MWRT part 10: Boise and the way home

On Saturday afternoon we drove out of Utah and headed up I-15 towards Idaho. It was a fairly quick drive, and we made good time in the heat and wind. At one point, we raced a thunderstorm across southern Idaho and watched lightning strike on our left, blue sky on our right. We drilled 8 tumbleweed as we drove through the dust cloud and came back into a sunny sky.

MWRT part 9: Heber Valley

The reunion was held at Soldier Hollow, the site of the XC Ski and Biathlon events in the Salt Lake City Olympic games in 2002. The site was renovated after the games to include two golf courses to give those with summer homes in Midway something to do. We took advantage of the many snow free XC ski paths for regular walks after meals. 

MWRT part 8: Over the Wasatch Front

When I'm navigating, I don't always take the most direct route. Our drive from Idaho to Heber City was a perfect example of this. I saw a little road out of Salt Lake City that wound up over the Wasatch Front, and suggested that it might be the most direct route to our destination. While it likely was, SR 190 was full of switchbacks, steep grades without guard rails, and spectacular views. 

MWRT Part 7: Idaho Falls

Driving down I-15 through Idaho, arrived at M's brother and sister-in-law's place in Eastern Idaho. We spent a while with them walking the dogs and had a great dinner in Idaho Falls. After dinner we went to where M and I were spending the night, left our cars, and walked in the cool evening air through the parks that are built along the river. In the morning, before it got too warm, M and I went on another walk through the same park. It was lovely! 

MWRT part 6: Flathead Lake Breakfast

We left Kalispell on Saturday morning, packing the tent and the rest of our worldly possessions into the Rav4 and pointing it South towards Utah. On our way, we stopped at a state park on the shores of Flathead Lake. It was beautiful. The water was warm (except where a stream poured into the lake!) and almost tropical looking.

MWRT part 5: West Glacier

After our hike on Highline Trail, we piled back into the Rav4 and headed down the long switchbacks of Going to the Sun Road. We came level with the mountains to the west, then dropped down below them into the valley. We had thought to hike Avalanche Lake on our way, but parking couldn't find a parking space...

MWRT part 4: Highline Trail

I got to check a trail off my bucket list! The Highline Trail opened a few weeks before we got to Glacier, and after hearing about it for years we finally did it. Okay, so we only did the first 3-ish miles of it, but it was beautiful. We were eye level with glacier-peaked mountains, cool rocks, and a fearless marmot!

MWRT Part 3: Going to the Sun

It was nearly too hot to sleep at Many Glacier, but we woke up in the morning ready to hike. Since we had such a solid dinner the night before, we decided to hit the road as soon as the sun hit our 3rd story window and head for the St Mary Lake. 

Good morning and goodbye, Many Glacier!

MWRT 2: Many Glacier

 Sunday afternoon, we continued the Mountain West Road Trip into Glacier National Park. We rattled up over rough state route roads and between grazing cows to the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, where we refilled our water bottles and started hiking. We walked past family groups on afternoon hikes along and above the river. Finally, the sound of rushing water got louder and we reached Red Rock Falls.

Mountain West Road Trip part 1

M and I spent last week road tripping. It was so much fun! We loaded up the Rav4 on Saturday morning with borrowed tent and camp stove, Chaco sandals, and a week's supply of Cliff bars and pepperoni sticks (thanks, friends and Costco!). Then we drove south and west to our first range of mountains, and onwards from there...