7/25/13 A Ride With A Jammer

Glacier National Park and Banff, Canada

July 23 - August 8, 2013

The Great Train Escape

A Ride With A Jammer

On the first day of our visit to Glacier National Park, we took the Road To The Sun Tour to the Top Of The Continent on the the historic, Red Bus convertible.  The Red Bus has been operating in the park for 75 years. The drivers are called Jammers because in the early days they would jam the gears as they maneuvered the bus over the narrow and often rough roads in the park. Today the roads are wider and much to our surprise there was only one switch back on the Road to the Sun.


As for the scenery, we had to remember to breathe. 

We visited 3 grand lodges. It seems that in the 1930s a snow storm in July stranded visitors in the lodges for several days. They found it a perfect time to celebrate Christmas and gift giving. The lodges have continued to celebrate Christmas in July. Lake MacDonald Lodge was the most festive for the holiday. It is also listed as one of the best examples of a swiss chalet hotel in America. 

We enjoyed lunch and the view of the Swiftcurrent Lake at Many Glacier Hotel. At St. Mary's Lodge we indulged in berry ice cream. It wasn't huckleberry, the most talked about ice cream in the park, but it was delicious. While in Glacier, we had wonderful huckleberry pancakes and syrup one morning. Huckleberry jam, BBQ sauce and candy were also available. It was a Glacier/Montana/Western thing.

We stopped at Logan's Pass which is the highest point on the road and on the Continental Divide. Our special treat was to 
see mountain goats on the walking path, and, although much farther away, a herd of big horn sheep grazed on the mountain side.

Next blog: The Avalanche Trail Hike and a trip to the Our Lady Of Peace Rest Home (almost).