Hiking, Freezing, and Glacier Water

We left for the Great White North on Saturday evening. 4 (ish) hours later we landed on the doorstep of our dear friends, the Davidsons. Our gracious hosts provided us the perfect stop to help break up an otherwise horrific drive. Even though Curtis managed to scare Amy near to death (I thought she was going to faint) and nearly break his legs falling down their stairs...it was a wonderful night. Followed by a relaxing morning and a most delicious breakfast! (I heart you Davidsons!)

We met with little resistance trying to cross the border (though they are getting a little grumpier, in my humble opinion) and descended upon Grandpa and Grandma just in time for dinner. 

We didn't have any real set-in-stone plans for the week. I was mostly interested in not setting an alarm and not rushing to get anywhere. Mission accomplished. Monday started me off on the right foot. We all slept in until 9ish, woke up and had a leisurely breakfast, then decided to jaunt on across the border again to visit Glacier National Park in Montana.

I grew up only a half hour or so from this beautiful place...and this was officially my first visit. (I'm a sucker for Waterton--the Canadian side of the park--so I guess I just never thought about it.)

We chose a relatively easy hike up to Virginia Falls. Curtis practically ran the entire way. I guess he was just excited to be out in the open.

When we did manage to get him to hold still (usually by some type of restraint) he would pull, what I call, an "Uncle Jeff". (Basically, he would act like a doofus for the camera.)

Since Grandma and Grandpa were there...everyone had a hiking buddy so I wasn't as nervous as I could have been about Curtis running through bear country.

The top of the trail ended at the base of the falls. The mist from the glacier water pretty much soaked us to the bone...and dropped the temperature several degrees. Ian stood up on the platform and tried to take a picture of Curtis and I on a rock below. You can't tell, but Curtis is screaming and crying for Grandpa (to the left) to get him OUT OF THE WATER! His little rear end was clenched like it was his last moments on earth. I must admit...I laughed at his expense and stood there for the photo.

And, because it makes all the sense in the world to Canadians, we stopped for a little romp in a lake. A glacier lake. A very, very cold glacier lake. And they LOVED it. (I have learned over the years that they will not catch their death of cold just because their legs turn bright crimson red...so we're good.)

What a great first day of vacation!