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| Hiking | 1.69 Miles |
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| | Hiking | 1.69 Miles | | | |
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| no partners | | After completing my hike to the Belly River Ranger Station in Montana and back; there was plenty of time to kill as it stays light late plus the border was a hop skip away so I decided to go to Canada for dinner. I hadn't been to Waterton since 2001 when I had the pleasure of staying at the Prince of Wales Lodge. I couldn't remember how far the drive was to Waterton but I didn't think very far. At the border, after raising his eyebrows as to why I was coming to Canada, the agent told me it was 20 minutes to 1/2 hr to Waterton.
It is a beautiful drive as you come down into the valley that hosts Waterton Lakes. You can see far into Canada and to the prairies and observe the mountains shooting abruptly out of the ground. Just  awesome! I pull into the ticket stop and they ask you what you plan to do and I said have dinner... $6.80 to enter the park but they gave me the senior discount. Still haven't decided if that was good or bad  .
I stopped and took some video on the way in before arriving at the City Center. I parked my car and headed into the Village trying to find a place for dinner. I walked the 2 city blocks or so and ended up back tracking to get some fish and chips to go. It didn't take them long and I was off to find a place along the lake to eat. They had a couple benches, one was taken so I walked up to the other. It was a lovely place to have my dinner as I enjoyed the lake, the mountains and the people activity.
Behind me was one of the main motels and they had a long peony garden so I got the camera out and went to work. Quite frankly, I was pretty exhausted but I had come all this way so I finished filming the peony garden and then headed south on the walkway, occasionally heading out next to the lake to get a better view. I walked to the point so I could get some cool pics of the incredible mountains and peaks that I could see. I think I saw Mount Cleveland, Goat Haunt Mountain, Citadel Peaks on Porcupine Ridge, Cathedral Peak, and Stoney Indian Peaks among others. Anyway it was so  .
Growing more weary I headed back up the beach toward the impressive sun lit view of the Prince of Wales Lodge perched on a hill above the lake. It really is quite the site. From there I headed over to where my car was by a little store and got some kind of orange frozen drink that was quite tasty for my ride back to Montana. The ride back was just as cool as the drive in http://hikearizona.com/photoset=26793. I stopped at a scenic viewpoint and at the border to take videos and pictures to share with you. I was alone every time I stopped and maybe 2 or so cars went by. I got to see some of my favorite flower: prairie smoke and in one area of the drive, there where these big beautiful daisies on each side. I couldn't get over it  .
At the border the US agents asked me if I had anything in the trunk which I had to pop and I said yep I had my rolled up pancake back there that I wanted to keep cool rather than inside the car. The other agent says, "Found it." Well you have to understand, it wasn't just any old pancake, it was a huckleberry pancake that I couldn't finish in the morning and I just didn't know if I would want to eat it on the way home  .
The clouds stayed low so I didn't get any more pics of Chief Mountain. However, I did stop on and off the entire way to get various pictures of the scenery as I hadn't been on this side of the park since 2001. Besides, what is there to do when I get back to the hotel? So I took my time, grabbed a huckleberry wheat lager at the camp store and finally got to my cottage room. Next up: Dawson Pass in the Two Medicine Valley.
Here is the video of my trip in Waterton. I guess I should really plan some hikes up there as they have some good ones but I still have so much to do in Glacier yet.
http://youtu.be/HwF5z4jYE9U |
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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