Glacier in October

Lake McDonald - View from our camp site

This past Monday and Tuesday nights we camped at Apgar Picnic Grounds on the west side of Glacier National Park. Picnic area because all of the campgrounds in the park that would accommodate The Pickle are closed for the season. The sign on the barricade at Apgar Campground  read, "Winter Camping sites available at Apgar Picnic Grounds." And just down the road we found a place to light for the night. No amenities, of course, but we did face a fantastic view of mountains and Lake McDonald. Not bad for a Lifetime Park Pass and $6.00/night.

    Before getting situated at Apgar, we tested The Pickle by climbing to St. Mary on the east side of the park on Hwy. 89. "She" performed admirably, chugging up and over the long pass of curves and drop-offs. Michael was pleased with his latest carb-tweaking job - this time to lean out the gas on the primary jets.
     Tuesday, our full day at the Park, was spent driving on the part of the Going to the Sun Road that was still open and then driving back east on Hwy. 2 to take in the scenery one more time. Fog had settled in that morning, so our photo shoots were hindered a bit until 2 or 3 in the afternoon when the clouds lifted and the mountains were unveiled.
    This was our first time seeing Glacier in October. We were astounded by the golden garb of the deciduous larch tamarack trees. Mixed with the dark greens of pines and cedars, the steep hillsides of northwestern Montana are breathtaking.

 

Pepi atop St. Mary's Pass