We arrived at Many Glacier Hotel mid-afternoon to overcast skies, rain, temperatures in the 40's and wind gusting to 30 mph...and we loved it. (pictured left, part of the hotel complex). The park is celebrating its 100th year and the people are very proud of that. We were fortunate to get a room at the MG Hotel because next summer it will be closed for renovations. Things you won't find at MG are cellular coverage, internet, TV, a workout room, swimming pool, air conditioning and elevators. Those are also the things you will not miss.
Like everyone else, we were eager to hit the hiking trail around Swiftcurrent Lake. It led us through a protected forest
so we were not cold at all. The mountain air was invigorating, even at an elevation of 6800 ft. Up until then we had seen wide open spaces and beautiful skies. But now we turned our eyes and ears to the sights and sounds around us and underneath our feet. The river rushed into the lake with a swooshing sound. The forest floor was carpeted with moss and more moss as well as fallen leaves. The beautiful wildflowers (Indian Paintbrush), forest lilies, and Christmas trees were no less breathtaking than the mountains and rivers. We were so happy to be out in God's great creation. On the last leg of the hike we had to avoid, but not entirely, bear scat. Don was concerned that he needed to wipe his shoes so the bellman said, just wipe them on the carpet. Don pointed out that he had bear scat on his shoes, but the bellman assured him that everyone did that and the staff vacuums every evening. Needless to say, we removed our shoes before entering our rooms. From our balcony we could see Gem Glacier, mountain streams and Swiftcurrent Lake. After dinner in the Hotel dining room, we tried the huckleberry ice cream and liked it.
The hike to Red Rock Falls was 1.8 miles, and of course it was 1.8 miles back to the beginning of the trailhead at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. We thought the experience was more than worth the trek. We exhausted every synonymn for the words majestic, and breath-taking, often groping for words. It's a bit easier just to say how we felt than to try to describe everything. I must admit that I was emotional upon seeing this beautiful place. How did God conceive all this, much less bring it about? At every break in the trees, there awaited a wonderful view of the mountains or a waterfall or a river. (pictured left is a scenic resting place) That fact made us push ourselves a bit harder when the climb became more than we were used to (total 100 ft rise). It felt so good to be out of breathe due to something besides shopping! By hiking standards it was a leisurely climb because we stopped often to observe a view or snap a photo. We just could not get enough pictures it seems. The sun was out this day and we were shedding our layers rather quickly. (see photo at left). We met lots of people, going and coming. At this point we would urge each other on because of what lay ahead. We do have one humorous story. On the way back to the trailhead I was eating an apple when I realized that I might be a "snack" for a bear if he got wind of it or the trail bar in my bag. What was I thinking? I worried that I had made a big mistake in getting the food out. Don offered to carry the food for me, but I thought I should take responsibility for it. I decided that I couldn't toss the partially-eaten apple into the woods because that might attract an animal and violate the park's strict policy against feeding the wildlife. As I finished the apple, that last leg of the hike was the longest 30 minutes of my life! There was a happy ending to that part of the story. We were not disappointed in the Falls and were so thankful for eyes and ears. (See picture at left of the Falls, taken by Keith). Keith, his wife and daughter were friendly and helpful. We just didn't know how much we would need their help before the afternoon was over. But that's a story for #8. 
