Odds 'n' Ends

The interior of the McDonald Lodge, which is very close to our cabin and I get my messages there from the park staff and new friends. It's the most intimate lodge in Glacier. Later, when Wi Fi is running a tad faster (this took 13 minutes to download), I will post a photo of the biggest and most rustically opulent lodge. I think Mike might already have it on his gallery page, so check that out. I have written 6 tunes for the park, so far and will perform one tomorrow night at the campfire amphitheater in Apgar, a tiny village on the west side of Glacier, about 10 miles from our cabin. The plan is to make a DVD of me performing all these songs and putting it in a teacher packet for incoming field trips in the future. This is to accent Glacier's new policy of "No Child Left Inside." We have two weeks in which to do this.....stay tuned......By the way, I'm learning tons and the people here are most helpful and friendly. Did I mention that everyone has a story? Lots of unique folks here. Guess that includes me!

Several of you have asked how the dogs are doing. Here is a photo of Buddy & Tilley squaring off. As we stated before, we are not sure of her intentions, so Mike usually picks him up when she trots up and follow us on our walkies. They are keeping a low profile and spending most of their time in their crate, but they get many walks every day. Due to bears and protective does, no dogs are allowed on trails, but we walk them four times a day to the Lodge and back, where I check my messages. They seem fine and it beats kenneling them for two months! The skeeters, now, well, that's a whole 'nother story! Since it's gotten hot (upper 80's low 90's, no kidding) the skeeters have exploded on to the scene. Never a problem out on the kayaks, though.

75th Anniversary Event for GTTS Rd.

The 'band' - caught in a moment of relaxation and chatting, right before the color guard presentation. Notice the classic vintage Red Jammer Bus in the background. Mike has photos of the modern 'vintage-style' jammer buses on his gallery. We took the West Alpine Tour on one. They're very cool! More later. Each photo takes about 8 minutes to load. No hi-speed here. Barely an internet here in the wilderness, so we're thankful for what we've got!

This federal event was held at McDonald Lodge, a 5 minute walk from the AIR cabin and where I pick up my messages. GTTS is the only American Road that is not only a National Historic Landmark, but also a National Civic engineering Landmark. Since the Blackfeet once lived on the total Glacier site and still have a reservation that abuts it, they generously donated the color guard. Wish you could have heard it.....a color guard entering with that Indian two step, to drums and chanting....very moving. The other flags are tribal, Blackfeet Nation, Flathead, not sure about the other two, but Salish and Kootenai are also local tribes. It was another gorgeous day in the 80's. GTTS still not open at the heights, but we needed to get the ceremony done and move on!

FLASH: Mike has created a photo gallery for everyone. You can find it at:

http://gallery.mac.com/mgturnip/100008

Back in Glacier, USA....

Coming around the bend and discovering the beauty of Two Medicine, where we met the world's oldest Junior Ranger, Evelyn, who works for Glacier Park, Inc. When I asked her how she managed to convince the admin. that she should be a Jr. Ranger, she told me she simply asked him if he thought she was old enough to try out! She wears her badge around the gift shop and encourages kids to try out for Jr. Ranger-ship. She's a hoot and a good soul. Everyone at Glacier has a story....

This is a shot from one of the sections of Going-to-the-Sun Rd. that's open. Rumor has it that the rest will open any day now....but the webcams show a pile of snow in the Logan Pass parking lot....

On the return trip from Waterton-Glacier in Canada, we put the yaks in at Many Glacier for a fabulous hour of paddling. Felt like we were in the Alps! Unlike paddling in Ga. or Fl., falling out is not an option. This is seriously cold water!!!!

Maple Leaf Land, Con't.

There is just no end to the beauty of Waterton-Glacier. A noble cause in a gorgeous setting. This was the first peace park, but now there are many others. Perhaps the sentiment will catch on, as well.

Red Rock Canyon Falls....gorgeous...quiet......wonderful trail......Oh Canada!!!

Oh Canada!

And of course, after our cruise, we had high tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel.....

We took the boat from Canada to Goat Haunt, USA and enroute, the guide pointed out this extremely rare A-shaped fold in the rock face where the rock actually bent. Geologists come from all over the world to see this. Also, this is the only place where you can cross the Canada/USA border as though it did not exist....if you are a Canadian or US citizen, that is.

Waterton-Glacier Peace Park is an interesting 'first.' The two countries share amazing natural territory and so decided, with the push of their mutual Rotarians, to share this area in the name of peace, with two pavilions dedicated to this idea, one in each country.

Land of the Midnight Sun

It's late but still the same day as the previous posts, and somehow, we still have wi fi out here in the camper, so I'll take advantage of it. This is the rock with the stone design that stood between the prayer cloths and the two crosses.

Here are the two crosses I described earlier. All for now. Big day tomorrow at Waterton-Glacier Peace Park in Canada. Details later.

Today we left our cozy cabin and drove up to East Glacier, Two Medicine, the 12 or so miles of the Going To the Sun Rd. that is open (an additional foot of snow as week before we arrived and then several avalanches pretty well undid a lot of the normal plowing the crews must do to open this road after a normal winter, which this one was not! So....no big crowds right now because of that. You can still go 12 - 16 miles on the West or East end of this 50 mile engineering feat, but the spectacular passes in the center are closed. That means that the only route that bisects this huge park is useless as a through-way and one must drive around the perimeter to access either end of the Sun Rd. Still a gorgeous drive for us, for sure. This shot was taken at Two Medicine. Also, found a beautiful overlook with a path so we took it because prayer clothes were tied around the gnarled branches of a grove of stunted aspens a little down the hill from the overlook. A little further on, there were 2 crosses of young Native Americans whose "spirits were thrown to the four winds" here. Nearby was a big flat rock with a design on top formed out of little stones as though both Christian and old ways bases had been covered. We tied a piece of cloth on one of the trees to offer a prayer and show our respect. It was a windy, solitary place with a beautifl view, but a somber significance. I'll try to download the photo later. I'm on borrowed wi-fi time at this location.

Storm approaching our lake here and this shot was taken standing in front of our cabin. The white lighlights on the mt. tops are snow, illuminated by a shaft of sun, just before the clouds really closed in. It was about 5 PM here when this was taken, but like Scotland, Phil, it's still light as I post this and it's 10:15 PM at this campground in St. Mary's.

Mike kayaking in front of our cabin so he can get a photo of it from the lake. It's 10 miles long and over 400 ft. deep...glacial lake. Sprads, Robin and Lauren, wish you were here!! The 'yakkin' is awesome but the swimmin' is cold!

Oh, and just in case you think I play and play all day, here is something I'm working on to help promote safety on the trail to kids, (and I take this seriously, no kidding, and we sing this song pretty loud on the griz trails, ourselves!)

To the tune of Singin' in the Rain:

I'm singin' on the trail, just singin' on the trail.

Com-pared to a griz-zly, I'm ti-ny and frail.

Don't want to sur-prise - those big - furry guys,

So singin' - just singin' on the trail!

Factoid: Most griz attacks occur because hikers startle them in a blind spot or bend of the trail so don't be a quiet hiker.

(Yes, we carry bearspray!)

Heads up, everyone. Very little Wi Fi here and we have to go into town to get whatever happens to waft in on the breeze, as it is. These posts are going to be sporadic. The deer above is Tilley Two, who has fallen madly in love with our mini poodle, Buddy. She follows us back to the cabin from McDonald Lodge every evening, but only when we are walking the dogs. I don't have the heart to tell her it's a doomed relationship. Tilley was the name of a previous deer that hung around the Lodge for years and even gave birth to fawns there. Tilley Two is probably one of her offspring.

Everywhere we turn, the views are breath-taking. This is Avalanche Creek, where Going To The Sun rd. is closed, due to snow. We took the Red Jammer Bus tour for 4 hours yesterday, especially through the area affected by fires several years ago and saw bear and new growth.

The view from our front door and yes, the lake is right there. Mike enjoys a cigar at the edge of the lake every night and I don't need a fishing license!

More scenery on the road to our cabin. I'm meeting a lot of really friendly and interesting people here. Everyone who moves to Glacier or nearby Hungry Horse has a story and every story is unique! There are jam sessions in Columbia Falls on Thursday nights so next week, I'll check that out. If anyone called and left phone messages, we have iffy cell service as well and we accidently deleted all messages that came in last week, so try again, or respond to this blog.

Laura Law is the Education Specialist at GNP and she has created some wonderful lesson plans for implementing their "No Child Left Inside" effort to bring the next generation to our national parks. My job is to complement the facts with tunes, skits and poetry. Together, we make a good team!

This is the road leading in to our Artist In Residence cabin. Going-to-the-Sun Rd. is only open a few miles beyond our cabin....still plowing snow. Half of this 50 mile engineering feat is still snowbound, but this is the norm.

Fine dining under the stars at Glacier Campground. Cheffed by Hillary Ginepra, director of culinary arts at Flathead Valley Community College, and her assistant and student, Harold Foster, "The Pavilion" offers wonderfully spiced and herbed chicken and beef dishes, as well as barbecue and 'Margharita Pizzas!" This was a very pleasant surprise and we're wondering why the folks in West Glacier and Hungry Horse aren't beating a path to this campground jewel every Thursday through Sunday!

This is Mike's idea of camping. Porkchop is one of the two 'campground host' dogs, (ponies in dog suits, as far as we're concerned) at Glacier Campground, where we are spending an extra day, due to our cabin not being quite ready. We are chillin,' which is a nice thing, since we've been pushing since we left, ten days ago.

Last Leg of the Journey

The weather and the scenery today were glorious. Tonight we are camping right outside of the park and tomorrow I start in my A.I.R. position. Big mountains, big sky (big skeeters!)

My Unsung Hero...the Driver!

Today I actually drove most of the distance on our 'blue highway' jaunt from Forsyth to Helena (MT) and learned to appreciate just how hard it is to keep the camper van on winding mountain roads in windy conditions. This post is a tribute to my beloved driver and to let him know how much I love him and the good care he takes of me on the road!

North Dakota saves its biggest surprise right before the Montana border in the form of Teddy Roosevelt National Park's Painted Canyon. After shooting this scene, we crossed over into Montana into, surprisingly warmer weather and snow-capped mountains. Go figure!

North Dakota

Fort Abraham Lincoln features interpreters encamped in the barracks, guiding tours through the Custer home and into the Native American Mandan village.   We camped here tonight to escape the wind/storms/hail du jour and learned a little something while we were at it.  The Commissary Store has wi fi!  How anachronistic!

Where's an Ark When You Need One?

Look for your produce to go up substantially in price this season. Every field we saw in Iowa was under water and we now know we just missed more catastrophic weather by one day in Indiana! We think the 'marsh' above was newly planted corn. Today however, there were whitecaps on the standing water which got considerably rougher as the wind rose to gusts of 60 mph. After the semi in front of us blew over on its side, we bailed and started watching for the Fergus Falls exit to find a motel. It was akin to driving through a hurricane, only chillier and once the rain and standing water started blasting across I-94 with the force of fire hose spray, we knew we were in a serious situation. This vertical surf was studded with projectile debris and our camper van almost blew off the road several times before we found cover. We're 'holing up' at a Comfort Inn tonight and wondering what natural disasters lie in store for us in N. Dakota tomorrow. We've encountered blistering heat in Tn. and Mo., 17 year cicadas in Ky., floods in Iowa, strange and destructive winds in Minnesota....and we haven't even gotten close to Glacier yet!

Camping Above the Flood

Prairie Flower State Park provided us with a campsite at Saylorsville Lake, advising us that all campsites below the dam were being evacuated up into our high ground and that some water would be released if the lake continued to rise. Notice the trees already under water up at the dam visitor center. Warnings were being delivered to the city below and folks were sandbagging in Des Moines and suburbs. Unfortunately, we had a spectacular storm late that night, which dumped 2 or 3 more inches, so we departed for Minnesota early the next morning.

On The Road Again.....

Driving through the midwest is becoming quite the adventure. This was our prettiest day so far.......

Our Portable Home-Away-From-Home

I know it looks tiny here....wait, it is tiny!
But we've done it before so we can
do it again!

AIR Glacier #1:

Playing with my 'buds' at Enota Mt. Retreat & Campground in N. Ga., at the beginning of this adventure...........(I'm the middle one.)

I am the Artist In Residence (AIR) for Glacier National Park this summer of 2008 and as such, I am writing this blog for my students and anyone else who might find this adventure of interest.

I won the position mainly because I am a middle school music teacher and performer here in Ga., but I also am a writer, a musician and a graphic artist. I will use all of these skills to create skits, tunes, poems, puppet shows and lessons plans that will be a resource for the Glacier Interpretive Rangers when they give presentations to visiting elementary classes and need something to 'kick it up,' as they are describing the natural wonders of Glacier to the kids. We all remember factoids better when we learn a song about them and that's where I come in. I may also be doing a little singing and strumming at the Lake McDonald Lodge, so if you are going to Glacier this summer, stop by and check it out.



Oh, by the way, my husband and I are camping our way out and back in our camper van. That in itself ought to be a 'whole 'nother adventure.' Stay tuned.......