(This is a trip report of camping and hiking in Glacier Nat. Park......skip it and save your time if you think it has any paddling in it).  But if you just have to read something about paddling....I'lll throw in a little snippet near the end.

Our original plan was to tow across Lake Yellowstone....then walk to Thorofare cabin at SE corner of park....then to Hawk's Rest (most remote place in lower 48)...then on down to "Parting of the Waters national landmark"...then out to civilization near Moran, WY.  About 50-60 miles.

But...this chickenfoot got cold feet over the flight to Jackson.....so safest thing in my twisted mind was to take the train to Glacier and do some hiking.  Last minute scrambling two months before departure got us some backcountry reservations.

Day1....Amtrak service?  Well, lets just say it has to be experienced to be appreciated.  Ride time averages 16 hours from Detroit Lakes, MN to East Glacier, MT.

I'll post a trip log and photo links for any of you who desire to see it, or need some info on what to do there.  You more experienced hikers will be bored.  I oversharpened my 1st attempt at the post-production photos.  You'll have to live with the "graininess" as I'm too lazy to go back and redo the originals.

Day2....arrived last night 2 hours late, to East Glacier station.  The station is quite historic.  Car rental place was still open and picked us up nicely, and today we are off, to see what there is to see for a day.

East Glacierlodge from the Amtrak station
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View from the lodge balcony from which we had brunch.
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A view from the 3rd floor inside the lodge.  Rooms are spartan and decor is 1950'ish.  A night here goes for $189 up in the nosebleed section.  Hint...stay at the many mom/pop places nearby.  Seeing the hotel is free and it's open to the public.  Same amount of dough will get you 3 nights elsewhere.  Notice the lodge is virtually supported by massive pines.
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We decide to spend the day circling the park..Tomorrow we start a 5 day hike and we want to see a few things first.  A short jaunt up the road is Two Medicine lake.  Here's a typical view of Mt. Sinopah at the lake.  A close by view of the scenery as we leave there and head for St. Mary.
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We run up to Many Glacier to see the hotel and Swiftcurrent lake.  It's truely breath-taking as you come round the last corner.  Two views of the area.  You can see why the early RR buisnessmen sold it as "the American Alps" to the traveling public.  Trying to entice them to travel here instead of Europe.
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We head back down to St. Mary for lunch.  Try the Park cafe if you're out there...the pie is awesome.  It's worth waiting in line.  We decide to spend the afternoon going up to Logan pass on the "Going to the Sun Hiway".  For those of you who have never done it....it easily rivals the Beartooth hiway down near Yellowstone.  Narrow, twisty road with enough vistas to suck the life right out of you.

Here are some scattered views from along the road as I drive with one knee and hand, the other hand out the window on the camera.....my wife was screaming something at me but I never did figure it out?.
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And of course...who would pass up a shot at the infamous Wild Goose Isle....they make it easy for you...they run the road right past this vista.  This gem sits along the N shore of St. Mary lake.
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I'll post a sidebar (next post) of our afternoon excursion on the "Highline trail".  That kept us busy for about 5 hours.  We walked to Haystack butte and back (about 1/2 way to Granite Park Chalet) for those of you familiar with the area.

Next we head down the west side...I only took one pic as I was too busy playing Mario Andretti with the "paddle shift" in our rented Audi.  By the way, if you're wondering who won.....Wally did...no one was killed to the best of my knowledge.  Mrs Wally had even quit her incessant screaming and was enjoying the race.  A view from near McDonald lodge on same named lake.
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We now race back against the darkness to East Glacier along the S border on US #2.  A short 50+ miles.  We wine and dine ourselves at the little Mexican joint in town...Serrano's.  Highly recommended to any of you staying out there.

Tommorrow...we enter the wilds!

.....more to follow......