It's been over a week since I left Wisconsin, and made the indirect trek to Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colorado. Here's some of my highlights with photos on my journey:
- visited Voyageur's National Park in northern Minnesota for the first time,
- was at the geographical center of North America in Rugby, ND,
- witnessed a fabulous, inspirational mosaic entitled, "The Sower," that was created in memory of my cousin's husband's father and brother,
- toured the International Peace Garden with its Peace Chapel at the border of Canada and ND,
- walked the grounds of the Scandinavian Heritage Park in Minot, ND,
- saw the remnants of Williston, ND's oil boom and bust,
- learned about Fort Buford and Fort Union Trading Post National Historical Site,
- was saddened by the story behind Bear Paw Battlefield, a National Historical Park, where the U.S. Calvary slaughtered almost all of the remaining Nez Perce, fleeing to Canada after the tribe resisted their land being taken away and being forced to live on reservations,
- was awed by the snow-covered extremely steep mountains of Glacier National Park,
- walked around the Glacier Park Hotel (run by Xanterra but was closed still), located adjacent to the Amtrak Station, where guests just are transported across the road to their lodging,
- toured through the accessible parts of Glacier NP:
- Two Medicine Road ending at Two Medicine Lake,
- Going to the Sun Road that was open for five miles on the east side to St. Mary Lake, and traveling about ten miles on the west side to dramatic Lake McDonald and the historic lodge there,
- Many Glacier area to Swiftcurrent Lake and past a man-made lake, Lake Sherburne, created by a dam before the passage of this area into national park status,
- saw the historic Many Glacier Hotel in a very picturesque setting,
- on the northwest side, drove to the historic Polebridge Mercantile where life has stood still for the past 100 years, and then navigated a very PRIMITIVE road to Bowman Lake, a hidden gem nestled in the Rockies,
- experienced the tragedy @ Big Hole National Battlefield in MT where the U.S. Calvary began their attacks on the Nez Perce, surprising them in their camp where nearly 100 Natives were killed, mostly sleeping women, children and the elderly,
- drove through the historic towns of Nevada City and Virginia City where a gold rush took place, and where one could visualize life during that period,
- saw countless ranches that raised wonderful Angus beef, other types of beef of which I am unfamiliar (brown ones and whitish one), horses and sheep,
- cried at the sights of endless poverty-ridden homesteads with mini junkyards around them,
- marveled at bison, elk, pronghorns, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, grizzlies, prairie dogs, and ground squirrels,
- took an outdoor hot tub soak in 36 degree weather,
- watched Old Faithful erupt
- toured the west side of Yellowstone National Park; luckily the road to the Tetons just opened up that morning!
- marveled at the magnificent Tetons in Grand Tetons National Park, and saw the most picturesque spot with the snow-covered mountains reflected in Jenny Lake with blue skies and cumulus clouds reflected as well,
- experienced a gorgeous Wyoming sunset while traveling 80 mph (that was the speed limit) across WY on the longest drive of my trip,
- ate many cheese and salami sandwiches, apples, trail mix, granola bars and chocolate,
- drank TONS of water in preparation for higher elevations (and visited countless restrooms),
- finally arrived in Estes Park, with hugs from friends, and
- cheered on the Rockies as they defeated the Mets 4-3.
Hoping you are able to have many adventures this summer that you can share with me.
Loving all of you,
Amy
