Favorite National Park?

[Deb & Bill]

We just got back from two weeks in the West. We started in Glacier National Park - hiked 6.8 miles up the mountain to the Sperry Chalet. This was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. We drove up the Going to the Sun Road. My son was getting very worried (my husband convinced him that he could sit in the front seat and he would sit in the back). We went swimming in Lake McDonald (about 52 degrees).

Next we headed to Yellowstone. Stayed three nights at Canyon Lodge - Cascade Lodge. Very nice. Saw tons of animals, including a bear. Bison all over the place. They are really multiplying. I adore Yellowstone. Now we will be going back to Yellowstone in Winter 05/06. We did that in Jan 93 and it was great. -40 degrees at night, -25 degrees during the day.

We also did Grand Tetons while we were there.

Next we went to Mt Rushmore. The new viewing pavillion was completed for this trip (plus the new parking facility). We also did Badlands National Park on the drive through SD.

We stopped at Wall Drug for ice cream and the Corn Palace at Mitchell SD. Then headed home via Sioux Falls and Tulsa.

Great, great vacation.

 

[janette]

hrh_disney_queen's pictures of the Beartooth Hwy inspired me to look at the Glacier website (I plan to take the girls there in 2006) It is my favorite park but I haven't been to many.

Deb - How was the Sperry Chalet? Worth the hike? We do some hikes when we are in Montana during the summer but usually only about 1 mile each way. Looks like there's a pretty lake and glacier pretty close to the Chalet too.

Some friends from Kalispell were saying that the fires scars are pretty bad in Glacier from last year.