Why Two Medicine?

You've probably been wondering why the park I've been staying in is called Two Medicine.  Its because there were Two Medicine Lodges run by the Blackfoot Indians on the river there.  Many of the plants they use for healing were found in the area.  (…and thanks Mandy for prompting me!)

I got up this morning and look who was on my running shoes!

He moves fast, hope you can see him.

Earlier in the morning, I admired the light on the mountains again.  I like the curve of this one…

We had a brief shower yesterday afternoon.  The light was incredible for that too!  Here was the storm arriving:

Here's my tent as seen through the windshield of Mac...

I went to the Ranger's talk at 8 pm last night.  He was talking about mountain goats, and said he was bringing one in for us to ask questions and hear about his life…

Then he handed this volunteer a little radio and she pushed the button, and it started to play "strip tease" music, and he did a strip tease down to his goat costume.  It was pretty funny!  I learned a lot about mountain goats!  Pretty tough creatures.

When I took Theo up for his dip, we saw this - I guess someone had lost their tractor!

Then T got his moment of Zen...

I got my "studio" set up outside the tent.  It works well, can just throw the paints and stuff in the tent for the night.  Got going on a painting here.  I really like how it started out:

Had nice movement and good texture, but didn't feel "done" enough.  So I worked on it some more and wasn't as happy with it…

Kept plugging away and finally have a good start… Now tomorrow I want to add some of the morning light to it…

I think I figured out one of the reasons I like this part of Glacier better than the other side.  On the west side there is a long scenic drive, and many of the campers were there for that.  This campground on the east side is the jumping off point for some of the most scenic trails, so most of the campers are hikers.  I've meant some interesting folks.  Some day I will come back and hike the trails… Hopefully I can get back before the glaciers are gone.   Glacier National Park was once home to 150 glaciers and now only 25 remain.  If current climate change continues they will be gone in 15 years.

Dawn's early light

Yep.  It was what I'd hoped it would be.  Beautiful light - esp. between 5 and 6 am.  They may show up too dark on the web, but we'll give it a shot!  This one was at 6 am:

You can see just a little bit of white snow.  Here's a 7 am shot.  That hour in between was fun to watch.

As it turns out, the spot I picked, did have a great view, but turned out to be not so hot otherwise…People were cutting through the back of it to go to the restrooms, there as a dumpster nearby and they would slam the lid, I was at an intersection, and there was a spot for people to park their cars to go walk the trail across from me… So I took a walk with Theo to see where we might move the next night… I screwed up my courage and started to chat with the people at the end who had the primo spot.  They were leaving at 6:30 the next morning!  My time of day!  So I moved there this am.  Its terrific.  Right on the river, private and still views.   Think I'll hang out awhile.  Here's the view from MY spot:

Oh yeah , another thing.  Last night the bathroom lights were on all night!  How's that for crazy?  Out here with one of the darkest skies...I think I'll make a $20 donation to the Park and suggest they buy some timers for the bathroom light switches!  I saw the Milky Way anyway. Clear night and no moon.  T likes the new spot…here he is contemplating a dip in that river...

It just gets better and better...

Well, I decided the only way I was going to get to see those gorgeous mountains in the gorgeous morning and evening light was to give up the nice privacy and cell reception of the National Forest campground in Summit, a half hour away, and go camp in the crowded, un-private, zero cell reception National Park at Two Medicine.  So I left Summit at 7 this morning to go see if I could get a spot at Two Medicine...Its a trade off, but man, I got a spot with a great view!

Then there's a little meadow with a path that they DO allow dogs on, so Theo and I can take a little 5-minute walk down to Pray Lake and see this view of Mount Sinopah.  Holy guacamole!  Can't wait to see it at dawn… this photo was at about 8 am…

I had to drive 15 minutes (through scenic views of course) to post this, but had to let you know…  I'll post more tomorrow… right now I need to go soak it up.   Hope to see a mass of stars tonight.  The rain cleared the air and its a beautiful clear day.  Right now its 73 degrees at almost 1pm...

Two Medicine, Day Three

Got up early again, but still didn't get to Two Medicine until 7am.  The light was still gorgeous, but I'd like to see it at 5am (the sun comes up so early here).  We'll have to work on that.

On the way in, I was greeted by these beauties:

I slowed down and waited for them to move out of the road, but the actually walked into the center of the road.  These horses had a sense of humor!  Eventually they cleared on out…

Anyhow, it was a beautiful morning again, and the going early plan works great for avoiding the crowds.  Here's Mac at the parking lot at 7 am.

The light was lovely… but it was really cold out.  I stayed in Mac and observed.  Theo snored.

But things changed.   I did some people watching and mountain watching and had my breakfast.  At one point I turned around and the view had changed to this - the wind was blowing and it was frigid out there - upper forties!

Pretty wild.  People kept coming though and headed out to hike the trails…It did lighten up a little later.  I made some hot chili for lunch and did a couple sketches on watercolor paper, and plan to paint them when/if I get that perfect light.

I decided if Theo and I were going to do much hiking, we'd better pick up some bear spray.  It cost $50!  Its like a giant pepper spray…

But everyone says its a good precaution.  This t-shirt I saw sums it up!

Two Medicine, Day 2

Ok, now I think I might be getting this figured out.  I decided I hadn't given GNP enough of a chance.  I had done like so many tourists and taken a photo and moved on.  I really want to spend time with these Glaciers and Mountains and get to know them a little better… like I did at Hungry Horse. 

As you know by now, I get up early.  So today I took advantage of that fact and headed out just after dawn to go back to Two Medicine.  It was a beautiful morning.  Nice clouds.

There is a train that goes by the campground, but its just far enough away that I kinda like it.  The one this morning was a double-decker!

On the drive in I saw a sign saying Watch for Stock.  Now I see why.

Well, my plan worked.  I got to Two Medicine at about 7:30.  No crowds… Glad to see the ranger station open.  Now I can tell Sam I got another stamp in my National Parks' Passport book.  Had a nice chat with the ranger.  And he even knew the NF trails near my campground (where I can take T) and told me how to find them.

They had this very artistic info board:

That wolf is stretching just like Theo does in the morning.

I drove around the picnic area and then down to the lake again, scoping out the best spot to park Mac and spend some time with a mountain.  I ended up liking the looks of Rising Wolf Mountain in the Morning light, so we parked with a view of it.

Theo got out and checked things out.  Had his moment of Zen…

I sat and watched for a couple hours.  Feel much better about it.  Think tomorrow I'll come even earlier and have my coffee there.  The ranger said its always open… I was wanting to sketch and only have a tiny sketchbook, so I decided to play around with one of the sketch programs on my tablet…its a start!

Two Medicine - Day 1

Headed out yesterday along the scenic route 2 along the south side of Glacier National Park (GNP).  Found a nice campground in the Lewis and Clark National Forest.  Its only about a half hour from the Two Medicine entrance into the eastern side of GNP.  I prefer the National Forest campgrounds - roomier and dog friendly.  Here's a view nearby...

I got to the campground about 10 yesterday morning and got a good spot - lots of privacy and in the shade.  I got it registered and put a sheet on the table and a chair out so others would know it was taken.  Then I headed for GNP.  I drove the 10 minutes into the town of East Glacier Park - pleased to see I got phone reception there - but my heart sank when I saw the sign saying that no vehicles over 21' were allowed on MT 49, the road into Two Medicine.  Dammit!  Mac is just over at 24'.  

I got out and asked around and was told that its fine up to Two Medicine, it was after that that the road got narrow and winding.  As I was mulling it over, I saw several campers much bigger than mine head down the highway so I decided to go.  There was nothing in the GNP flyer saying you couldn't at Two Medicine.  Off I went with my fingers crossed.  No problems.

So I got to Two Medicine right at mid-day.  Was again greeted with overflowing crowds in the parkings lots… I got out and took a little walk around the parking area at the lake, it was beautiful…This was a view on the way in:

And this is of the lake:

But the crowds were annoying!  I headed out back through town and decided to stop and have lunch - one place had outdoor seating and were happy to have Theo hang out.  I got the BBQ chicken, baked potato, garden salad, and a bottle of beer.  Guess I was hungry!

Their sign said their huckleberry pie was voted best, so I tried a slice.  Not bad - tastes like a cross between blueberry and cranberry.

Forty five degrees

That's what the temperature is right now at 8:30 am.  Zowie.

I've really enjoyed the Emery Bay campground on the Hungry Horse reservoir.  Stayed another day and yesterday I watched the light change on the water throughout the day.  Quite nice.  Even started a few watercolors…  At one point the water became magical… I took a snapshot, and it gives a hint of it…

As I walked up to take a photo earlier in the day, I heard a strange sound from down on the water.  I  looked down and it was a loon urging her four babies to get on her back so she could swim them to safety.  I was sorry to alarm her, but thrilled to see it!

This is a slow connection today, so I'll have to post more photos later…  Also, I'm heading to the east side of Glacier National Park and so will probably lose cell reception/Internet for few days. But I'll fill you in when I get back!