"G" is for Glacier National Park

"Flying into Glacier" ©Mary Montague Sikes

"Morning Haze on Lake McDonald" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Last summer, we spent a week at Glacier National Park and soon discovered seven days is not nearly enough time to explore this spacious portion of the state of Montana. We did not attempt to visit the entire park which features 700 miles of hiking trails, but instead focused on the southwestern portion and Lake McDonald. The pretty town of Kalispell and the historic Kalispell Grand Hotel, built in 1911, served as our base.

We learned that Glacier National Park was established in 1910 and contains approximately one million acres. We also discovered that Going-to-the-Sun Road is a spectacular road to follow across the park from Lake McDonald to St. Mary Lake. Completed in 1932, the road is considered an engineering marvel. Driving the narrow roadway over Logan Pass is not for the feint of heart, but the journey is breathtaking and offers numerous unforgettable photographic opportunities.

I hope for another chance to visit this National Park and explore the eastern side where St. Mary Lake is located. It would be fun to follow Highway 89 north toward Canada.

"On Lake McDonald" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Inspiration or Plain Hard Work - What's Your Choice?

"Airview" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Years ago, I decided to create a series of paintings of air views. My reference material came from my own photographs taken on commercial flights and pictures from a private plane, snapped by a pilot friend. Once I decided on the theme for my paintings, I suppose my inspiration was already there.

But people, whether artists or writers, do not always come to work inspired. Some days, inspiration seems far away. Thoughts are elsewhere; nothing is quite right even if you are painting work in a series.

What to do? Get to work anyway.

I admire this quote from the exceptional artist, Chuck Close, "Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work."

That is so true. If you consider yourself a professional and wish to earn a living with or just feel good about your craft, you need to show up for work. You cannot afford to wait around for inspiration that is not always going to be there.

"Heading into Glacier National Park" ©Mary Montague Sikes

What about you? Do you wait around for inspiration to strike or do you, as the Nike ads say, "just do it"?

Glacier National Park - Memories from a Summer Visit

During our visit to Glacier National Park last summer, our family discovered that one week is not nearly enough time to explore all the possibilities that exist in this glorious and foreboding natural landscape. To investigate the west side of the park, we stayed in Kalispell, about 45 minutes away. From this location, we were able to visit Apgar, Lake McDonald, Logan's pass, the town of Whitefish, and much more. On a future trip, I would like to stay in a town on the east side of the park, near the Blackfeet Reservation and closer to the Canadian border. That way, we could not only explore the other side of Glacier, but we could cross over into Canada and travel around Waterton Lakes National Park.

Our first day of exploration at Glacier took us through the west entrance to Apgar, then on to Lake McDonald to visit the historic lodge that will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2014. The lodge overlooks the lake and is located on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Our goal was to drive over Logan Pass and along Going-to-the-Sun Road to the east entrance to the park. Along the way, the road was as treacherous and as beautiful as we expected.

"Boardwalk to Hidden Lake" ©Mary Montague Sikes

The following day, we took a ranger-led excursion along a nature trail at Apgar, then we headed back to the Lake McDonald Lodge where we boarded a cruise boat to see the lake with its crystal clear waters and dramatic mountain views. Later, we went to Avalanche Creek for the short trail walk through spectacular woods filled with ancient trees. A beautifully designed watercolor sign said these

"Boardwalk Through the Forest" ©Mary Montague Sikes

trees were there when Thomas Jefferson signed the Declaration of Independence. For the first time, we used the free Jammer shuttle.

We spent most of the next day in Whitefish, first going to the Whitefish Mountain Resort that features a variety of lifts. I was excited to discover many little art galleries in the town, including one featuring almost all encaustics by artist Karen Minton.

Our next excursion into Glacier National Park started at the Apgar Transit Center where we parked

"Jammer" ©Mary Montague Sikes

our car and boarded one of the free shuttles. We found we should have started out a little earlier because by mid-morning there was a considerable wait period to catch a shuttle. While it was convenient not to drive and park a car, killing time awaiting the arrival of shuttle required a great deal of patience.

The last day of our trip inside the park, we visited Discovery Cabin which was built in 1925. We returned to McDonald Lake via a Jammer, the driver of which passed around a journal book with an handcrafted stitchery cover for passengers to sign. Turned out that most of the shuttle drivers are also school bus drivers during the school year.

We flew home, glad for an unique journey into a major National Park and longing for a return visit. Our trip left us with many memories and lots of photographs that made us thankful for the digital age.

Mary Montague Sikes

National Parks - Week One - Glacier

Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald dock ©Mary Montague Sikes

There is something mystic about a misty mountain lake in the morning. That was especially true of this view of Lake McDonald at Glacier National Park. Many of the magazine photographs of mountain lakes I have admired over the years appear to have been taken in Glacier. It was rewarding to be in this picturesque treasure taking my own pictures.

Glacier National Park, located in northwestern Montana, was established in 1910 and spreads over around one million acres. About 700 miles of trails wind through this glorious land of wilderness and wonder. Mount Cleveland, the highest peak in the park, rises 10,466 above sea level.

In 1933, the Going-to-the-Sun Road opened in Glacier. This narrow and treacherous roadway stretches for 52 miles up Logan Pass and over the Continental Divide to the other side. It connects the eastern and the western sides of Glacier. Each spring, preparing the road for reopening is quite a project that involves clearing snow at lower elevations and progressing upward, meaning that some parts of the roadway must be cleared more than once. It's usually mid-June before the road is completely reopened. Because of weather conditions, reconstruction along Going-to-the-Sun Road has to take place during the high tourist season, so visitors can expect delays from time to time.

Going-to-the-Sun Road ©Mary Montague Sikes

The free park shuttle that starts at the Visitor Center parking lot at Apgar is a great convenience to use during a visit to Glacier. The Going-to-the-Sun Road can be a bit intimidating to drivers and passengers alike, so it's nice to leave the driving to those more experienced.

For those who don't wish to stay inside the park or who can't get reservations, Kalispell is a lovely little town located about 30 miles from the west entrance to Glacier. There are many good restaurants, hotels, and other conveniences there. Plan well ahead of time if you want to visit this park and experience the many outdoor activities available there.

Loving Historic Old Hotels - Lake McDonald Lodge

Lake McDonald Lodge - road view ©Mary Montague Sikes

My love affair with old historic hotels began years ago when I first saw the El Tovar on the edge of wonder at the Grand Canyon. Now I can't seem to resist infatuation whenever I discover another wonderful, historic lodging place.

The Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park on the Going-to-the-Sun Road is my latest love. Opened June 14, 1914, the hotel has all the elements that make it special including an amazing lobby that rises into forever. While we were visiting Glacier, a decorated Christmas tree suddenly appeared in the lobby, and outdoors, one of the Red Jammer Tour Buses made its way through the grounds complete with Santa and a green-clad elf. The horn blasted, and Santa called out "Merry Christmas"! It was July 25. Seems Christmas in July is for real there.

Lake McDonald Lodge lobby ©Mary Montague Sikes

On May 28, 1987, Lake McDonald Lodge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a well-deserved place for this historic edifice.

Great wooden pillars rise to the ceiling in the impressive lobby. The main lodge, a row of duplex cabins, and a 1950s motel section combine to offer 100 guest rooms for visitors. Most views face out to the forest of tall cedars and cottonwood trees. Many guests like to enjoy the verandah chairs where they can sip a drink of their choice and enjoy the picturesque view of Lake McDonald complete with mountains and glaciers in the background.

Lake McDonald Lodge--what a great discovery in one of our national treasures, Glacier National Park. Thank you, our ancestors, for saving this spectacular space! Thank you, engineers and builders, for creating this historic hotel for us to enjoy today.

To read about other hotels I visited and love, please see my book, Hotels to Remember, or my Snapshot in Time books.

Lake McDonald Lodge fronts on the lake ©Mary Montague Sikes

My Bag Is Always Packed - A Visit to Glacier

My bag is always packed and ready to go. I enjoy travel and would like to see as many places as possible and revisit often those destinations I've grown to love.

We just returned from a week in Montana--a family vacation planned by our daughter, Allison. She loves the National Parks and selected Glacier for this year's exploration.

McDonald Lake at Glacier National Park ©Mary Montague Sikes

The scenery was spectacular--a photo op in every direction. We quickly learned that a week is not enough time to explore this park. While we saw a lot of the western side, we did not actually visit the eastern section. However, when our daughter, Alicia, drove us over the Going to the Sun road, we viewed parts of the east side of Glacier. My digital camera amazes me with its ability to capture photos through a car window while traveling along a roadway. Because of that feature, I have some pictures from the eastern section.

"Through the Window - East Glacier" ©Mary Montague Sikes

We flew into the Glacier Park International Airport from Chicago. Because of a tight connection, we had a 15-minute run/walk to a terminal far distant from the gate where our plane from Richmond landed. We were thankful to have daughter, Amy, to lead the way through crowded O'Hare. The Kalispell airport is a nice size and easy to reach. A local resident told us the airport was discovered about 10 years ago by celebrities, including some movie stars, who use the facility for their private jets.

©Alicia Sikes

 Do you enjoy travel? Is there a season of the year when you most like to explore someplace you've never been?

I always learn something new, especially when visiting the National Parks. I'll keep my bag packed and look forward to the next time...