in Glacier National Park USA

waterfall at scenery in Glacier National Park USA

waterfall at scenery in Glacier National Park USA weeping wall

Below: Back-cutting erosion may have carved this mountain ridge and its a sharp-edges.

sharp-edged arete

sharp-edged arete

scenery in Glacier National Park

sign about glaciers

the two rV Gypsies

Glaciers that lie against mountains erode ever-steeper cliffs by repeatedly freezing and thawing, plucking rock loose. The moving ice carries the broken rock down valley. Where glaciers surround a mountain peak they may eventually erode it to a tooth-like horn.

Glacier in Glacier National Park

Glacier in Glacier National Park

snow patches on the mountain

snow patches on the mountain

mountain cliff

Below: Waterfalls were almost everywhere in Glacier National Park.

Waterfalls everywhere in Glacier National Park

Waterfalls everywhere in Glacier National Park
Waterfalls everywhere in Glacier National Park Karen Duquette at Glacier National Park
waterfall and Karen Duquette waterfall runoff
look below

go to the next page of Glacier National ParkGlacier National Park - page 2 - Logan's Pass, waterfalls and Jackson Glacier