This view greets everyone who approaches the park from Kalispell...with the Flathead R. on prominant display.
As soon as I shot the gap, I turned SE over Hungry Horse Reservoir...running between the Flathead Range and the Swan Range.
At 8500' I was still down among them as I passed Marion Lake.
I reversed course south of Essex and followed US-2 and the Flathead R toward the turn to Marias Pass where the Northern Pacific RR forged the crossing used today by Amtrak's Empire Builder between Chicago & Seattle.
Tom at Eagle Aviation told me about Lk.Ellen Wilson's flowing water falls as it runs into lower Lk.Lincoln. This is not visible to motoring tourists...only to hikers and pilots.
Glacier's most famous photo is of Lk. McDonald...usually taken from the other end looking at the mountains...this view is toward Apgar Village.
I can't swear this is Gunsight Mtn....it's the view across to Lk. St. Mary and the eastern edge of the park.
Going to the Sun Road from Already at the Sun Mooney...a different vantage point.
and the Weeping Wall...
and to anyone who has come to Glacier and been disappointed...as I was 3 times...Logan Pass is OPEN...the visitors center looks busy.
Mooney full of mountains.
The eastern entrance to the park between St. Mary Lk. and Lower St. Mary Lk.
A left turn to Lk. Sherburn
and beyond it...tiny Swiftcurrent Lk. and Many Glaciers Lodge.
I had fiddled around in the park for the better part of an hour with a 400 mi flight into fading weather still ahead. Bellingham reported 5000 over and light rain, so it was time to get going. 9500' VFR seemed a good plan.
The remainder of the trip covered country beautiful by any measure, though it was not as distinctive as that around Glacier.
First came Lk. Koocanusa formed by the Libby Dam.
Another hour or so and Sand Point, ID and Lk. Pend Orielle appeared.
Then the Columbia R. and Grand Coolee Dam.
In the mean time, I'd had to give up some altitude...down to 7500'
The land was meeting the sky and that was a place I did not want to linger.
I turned south toward Lake Wenatchee, but that wasn't going to get me to Lynden.
So I said "Beam me up Center" and went on the gagues.
I was given a turn and a climb to 10,000 with Whidby Island approach. After 80 mi. and a few zigs and zags...Bellingham popped out at 5000'
Lynden lay just beyond this scud layer.
and I was home.
