Jasper Ice Field

Bear Country

We saw this grizzly at sundown, which is when they are most active. Lucky for us that in summer these bears prefer huckleberries to human flesh!

YOHO NATIONAL PARK, CANADA

You've got to go!

Camping at Yoho is truly memorable, not to mention quite civilized. Snow- and glacier-capped moutains, emerald blue lakes, wildlife sightings, spectacular waterfalls, and a really good French cafe/deli that has the best goat cheese sandwich!

Glacier National Park

We camped near the beautiful Lake MacDonald. Abbie is quite happy with our new tent.

Coming Home

We're heading to Glacier National Park where we'll spend one night camping and then drive about 500 miles north to Yoho National Park in the Canadian Rockies for some more outdoor fun. After that we take the Trans-Canada Highway back east. Wish us luck.

Goodbye Bitterroot Valley

Bitterroot National Forest

We've been taking walks in morning around the National Forest.

Seen here are bison, osprey, bighorn sheep, white-tail deer, and of course, Abbie.

Loggers Day, Darby MT

The finalist square off in the log roll. Winner gets a truck full of logs. (No Joke)

The Cottage

It was well worth the stress. The owner was very apologetic and gave us a generous deal. The place sits about 20 ft from one of the best trout streams in the country. Everyone fly fishes here, even the kids. For wildlife there is Elk, Big Horn Sheep, Bear and Moose. The nearest town is Darby which is having it's annual logger's day competition tomorrow. Wi-Fi has yet to hit the valley so it's hard to find an Internet connection but I will try and post some photos of the festival as soon as possible.

Kaori and I will rest up for a couple of days and then start preparing for the second leg of the trip, camping in the Canadian Rockies.

Bitterroot Valley, MT

And we were so close...

After 2,800 miles of driving we pull into our destination, Alpine Realty in Darby Montana where owner Dorene was to give us the keys to our fabulous cottage that we reserved 2 months ago. But alas neither Dorene nor her crack assistant Debra (who I spoke to yesterday and who insisted that she would be there to meet us) was anywhere to be found. Fortunately Kaori, Abbie and I were lucky enough to find shelter at a nearby methadone clinic. Hopefully tomorrow someone at Alpine Realty will be available to check us in. If not we are open for suggestions.

The Rockies

After driving 5hrs in 102ºF heat with nothing but trains and wheat to keeps us company, we finally see the Rockies.

200 Miles of Beautiful Nothingness

Eastern Montana

Wheat, wheat and more wheat.

Diamond Willow Inn, Culbertson MT