Last month I got to go to Montana for the first time. I did my best to get to Glacier National Park, and alas, work won out and I failed to get up to the park. When I planned my trip back, however, I conned my co-worker into staying and extra day with me to go do the park.
We left the morning after the event pretty early and got on the road from Helena – about a four hour drive to the park. It’s a beautiful drive, as I’ve found it is through most of the state. As we approached the park, we were getting antsy and I was ready to get out the glorified go-cart we had rented. We’re rolling along the highway and I shouted at Mary Ellen “Something big just ran across the highway!” Sure enough, a rogue bear had run across the highway and was busting through a wire fence onto some ranch. It was maybe the first time I’d seen a live bear, but definitely the most random place I’d seen on.
Oh, Montana.
We experienced the Blackfeet reservation as we approached the east entrance of the park, which was a little disheartening to see. We also felt every eyeball on us as we drove through – we were, once again, the outsiders, and probably the only white people around.
After gassing up, we ended up heading into the east side of the park. It was absolutely stunning from the minute we got through the entrance. This is where we began:
Mary Ellen and I.
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