Backbone of the World

The Blackfeet called this jewel in the crown, the "backbone of the world." Millions and millions of years ago glaciers cut through the sediment to create many gems found here. None of the speakers or park people are concerned about the loss of glaciers in the park. The process is natural and they remind us that the park was named Glacier to reflect how the area was formed, not the dwindling glaciers that crawl and melt day by day about as fast as your fingernails grow.

That is not to say that the park scientists, rangers, and naturalists are not studying and observing global warming and its effect on our environment, but there is no alarmist attitude toward reality of shrinking glaciers.

Today we visited the eastern most rain forest. It was lovely to walk through cedar groves, mixed with firs and lodgepoles and aspen, with a carpet of ferns at our feet, and moss covered rock overhangs. There are five overlapping ecosystems in the park that make exploring the flora and fauna interesting and surprising as our elevations and east/west directions change.

As we walked through new growth after a fire that occurred a decade ago amid the wild flowers and young trees, which were abundant, it was easy to see and believe that soon we would not be able to see the trees, but for the forest.

Also, we made a stop at the McDonald Lodge, the first lodge built in the park, built on the shores of McDonald Lake. The crowds were taking in the views of the lake from the porch and the original western interior complete with Chinese lanterns (to promote global trade way back when).

John Muir had it right the first time he visited Glacier Park, "Give a month at least to this precious reserve." I initially thought that his feelings and thoughts about the place reflected on his mode of travel, his feet, and he would need a month to tour the area. But, as always, once we begin exploring the nooks and crannies, the paths and backroads, the rivers, waterfalls, and lakes of Glacier, time is as precious as the sights, smells, and textures of this land.