Many Miles to Get Here – Many Miles to Go | Road Trip USA

Hello again from the road!

I’ve made it all the way across to the pacific and I’m currently in the Bay Area in California!

This is a big post, I’ve covered a lot of ground since my last one, and I’m now running out of time!

Here’s where we left off – Yellowstone. From there I headed to Glacier National Park!

Glacier National Park:

The Going to the Sun road was so spectacular! Snow topped peaks, views around every corner! Less touristy than Yellowstone…I ended up spending 4 or 5 nights here because I was loving Montana and the area I was in. I did a short hike and heard of a lot of bear sightings. Everyone who is hiking carries bear spray and bells to make noise. Just a little scary! I ended up seeing a couple of black bear one evening while driving back to my camp. No grizzlies! This place was beautiful and I met a lot of other photographers while touring the park, mostly because we would see each other’s cameras and start up conversation. I came across a momma mountain goat with here little baby with her. Super cute! I did some horse back riding around the park too which was fun!

The nights got pretty cold around this time…but not as cold as Canada! Hah! Just wait…

Quick note on glaciers! They are disappearing fast! I was told Glacier NP’s glaciers will be melted in about 10 years. That’s nothing! GO THERE NOW!! Once these beauties are melted, the ecosystem will likely change drastically and that beautiful water will not be the same color anymore :(

Canada & Banff National Park:

Amazing. It’s really hard to describe how incredible the scenery was. You really have to go see it yourself! My pictures are cool and all but it doesn’t do it justice at all!

I arrived at my little motel in Canada in the evening. I knew it was going to be cold so I didn’t camp. Little did I know we’d be getting a preview of the coming winter! It snowed about 4 inches – which I wasn’t expecting, I thought it was going to rain. I ended up buying a new winter jacket after a few hours of heavy, wet snow and freezing temps. It was fun for photos and I was happy it was only temporary!

Seattle, Pacific North West and Crater Lake:

From Canada I drove to Seattle area and met up with my friends from school, Tasha and Drew Vanasse! They kindly let me stay with them last year around this time on my first trip to Seattle. The next day I checked out the market for a bit and then hit the road to the Olympic Peninsula! I camped at Kalaloch and was in total bliss by the ocean for the evening, night, and morning. That place fills up quick! I was really lucky to grab a spot when I did. Highly recommended!

After the Olympics I headed to Portland for a few hours and then the Columbia River Gorge. There I was able to see some amazing waterfalls and the beautiful Columbia River of course! I would love to go back there and explore more…much like all of these places. The Gorge area reminded me a bit of Western Massachusetts.

The next day I headed out to Crater Lake National Park, which was totally unreal! This earth is such an amazing place. Crater was definitely eerie but so beautiful. It’s very quiet besides people driving on the road, but when you get more into the woods all you can hear is the slight breeze, streams running, and birds singing. Such a nice change from the city!

Now I’m back where I was 3 years ago – The Bay Area! It’s strange and wonderful to be back. There were many memories, struggles, and fun times here. After today I will begin my trek back East, but I’m headed to Utah and all the parks and wonders it has to offer! Can’t wait!

Stay tuned…

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Can you see the bear??

Old Man’s Beard (A lichen) that grows on the trees in Glacier and many other places. It is supposedly edible and was used as a tea to cure colds back in the day. Pretty neat! I didn’t try it though…