On The Road Again - McDonald Lake - Glacier Park

Tuesday September 20, 2011

Winter lasted so long and delayed so many projects here at the ranch I thought I might not get even a single trip in this year but I was determined. My last project, some fencing, was completed yesterday afternoon. This morning I threw a bunch of stuff in Clementine, loaded up Koty and headed down the road to the Flathead. For those who may not know, Clementine is my Winnebago View.

My first order of business was a quick swing by Glacier National Park. I hadn't been in the park all year and needed to buy a pass. Wonder of wonders I finally qualified for my Senior Pass which allows one to visit any national park in the country, for the rest of your life for a one time charge of $10.00. I don't usually feel as though I get much for my tax dollars but this is something I really appreciate and will appreciate for as long as I can still travel.


Going to the Sun Road was closed due to an avalanche. I don't think it even opened until July so not many got to experience that Glacier delight this year. I wondered around Apgar and took a few shots of McDonald Lake. It was particularly beautiful with the mountains in a shroud of fog. As usual, Mother made me cry.

McDonald Lake - Glacier National Park

McDonald Lake - Glacier National Park

Spent the night at Whitefish RV Park in order to check out all Clems systems. There were a couple of problems. The most annoying was no water from the kitchen faucet. I decided I had better head for Spokane where I bot Clem and where I take her for repair work. Normally, I make a trip to Whitefish just to de-winterize and make sure nothing has gotten messed up during the winter. This year I never got the chance.

We like the Whitefish RV park because it is close enough to walk to downtown Whitefish and the nice little Whitefish park on the Whitefish River.  It is small but has all the amenities.

On A Clear Day .....


©Kinsey Barnard

Photographing Sunsets and Clouds

The other evening, just for fun, I photographed some sunsets and clouds as seen from my home. I sometimes remark how I am blessed with, what I consider, extraordinary sunsets and other celestial delights here on the mountain.

On those occasions when I do the other person usually exclaims me too! But, I think not. Light and it's angle are a photographers boon and bane. There is something quite unique about the lighting here and I believe it has to do with the elevation. The light and clouds seem to intersect with my position in such a way as to produce truly amazing celestial landscapes. The camera does not always do justice to the things that I see but from the images below you can get the jist.

©Kinsey Barnard

And then, of course there was the moon.

Cartoons of the Day

A little off the normal topic, these are a few of the political and economic cartoons that I ran across this week. They would be a lot funnier if they didn't hit so close to home.

Rained cats and dogs over night and the cool, wet weather was welcome. Further down south, Montanans are fighting fires.

1.