Visiting Glacier National Park. The Ride of a Lifetime.
The views and experience of GNP was absolutely exhilarating. But sometimes it was also extremely terrifying.
I love mountains and our experience in Glacier National Park is no exception. But there comes a time when I must question the love of my life as she plots pure evil in our drives around these majestic beauties. Perhaps Donetta is testing my sanity or simply trying to kill me.
It’s no secret I’m incredibly fearful of heights.
Especially after the near-death experience at Pikes Peak a few years ago. Since that fateful day, I’ve encountered moments of complete horror and PTSD from mountain driving. Even riding a Ferris wheel conjures up pure terror for me these days, sending me into a panic and making me feel like I need to soil my pants and shed some tears. You might laugh, but it’s absolutely true.
Despite being an infantry soldier who loved throwing hand grenades and sending rounds down range, this old fart doesn’t like living on the edge anymore. Give me my rocking chair, please!
Our Glacier National Park Experience.
The beginning and the end of our Glacier National Park experience were fantastic. It was the middle that became the nightmare, but more on that in a minute.
Driving through Montana from Helena to our “base camp“ in Kalispell was just mesmerizing. Cruising along Highway 83 past Seeley Lake, Swan Lake, and the Flathead National Forest is something you don’t want to miss out on. Whitefish and Columbia Falls are also lovely places to visit. Montana is filled with wondrous places and outdoor spaces. I can’t wait to go back because it just has a nice and relaxed feeling, plus there’s so much to see.
Heading into Glacier National Park was a treat as well. Literally!
We grabbed some world-famous huckleberry pie from The Huckleberry Patch in Hungry Horse, Montana. OMG, it was lip-smacking delicious! Since we’ve been eating the keto lifestyle for over a year now, it almost caused a sugar-induced coma, but it was well worth it. I washed it down with a Dark Horse, a combination of black coffee and espresso. This guy took off like a fighter jet from the caffeine-and-sugar injection. WHOOOOOOO!!!
The next stop was West Glacier and the Apgar Visitor Center. This is the entrance to Glacier National Park, where a few restaurants and shops await.
What was the actual park like, though?
As you roll along Going to the Sun Road, you’ll be treated to a plethora of magical moments. You’ll cruise along Lake McDonald and enjoy wildlife crossing the road to towering trees, and many inspiring pull-outs along the lake. The mountains in the background are breathtaking, and you’ll groove to the variety of colored rocks close to the water. It’s nature and the outdoors at its finest display.
It isn’t easy to put into words the entire Glacier National Park experience. That is, until you get close to Logan Pass.
Jesus, take the wheel, take it from my hands.
A Nightmare on Sun Street
Life was good until we got to a particular place on Going to the Sun Road, where it felt like I was heading into hell. Yep, you got it -- another mountain road pass experience. As my knuckles went into the grip of death on the steering wheel and my anxiety burst through the roof, I could only pray in tongues, which happened to sound a LOT like cussing.
Honestly, I’d rather face Freddy Krueger than drive that nightmare of a road again.
The harrowing turns and narrow streets so far up in the mountain still cause me to lose bowel control when I think about it. I pissed off many people by driving in the middle of the road as I snaked my way toward the Logan Pass Visitor Center. And by the way, if you don’t beat all the traffic up there, you’ll spend days trying to get a parking space. In the 45 minutes we drove around, we never found a parking spot.
Unfortunately, we never reached the end of the trail, but frankly, my darling, I don’t give a damn. I love my wife, and it sucked to see the gravity of disappointment on her face, yet the horror was worse for me.
Thank God, going back down the mountain was a much happier moment. We even managed to create a video that helped pass the time and reduce the anxiety.
The end of the GNP journey.
Donetta and I finally had a good laugh as we wrapped up our field trip and our Glacier National Park experience. We drove around the other side of the lake, hiked a trail without bear spray, and ended our day celebrating the accomplishment with food and adult beverages.
We grabbed a bite to eat in Whitefish at the Great Northern Bar and Grill, but the food and vibe sucked, despite it being a neat place. Donetta and I left disappointed, but then I remembered a place we passed several times on the route to GNP.
The Sacred Waters Brewing Company is a must for beer lovers.
Their Little Salman Fire and Beautiful Disaster was like liquid mana from heaven, and it was relaxing to sit out back in the Adirondack chairs while enjoying the live entertainment. It was such a cool vibe and way to destress. We both agreed this was the perfect place to end the day.
There’s so much more to our Montana visit than I can write in this post. You’ll have to wait for those. But if you’re considering visiting Glacier National Park, you’ll love it.
Just bring an adult diaper if you’re scared of heights.
