FE. Seems we have developed a rhythm for visiting Glacier: be lazy in the morning, work on our blog, visit a fun lunch place and enter the park after 4 PM for a hike. Today it is the Rocky Point hike on Lake McDonald. One of the best part of our trip in general is how many fun and nice people we meet. Here are Denise and James from Georgia. Note that James is surpassing a smile (we try to get people to smile when we take pics)…Denise tells us he never smiles, and James adds that Marines do NOT smile… well I think we almost got this ex-soldier to crack!

RN: James has been all over the world, a lot of it traveling when he was a Marine for 15 years. I tell him “Nice” and he grimaces and I realize he must have been in the Iraq war among other international conflicts. Sorry, James!!

FE: Today it is quite hazy, smoke from wildfires, probably coming down from Canada. Below is a relatively non-digitally processed photo looking out over Lake McDonald.

However, more processing allows me to show the texture in the haze, bring out more color etc

Photographers’ opinions about such non-real sleight of computer magic are mixed at best…”Whatever,” I say.

RN: The Rocky Point Nature Trail is a short, 1.8 mile loop up over, guess what- a rocky point, the top of which give us this gorgeous view up Lake McDonald towards Logan Pass and the dramatic peaks around it.

FE: Here is your favorite couple, photographed by the kind James

Some time for deep thought…or just to cool my feet?

We end the day in a wonderful restaurant in Whitefish, Parallel 48. The food is superb (Smoked Elk Tartare anybody?), the wine-list has a few unusual favorites and our server ‘Liza is just great. Here are ‘Liza and your’s truly.

We also get to talk with the manager, Heidi, who is super nice…. and responsible for the great wine selection. We leave very happy.