Glacier NP Part 1

We did not have a reservation to enter the park for today but some people told us if you arrive after 3pm, you can get in without a res.  We were anxious to check out the "Riding to the Sun Road" so took a chance and after showing a NP pass, we were waved through!  Gang, way too many images to put in one post so I'm breaking it up.

We enter the park at the west entrance and encounter a modest line but it moved quickly.  What an unexpected surprise driving the Sun Road our first full day.  The region's wildfires are taking a toll on the views and quality of the air as evidenced by....

....this! Yikes. 

Soon after entering the park, we begin an unpleasant, 10 miles of hard packed dirt drive and a sign that prohibits cycling from 11am to 4pm.  4pm sounds late but the sun sets after 9pm so that's ok.  Lot of construction going on and the waits were long during the 10 miles.

But when the trees opened, the views were amazing.  Neither of us have previously visited and didn't know what to expect but dang, the entire drive was spectacular!!!!

Our purpose for driving the road was to check out the quality of the pavement (after the dirt section ended), volume of traffic (that answer was obvious), room for cyclists on the road, the views, etc...

One of the things that impressed us was, when looking into the forest, just how dense is the growth.  It would be a challenge to move through there.

And so, the road began to rise and with it, some of the best views we've ever seen in nature.  It's hard to beat the impression made on me when seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time.  My jaw literally dropped. Gee later, hiking off the north rim to the Colorado River, Deer Creek Narrows, Thunder River...incredible, Grand Tetons were awesome, Yosemite Valley and on and on but the views we saw today certainly made my top 3 list.  Those views as best as can be presented bu an iPhone, are next.