Oh Canada!

Finally, we are greeted with Sunshine and it was time for cycling Glacier National Park. Saturday morning we did an epic bike ride on the Going-to-the-Sun road up to Big Bend where the road was closed due to avalanche activity.

About 18 miles up with 2884 feet of climbing. Wow! Plenty of e-bikers which changes the demographics of participants. Although, it was mostly analog riders at the top. We did see several families with little kids riding bravely up the hill. The community amongst the riders at the closure (top of our ride) was amazing. Sour Gummy Worms from new friends are fantastic summit food! And, the descent was just stunning with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and verdant river valley far below. Can’t wait to do it again!

Later in the afternoon we made the trek from West Glacier, Montana to the Border Crossing into Canada. The drive was winding, increasingly remote and lightly trafficked. Our interview with the Canadian Border Patrol was pleasant. We arrived at our campsite in the Waterton Lakes Townsite campground to be greeted by friendly fellow campers, mule deer and big horn sheep.

We awoke to sunshine and warmer temps than we have been experiencing. Yes! And at the visitor center, we were delighted with the ease of converting our entrance pass fees from a 2 night stay to an annual Canadian National Parks Pass. We spent the rest of the day hiking and exploring along Akamina Parkway and Pass. Maddie took us on a hike up Rowe Creek past Forum Falls. We then climbed about 1km up the ascent to Forum Lake . Maddie took to snow surfing as the trail disappeared under several feet of melting snow. Great fun until we got tired of floundering and breaking through (post holing). We will be better equipped with gators, poles and our Garmin InReach Mini GPS.

After our hike we drove to Cameron Lake just in time to be turned around by a team of rangers and park staff who were closing the area to visitors due to bear activity. Time to relocate a too “friendly” black bear.

We returned to town for margaritas and burrito bowls at the Taco Bar. A beautiful evening lakeside gave us good opportunities for continued training Maddie who would like nothing more than to be free to chase and bark but she is working hard at being a good, trained dog; Thanks, Michael Lobato! A few months ago, Maddie was pretty stressed out about having to do all the jobs—guarding her humans and her surroundings, vociferously punctuating her observations. Michael’s gentle but firm guidance has allowed Maddie’s humans to take on some of her jobs and we are all less stressed!