Visiting Glacier National Park

My Glacier Vacation: Wildfires and Natural Wonders

               When we landed at the airport in Kalispell, Montana last Saturday, the air was thick with smoke from the many wildfires in Montana and surrounding states.  So thick, we couldn’t see the mountains and so smoky that it smelled like a campfire indoors and out.  Would our long planned vacation to Glacier National Park be ruined?  What good is a trip to the Crown of the Continent if you cannot see the jaw dropping scenery?  Miraculously, a cold front came through bringing some rain and sweeping away the smoke.  We had three days of sunny weather and three days of partly cloudy weather and some drizzle, but no more smoke.  We were able to take in all those gorgeous mountain tops, to see some wildlife and complete many day hikes.  I won’t deny I was relieved that the smoke cleared away, but we would have tried to make the best of our trip no matter what. 

               Many people had commented on Glacier Park’s Facebook page how sad all the fires were.  While it is true that no one wishes for fire and careless human behavior is sometimes the cause, fire is also a source of renewal and regrowth for many forests.  Nature is not static. It changes for better or worse. Animals, plants, and the environment adapt or die. In time the burned areas will be beautiful again, though the view may not be exactly the same. We need to remember to enjoy the now and to celebrate what will come.  Our National Parks help us to do this.  They are places to reflect on the beauty of our earth, to see wildlife, and perhaps to reconnect spiritually. 

               My husband and I have made it a personal goal to visit as many National Parks as we can.  Their beauty and diversity never cease to amaze me and we always enjoy our visits.  Of course, there are always favorites.  The Hidden Lake Trail at the Continental Divide at Glacier this year is now on my list, though I think the place that has had the biggest impact on me so far has been Crater Lake in Oregon.  Crater Lake was formed over 7,000 years ago when a volcano collapsed after a massive eruption.  It is the deepest lake in the United States at 1,943 feet which makes the water a fantastic deep, rich blue.  What struck me most when I first saw Crater Lake was that this thing of profound beauty had existed there for thousands of years whether or not human beings laid eyes on it.  It brought home that there is so much more to this life than those little things we all worry about every day.  It made me feel very small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, to realize that I am but a tiny part of this big universe. 

             National Parks are places to both remember our purpose and to forget our problems.  You can only experience them once for the first time, but you can find new things to experience each time you visit.  I don’t often share personal stories on this site, so I hope you forgive my indulgence to take a moment to reflect on my vacation.  My legs are a little sore after all that hiking and I will miss some of the grand vistas I experienced in Glacier, but like the smoke clearing after the fires,  I am refreshed and renewed and happy to be home and back to work, at least until my next trip to one of nature’s wonders!

Dr. Walters

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital, serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding areas.  Comments and discussion welcome on the PVH website or our Facebook page!