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destroyed every attempt to build them. However, it’s smooth and relatively easy to drive in a typical rental car (vehicles over 22-feet long are prohibited). We stopped at several scenic spots along the way and viewed magnificent peaks, valleys, and various wildlife. We spotted mountain goats perched precariously on steep cliff faces, hundreds of feet above us, and big- horn sheep grazing on rock-strewn meadows. At the apex of the road, several trailheads emit from Logan’s Pass Visitor’s Center. Hiking with kids, we skipped the famous Highline Trail (which winds along cliff edges and mountain ridges). Instead, we chose the three-mile Hidden Lake Overlook trail. While mildly challenging in places, its scenery, wildlife, lakes, and glacier views did not disappoint. During our time there, I was trying to picture the whole of Logan’s Pass (including the buildings) as they are in winter (literally buried under a mountain of snow). Just a little further east are Big Drift, Garden Wall and the Continental Divide areas, which often see snow depths of 80 feet! While it usually takes about 10 weeks for snow plow crews to reopen the Going-to-the-Sun Road each year, it can take a full month to clear just this one-mile stretch, using equipment that can move 4,000 tons of snow per hour!
Fire damage was obvious on both sides of the eastern portion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, with vast swaths of trees standing naked and charred. Scenic overlooks were closed to prevent people from wandering into still-volatile areas, yet the scenery was still majestic, when viewed with the knowledge that before modern firefighting, forests burned and rejuvenated and that such fires were, in fact, necessary to sustain a balanced ecosystem. The final 10 miles of the Going-to-the-Sun Road follows the north shore of St. Mary Lake (Glacier’s second largest lake), ending at the community of St. Mary (year-round population: less than 50). There, we checked into our cabin at the St. Mary Lodge and Resort and picnicked on our porch, a few yards from Divide Creek, enjoying views of Otokomi and East Flattop Mountains. The St. Mary Visitor’s Center provided tips for seeing the eastern park and we ventured out again for a quick hike to a historic ranger station. Afterward, we decided there was
enough day left for more exploring and proceeded north to the Many Glacier Hotel and the area known as the American Alps.
In the next issue, we’ll continue our tour of Glacier National Park and proceed north to the adjoining Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. Part 2 will hopefully provide you more reasons to put a visit to Glacier on your short-list of “must go” destinations. Finally, we’ll discuss departing the area via general aviation. KA
DECEMBER 2015
One of the many archways along the Going-to-the-Sun Road which allow the glacier-fed waterfalls to flow, uninterrupted, under the roadway and into the valley rivers below.
About the Author: Matthew McDaniel is a Master and Gold Seal CFII, ATP, MEI, AGI and IGI. In 25 years of flying, he has logged over 15,000 hours total, over 5,500 hours of instruction-given, and over 2,500 hours in the King Air and BE-1900. As owner of Progressive Aviation Services, LLC (www.progaviation.com), he has specialized in Technically Advanced Aircraft and Glass Cockpit instruction since 2001. Currently, he also flies the Airbus A-320 series for an international airline and holds six turbine aircraft type-ratings. Matt is one of less than 25 instructors in the world to have earned the “Master Certified Flight Instructor” designation for seven consecutive two-year terms. Mr. McDaniel can be contacted at (414) 339-4990 or matt@progaviation.com.
Copyright 2015, Matthew McDaniel
First publication rights granted King Air magazine via Village Press. All other rights reserved by copyright holder.
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