Big Sky Country

We’ve been in Big Sky Country for two days now. What great luck we’ve had!!

Yesterday we slept in a bit to get some much needed rest. Left camp around 11, and headed to Babb, or more accurately into Glacier from Babb. We drove to the Many Glacier Hotel; then stopped for a short walk and some photo opportunities on Josephine Lake.

On our return trip to Babb, we spotted a Black Bear along the side of the road. It was eating berries, fattening itself for the upcoming winter. We stuck around for a half hour or so, and photographed or videoed it as it moved from berry bush to berry bush.
After it had apparently had enough to eat, it meandered down to the waters edge, and slowly moved out of sight.

Around 1PM yesterday we headed up the Going to the Sun Road. Wow, what beauty!! We drove as far as Logan Pass and then headed back. So much beauty to behold, but boy was I scared coming back down that road with shear cliffs and no guardrails!!!

This morning we headed back to the Many Glacier Hotel, hoping to catch another glimpse of either that bear or another. No such luck, but it was still a beautiful drive.

Around 10:30 we headed back up the Going to the Sun Road. We stopped along several turn outs to photograph, and slowly worked our way to the Visitors Center at Logan Pass. While there, someone mentioned that there had been sheep on the hill across the road. We searched with both binoculars and long camera lenses, but did not spot them. Another tourist shared shots he had just taken of a mountain goat at the first turn out on the west side of Logan Pass. So off we went, with a promise from DH that he would go no further than that first turn out. Yes, I’m terrified of the steep drops to the valley floor!

When we arrived there was a Mom and baby Mountain Goat, standing on the stone wall right next to the sidewalk which runs in front of the turn out parking spaces!!! We both grabbed cameras and tripods, and set up to shoot. Again we were afforded about a half hour of great viewing, and the opportunity to photograph both babies, and their Mom’s. What an experience…

Then we headed back to the Visitor’s Center, and intended to proceed down the mountain. But as we passed the Visitor’s Center Parking Lot, we spotted a Ram on the hillside opposite the Visitor’s Center. So we turned around at the first turn out which was large enough to safely do so. Back to the center we went, and couldn’t get out of the truck fast enough. In the end, there were a total of four Big Horn Sheep on the hillside. We photographed first two, separately and then together. And then as we were about to walk away we noticed two more further up the mountain. They slowly worked their way down to the road, one of them actually crossing the road into the parking lot. But by that time, there were far too many people, and not enough space for the animal. So we backed away, and enjoyed the view from a safe distance. It was a little scary to see how close some people attempted to get to them. I’m sure they had no idea how much danger they were in, or how aggressive the wild animals become when trapped.

I won’t even begin to attempt to describe the beauty of this great park. We’ll include some photographs which Sal has taken, but as one gentleman said today, “I’m here, and I don’t believe how beautiful it is.”