July 9, 2010, Glacier NP (West Side), Montana

We were going to drive the Inside North Fork Road and stop at several trailheads along the way but somehow we got on the Outside North Fork Road, which is out of the park. We did stop at the Forests and Fire Nature Trail (formerly Huckleberry Nature Trail). It had burned in 2001.

"Moose Fire" of 2001.

We drove on to Polebridge (25 miles but seemed much longer!).

Very nice bridge to Polebridge

Polebridge Ranger Station

We had forgotten to pay for tonight and we needed to be back early so we didn’t stop at any of the trailheads. Most of the road went through the area that burned in 2001. We did stop on the road several times to look at birds. We stopped at Winona Lake where we saw and heard Common Loons (with 1 chick). Even with the burned area the trip was very lush with wildflowers and re-growth.

Winona Lake

We saw fields of wild rose

After supper we went to the ranger program on trees. It was really good. We were given a card to ‘key out’ the trees around the amphitheater.

After the program we walked to the Village and had pie at Eddies Restaurant.