Glacier National Park September 2019 - A Day Inside Glacier National Park

Wild Goose Island in St. Mary's Lake

A Day Inside Glacier National Park 

Did you know that the original owners of the land in Glacier National Park was the Blackfeet Indian Nation? Today I had the honor of seeing Glacier National Park through the eyes of a native full blood Blackfeet Indian young man Virgil. We traveled into the Park on the east entrance near St. Mary's and traveled the "Going to the Sun Road" to Logan's Pass and returned. The road west was closed for construction so we did not get to go into the West Glacier area. But the scenes along the road included St. Mary's Lake, Wild Goose Island, Jackson Glacier, many mountains and streams, and we arrived at the Continental Divide at Logan's Pass. What a good day it was.

At the St Mary's visitor center was a very good exhibit about the Blackfeet Indians original occupancy of Montana and neighboring States before the "immigrant" white man came in and tricked the Blackfeet Indians to sign a treaty deeding Glacier National Park to USA for $1.5 million. The Blackfeet believe that the Park is on Blackfeet territory and along with the American and Canadian Flag is flown the Blackfeet Nation Flag at the Visitor Center. The flag photo below is the Blackfeet flag.

I took over 150 photos that will be in my photo galleries for this trip. I took a while but I selected 19 photos to include in this update. Enjoy, and remember you can click on the photos to see the full size photo. 

Blackfeet Indian Nation Flag

Virgil, my Sun Tours Blackfeet Indian Guide

Believe it or not, Glacier National Park is in "close down" mode for the Winter off season. My Glacier Park Lodge is closing for the year this Monday, September 23. The famous Red Bus tours have already closed down as has Many Glacier Lodge and Sun Tours last tour this year is Friday. For all these reasons, I will be hanging around the Glacier Park Lodge tomorrow. I leave Friday morning on the 9:45 AM Amtrak Empire Builder to Chicago scheduled to arrive 3:55 PM Saturday if on time. 

I still plan to do an update blog tomorrow. You never know what I will do on an unplanned day. As my friend Charlie now living in Costa Rica says "PURA VIDA!"

 

Glacier National Park September 2019 - Empire Builder to Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park View from Glacier Park Lodge

Amtrak's Empire Builder to Glacier National Park

I've made it to Glacier Park Lodge in Glacier National Park. Left Seattle Monday afternoon on Amtrak's Empire Builder traveling overnight arriving at Glacier Park Lodge this Tuesday morning. I've checked into the Lodge this afternoon and received a Historal tour of the lodge prior to registering and getting my room. The guy in one of the photos below led the historical tour and in addition he picked those of us arriving on the train, shuttled us to the Lodge and brought my luggage up stairs to my room overlooking the large reception hall with lots of lounging areas. My room also overlooks the park mountains. There are no elevators and the lodge was built in 1913 by the Great Northern Railway. No TV's but we do have WiFi in all the rooms.

Tomorrow is my day to tour the National Park with a tour run by the Blackfeet Indians. The Lodge is actually on Blackfeet property and the Park entrance is three miles north of the Lodge. Temperatures are topping out around 54 degrees Fahrenheit while I am in the area with lows in 40's. It was overcast when I arrived but sun is shining now. 

The photos today are from the Empire Builder and around the Glacier Park Lodge. I will get out into the Park including Going to the Sun road tomorrow.

I plan to walk out to photograph the Amtrak Station and see the Empire Builder from Chicago arrive later. Scheduled to arrive 6:41 PM. 

I am planning to post another update tomorrow night with a few selected photos from my visit inside the park. 

Glacier National Park September 2019 - Family Time in Seattle

Great Nephew Neil, Wife Megan, and Sons Lucas and Isaac

Family Time In Seattle

Today was a great time to be with family in Seattle. My great nephew Neil picked me up this morning and took me out to their home north of Seattle for lunch. His wife had prepared a very good chicken and broccoli casserole and salad for lunch followed by brownies and Tillamonk ice cream. I had a lot of fun being with their sons or my great great nephews Lucas and Isaac. After lunch we all came back into Seattle to visit the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field. It was a fun and educational way to spend the afternoon. Check out these selected photos of our day together.

After a good night of rest and a little repacking in the morning, I will be ready to board Amtrak's Empire Builder Monday afternoon for an overnight ride to Glacier National Park and four days at the Glacier Park Lodge featuring a full day of sightseeing including "Going to the Sun Road" on Wednesday. If the Internet cooperates, I'll post updates Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. 

Thanks for traveling with me via this blog. Remember you can see full size photos by clicking the photos above. And if you would like, I encourage your comments which you can do by replying to this email or reagan@reaganfrazier.net.

 

Glacier National Park September 2019 - Seattle Sept 13-16

Seattle's Waterfront

In Seattle September 13-16

Friday was a good day flying American Airllines from Nashville to Seattle via a connection in Dallas, Texas. Smooth flights and a friendly lady seat mate from Dallas to Seattle. She was from southern Virginia and her children live in the Sevierville, TN, area.  She was meeting them in Seattle for an Alaskan cruise.

Upon arrival after checking into my Embassy Suites Pioneer Square room, I walked to the Seattle Waterfront for before sunset Fish and Chips at Ivar's Seafood. After a short time of exploring I took a shuttle to Pike's Place market and a light rail ride home to my hotel. 

Not much sunshine today Saturday and after waking up at home at 3am, I did not get much sleep Friday so Saturday is a day of rest after a morning walk in the neighborhood around the King Street Station. I saw the Amtrak Empire Builder that had just arrived on time from Chicago and is the train I will take Monday afternoon for an overnight ride to Glacier Park. I'm saving my major picture taking for the Glacier Park visit but below are a few photos from the waterfront and around my hotel and King Street Station.

Sunday will be the highlight of my Seattle visit. My great nephew Neil will pick me up and take me out to his home to visit and eat lunch with his family wife Megan and their two very young sons. Neil works for Microsoft here in the Seattle area.

Here are my Friday and Saturday photos from Seattle.

Ivar's Fish and Chips 

Sunset at Ivar's

Washington State Ferry

My Seattle Neighborhood - King Street Station
Seattle's Football and Baseball Stadiums
My Embassy Suites Hotel

King Street Station and Embassy Suites Hotel

Amtrak's Empire Builder just arrived from Chicago

Empire Builder just arrived from Chicago

Seattle's Sports Stadiums

Looking forward to an afternoon with great nephew and family Sunday and then riding Amtrak's Empire Builder Monday overnight to Glacier National Park and the Glacier Park Lodge for four days and three nights Tuesday to Friday. This is my first ever stay-over at the park.

Planning to send another update Sunday night after my visit with Neil's family. Trusting for reliable Internet at the Glacier Park Lodge(there are no TV's) so that I might send you updates from the Park.