The year of Covid. A memorable time in everyones lives. Also a time when the majority of the population got outside more.

August of 2020 we decided to pack up our gear with a group of friends and road trip out west to Montana. With two cars packed with enough food and supplies to last us the drive and 5 nights in the cabin we headed out on the 21st for a full day of driving.

Taking shifts through the night we made it to Tamarak Lodge in Hungry Horse at 4pm the next day. We had to take the longer route due to the restrictions the reservation bordering the east enterance had put in place for Covid. It was a brutal drive but the roads after passing through South Dakota were beautiful. The winding roads and montain views as we got closer to our destination helped fight the feeling of fatigue.

All fatigued, tired and in need of a good meal we cooked up some burgers on the grill and relaxed for the rest of the night. We would need it to because tomorrow was going to be intense.

Day One

Promptly waking up at 6am everyone ate breakfast and climbed back into the cars. We traveled high into the mountains along the Going-To-The-Sun-Road. We had no real set plan in mind. We just stopped when we felt like it and hiked when we wanted.

First we stopped at Saint Mary’s Lake. The morning sun creeping up the sky gave the area a luminous glow.

We hiked to St Mary’s Falls. A easy level hike with beautiful water falls. When we went the forest surrounding the trail was still dead from a fire that had come through in the past. Hopefully if anyone were to visit now they could see nature thriving as it had before.

After our hike we headed back up past Logans Pass to my personal favorite pull out spot, Big Bend. With panaramic views this area captured my heart.

I’m sure the majority of our group had done a bit of research on the main trails but it didn’t do us much good. After viewing Big Bend we somehow ended up hiking The Loop. Little did we know this was the hardest part of the Highline Trail and better traveled going down than up.

Despite the exhaustion of the trail we did get this beautiful pic from our friend.

Unprepared for the hike we all ran out of water quickly, we were about a mile or so away from the Chalet, out of water, and the summer heat beating down on us, so we turned around. Everyone was exhausted after this unknowingly intense hike so we headed back to the lodge and recovered from the mental and physical strain it had caused.

Day Two

Today we tried to go in with more of a plan. We researched some trails that were “claimed“ to be easier to hike than the loop.

Today we were starting with Avalanche Lake. Claimed to be four and a half miles round trip with less than 1000 feet elevation gain. We figured it would be easy.

The walk up was relaxing until we reached this area pictured below.

After this section it was constant uphill and down hill traveling. Some of the hills were rather steep.

We looked like a sore group of young adults, taking breaks every five to ten minutes. We were passed by children who made it look like a normal walk in the park. We were left feeling confused as to why we were performing so poorly. It was supposed to be easy. However, one thing none of us factored in was the affects the altitude was having on our bodies. Of course we were huffing and puffing like we hadn’t seen movement once in our lives, our bodies weren’t getting enough O2.

A view of the scenery from the portion of the trail we were dying on.

Kind people would pass us by, encouraging us on, and telling us only a little longer and with their help we listened. I am glad our group never gave us because we would have missed out on these amazing views.

We walked the front and back parts of Avalance Lake. Taking a break for snacks and hydration with this breath taking view.

I hope everyone in their lifetime gets to enjoy a view of nature that makes them never want to leave.

Our return back we walked through the Cedar Trails. A gentle board walk through the woods was exactly what we needed. Though we were all enjoying the views morale was dropping.

My favorite picture of Jerry from the trip.

The end of the day was a few smaller hikes along upper Lake McDonalds Falls and a return back to the lodge for dinner.

Day Three

Today all were tired from the hikes prior and with the impromptu plan of moving on to Yellowstone tomorrow we felt it best not to tire ourselves out before another long drive.

For a more relaxing time we headed up to Polebridge. A busy bakery and mercentile area located north of Apgar Visitors Center. Despite the rough terrain roads and the distance the Bakery was packed.

Too shy at the time to take any pictures inside I do have photos of Jerry sitting outside with the bear statue.

After nabbing a few baked goods we headed even further north to Quartz Lake and Bowman Lake.

I tried to teach Jerry how to swim here but the bottom of the lake was smooth first sized stones that were slippery. In order to even make it out deep enough to wade the water you had to crawl hands and knees to get there.

We have some funny photos of Jerry struggling to move on the rocks but for his dignity I won’t post those. Instead I posted his glamor shot as he walked in the mildly cold clear glacier water.

Also, if anyones curious, he did not learn to swim. 😂

Day Four

Oh my goodness, we had done a lot on this day. We arrived at the west side of Yellowstone at 4pm and didn’t leave until 8pm. That’s after spending the early portion of the day in a car.

We started with Mammoth Falls and Steamboat Gyser which was luckily going off the moment we pulled into the parking lot. The roar of the steam escaping the vent was so loud Jerry and I had to yell to each other when we were up close.

We also visited the active area on the other side of Steamboat Gyser.

You know how people say when you go to Southeast Asia and after visiting a lot of temples you become templed out? Personally after this day I was already Gysered out. Luckily tomorrow was more about finding animals than gysers.

Day Five

Our final full day.

Despite being gysered out day one in Yellowstone we had to go see the largest attraction within the park.

Waking up early we headed to Old Faithful and watched it's eruption. They do have benches for people to sit on while waiting for the eruption which is nice to also have a breakfast snack at. Some benches may be wet so if you don’t want a wet butt bring a coat or towel to sit on.

I won’t lie I wasn’t impressed with the eruption but Jerry and everyone else really liked it so it could just be a me thing.

Some other active areas of the park and the view of Yellowstone’s waterfall

We didn’t see many animals this day and after asking a park ranger we discovered it was because the bison had migrated to the other end of the park in a valley.

Our day kind of fizzeled out like our energy and for the remainder of it we spent relaxing and getting ready for the long travel back to wisconsin the next day.

Day Six

Travel day and the day with animals.

Packing the cars full once again, we climbed begrudgingly into them and made our way back into the park. Instead of taking the way we got into Yellowstone to get home we decided to pass through the park again and drive to Bear Tooth Bypass. The boys claimed that it was a must see.

On our way out of the park we ran into the heard of bison that the ranger had mentioned to us the day prior. Sure they kind of delayed our travel but it was worthwhile when you get to be up close and personal with these massive beasts.

Jerry captured this most amazing, National Geographic like, picture of a bison. The focus, the beauty. It's my favorite picture that he has ever taken.
Funny side story, months later when I seen this photo in our album I had to question where it was from, totally thinking it was a Nat Geo picture. Still super amazed he got such a cool shot while in a moving car.
After our breif traffic jam we made our dizzying ride up to Bear Tooth bypass. The road can be very windy and if you are a bit sensitive to motion sickness take a benadryl to sleep through it or some meds to ease the effects. I was very grateful for the pull outs we did to stretch our legs and to reorient myself.
The views were a bonus.

After our last scenic stop it was a continuous drive back home.

The trip was fun and even though we spontaneously cut our time in Glacier short, it was still very rewarding to see the natural wonders of Yellowstones geothermal land and wildlife.

Glacier & Yellowstone 2020