Glacier National Park is a beautiful and magical place. The Going to the Sun road was partly closed so we could only go 15 miles from the west entrance, or 17 miles from the St. Mary entrance on the east side. We chose to drive from Whitefish (more on that later) to St. Mary and got as far as Logan Pass before turning back.

The day we were there, it was rainy and misty and cloudy. The mountains were shrouded, but the fog and clouds would part once in a while to reveal the few remaining glaciers. The phrase "climate change" appeared in almost every informational booth and sign at the St. Mary visitor center. When I was still in short pants, there were something like 150 glaciers, but there are only 26 now. Scientists estimate that there will be none by 2030. Yes, 2030, a mere 10 years from now.

If you go to Whitefish, please please and triple please do not go to any restaurant that advertises itself as serving Chinese American cuisine. We went to one and the hot and sour soup was neither hot or sour. Worse of all, it was served with a packet of saltine crackers.

We did not see any bears. No grisly bears. No brown bears. No black bears. I'm glad because I know one thing for sure - any bear would turn me into a light snack long before I turn it into an area rug!