Vanagon Diaries: Glacier National Park

In August, Chris and I drove the Van to Glacier National Park in Montana.  We spent a week camping just outside the park at a KOA with some of Chris' family.  

Just to be clear, we didn't exactly "camp", we "KOA'd".  

You know you're not really camping when your husbands' 80 year old grandpa says, "There's camping, and then there's KOA".  You said it Papa.  

There was a pool and a restaurant and everything.  

We did use the pool.  

Fun fact:  We were right next to the Glacier Forest Fire, almost the whole time.  It did cause a little haziness, which you'll see in at least half the pictures.  

I should mention that in these pictures, it looks like I had way too much chocolate cake (which is probably true) but I'm also pregnant ;).  Four months at this point.  

KOA'ing In Montana

This is probably my favorite selfie, taken nice and up close with Chris' GoPro.

Favorite Selfie, also a great screen saver.

Chris and Bella in Lake McDonald. 

Chris and Nana 

From Left: Joanne, Steve, Me, Chris, Nana, Papa.  

Our set-up at the KOA.

A Hazy Logan's Pass

Look at that smoke!  Still beautiful. 

At Logan's Pass, playing with the GoPro.

"Oh hey!"

Our One Day of Sunshine

It rained one night and everything cleared up.  We had to drive the Going to the Sun Road again.  

MUCH better view.

Logan's Pass again, and a selfie stick.  

I look a little disheveled, but those mountains!

Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars

Trail of the Cedars is exactly what you'd think it is.  It's gorgeous, as you'll see in a few pictures.  There's also an off shoot of the trail that leads you on a 5 mile (round trip) hike up to Avalanche Lake, which is the result of melted glaciers and melted avalanches.  Pretty cool.  

Cedars!

We mostly hiked side by side, or with me in front,
but every so often I'd hang back to take pictures of Chris.

Hiking Trail.

Glacially melted water rushing down.

Downed trees, the result of avalanches thundering down the mountain.  

My Hunny.

Avalanche Lake.

More hiking tail.

The Forest Fire

The closest we came to the actual fire was when leaving the park to go home.  

Hwy 2 was actually closed the day before because the fire was too close to the road.  If we had planned on leaving then, we would have had to take a 3 to 4 hour detour driving south around of the park instead of through it.  

"Fire Danger Ahead"

This was actually taken on the East side of the Going to the Sun Road,
but it shows very recent fire damage.  

Fire crews were our neighbors.  They'd leave during the day, some would leave at night,
but more and more kept coming. We probably left at a good time.  

The glow that you see just beyond those trees is the fire.  It became increasingly smokey. 

My breathing apparatus. 

It was a fun trip, and we definitely plan on going again.  Maybe next time when there's no fire...