Jasper, AB to Jackson WY on a tandem: Columbia Falls toGoing to the Sun Road Glacier National Park; Part 2, Plan B

Part B, Columbia Falls.

We had planned on picking up a rental car in Kalispell tomorrow (which is today) but Lorie wanted to get into Glacier NP and figured out how to get the car tonight. She convinced the rental company that we are such good customers (we’ve never rented from them before) that they need to drive from Kalispell to our B&B in Columbia Falls to pick us up, then drive us back so we can pick up the ride tonight (no extra charge, of course!). They said “OK” and we soon were driving in our rental mini van, which is roughly the size of Idaho. I think they wondered why we wanted such a large automobile, but we didn’t mention that we are going to stuff Das Bike in the back and drive 300 miles to Bozeman. Who worries about details?

So with mini-van in hand at about 6:30, we headed for Glacier NP. We made the west gate at about 7:15 and the park warden told us that we would be glad that we are heading up the Going to the Sun Road so late, since it was a major traffic jam during the day.

So up we went. The drive up the west side is about 25 miles in all, maybe 15 miles of uphill and the rest along McDonald Lake. There was very little traffic, and the further up we got, more bikes. But the driving on the climb is 20 to 25 mph max, so it was perfect. The weather was glorious and the views outstanding. Pictures tell the story better than I and without conceit:

Going to the Sun Road

Going to the Sun Road (you can see the road switchbacks ahead

Going to the Sun Road

We saw a bear on the way up, but mostly just gawked at the views.

Black bear (or maybe Sasquatch?)

Logan Pass at sunset

We hiked around the meadow at the top at Logan Pass, then slowly made our way down. Driving the road was fun and we were both glad to have done it. But I want to ride it one day. It is on my list.