Monday, August 24

Slept in and had breakfast in lodge dining room - oatmeal.

We road the free shuttle to Logan Pass and from there we did a 6 mile round trip hike to Hidden Lake.

Marmot along the trail

Hidden lake

The way back up hill

Mountain goat on the trail

Hidden Lake from the top

Mare leading the way

The wild flowers are still beautiful

Arrived Glacier on Sunday or Early Monday

Train was way late. Lodge shuttle met us at train station in West Glacier.  We got checked into hotel around 1:00 AM Sunday morning.

Long day,  had fun on the train.  Good food and great scenery.

WiFi

WiFi is hard to come by.  Not working at Lake McDonald Lodge.  No cell phone service either.  We road free shuttle to East Glacier where we are having a tea and a latte and using their free WiFi.

Nice 6 mile hike yesterday. Taking it easy today. Tomorrow we hike 6.5 uphill miles to Sperry Chalet for 2 nights. On wednesday we will do a 6-8 mike hike from the Chalet to Lake Helen Wilson. Then on thursday we will make it a 10 mile hike down from the Sperry Chalet back to McDonald Lodge for our last 4 nights. 

Saturday on the Train

No Wi Fi, August 22, will post Sunday from our lodge in Glacier

I got the upper bunk, straps so I didn't roll out.

Mare gets the lower:

You get view out the window in the lower, upper view is the wall.

Woke up at 6:00, took a shower and had a cup of coffee.  We went to breakfast around 8:00.  Omelettes, coffee, tea, juice, chicken sausage.

Enjoying the scenery from our roomette.  They just announced when the lunch service starts - we'll head to the dining car around 12:30. 

Between Fargo and Minot

Life on the train - a selfie in the observation car

Minot - a 30 minute stop "Magic City"

Back on the train - Eric, our conductor took our picture as we re board train in Minot

Next chance to get off the train is Williston, ND

Mare catching some zzzzs before Williston, ND

A short whistle stop in Williston, raining and cold

Milwaukee to St. Paul

Friday, August 21 - no WI Fi today. Will post from Glacier

Nice ride, running a couple of hours late but that's okay!

We had wine in our roomette - brought the good stuff with us!

Our dinner reservation was at 7:50, chicken, rice pilaf, and green bans for me; steak, carrots and couscous for Mare.  Oh and mini chocolate bunds cake for dessert.

Breakfast starts at 6:30 am

Waiting - Empire Builder is running late!

Train just left Chicago, that will put it into Milwaukee an hour late. I walked over to Stone Creek Coffee (a block away) and got a latte.

Our big decision tonight will be what to order for dinner in the dining car! That, and what time to make our dinner reservation.

Everybody gets along on the train - so we were told on our last trip.

As my sister Janet says "Cheers!"

Lots of Luggage

Two Backpacks, One Duffle, One Soft Sided Luggage.  We have so much more packed for a 12 day trip to Glacier than a 45 day trip to Spain!  We don't have to carry it everyday.

Glacier National Park via Empire Builder

We're off to Glacier National Park.  Taxi coming to pick us up at 3:00 PM and drop us off at the Amtrak Station, Downtown Milwaukee.  The Empire Builder is scheduled to depart Milwaukee at 3:55 PM.  Yesterday the train left 43 minutes late - we shall see.  Scheduled to arrive in West Glacier at 9:53 PM tomorrow night (August 23).  This is our third trip to Glacier, flew and drove once and train once.  We take advantage of the free shuttle service inside the park and hike so we get along nicely without a car.

We're booked in a sleeper car (Roomette includes all meals on the train).   We typically don't spend a lot of time in our room, we enjoy hanging out in the observation car.

Glacier Park Inc. will be meeting us at the West Glacier Train Station and taking us to the McDonald Lodge inside Glacier where we are staying for 3 nights.  Then we hike up to the Sperry Chalet for 2 nights.  Then hike back down to the McDonald Lodge for 4 more nights.  Then an early train on September 1 from West Glacier arriving in Milwaukee on September 2.