Sunday we found a Mass just 20 minutes away at St. Richard’s that was beautiful.  After Mass, we returned to the campground and made sausage, bacon, and pancakes for brunch.  This was Charlie’s birthday breakfast that we didn’t have time to cook on his birthday and was delicious!

After brunch, we headed up the more isolated western side of Glacier National Park to Polebridge.  We stopped outside of Polebridge to get the requisite Huckleberry Ice Cream that we have raved about for the past 10 years (of course!) at this great little off-grid place.  This area is like my dream place to live – off grid and in the woods! 

We went by the Polebridge Mercantile and then drove up to Kintla Lake.  The drive to Polebridge and beyond is mostly dirt roads, so all of this driving takes a lot of extra time, but it is so worth it!

On the way to the lake, we managed to knock one more wildlife siting off – a black bear was standing in the middle of the road as we rounded a curve.  What a treat for us! 

We continued our drive to the lake.  Most everyone got their feet wet in the cold water, and two decided to take a polar plunge! – Isaac and AnaClaire.  It was beautifully quiet and peaceful back there. 

After feeding the local mosquitoes for an hour or so, we started back to the campground.  We made it about 25 minutes down the dirt, extremely bumpy road when Charlie realized that he didn’t have his cell phone with him and must have left it at the lake.  Needless to say, he made it back to the lake in record time but with all of us a little on the sore side from that fast, rough ride.  Fortunately his cell was on the picnic table where he left it, and we were able to get right back onto the rustic road without any more delay.

In the end, the only thing we were disappointed with at Glacier is that we weren’t able to stay longer.  We had REALLY wanted to go into Canada and visit the Waterton side of the park, but we just didn’t have enough time.  Monday morning we pulled out for the long drive to Yellowstone.  Goodbye Glacier!  I hope it isn’t 10 more years before I’m able to visit you again.  Supposedly all of the glaciers will be gone from Glacier National Park by 2030, which will sadly make for a much-changed park.

Rebecca