Vandrea Does America: Day 48 (Tuesday 8/7/12)- Glacier National Park, MT

Our second day in Glacier. Approaching the entrance gate we were waved in, apparently the park was free to everyone today.
Severe bus delays due to a motorcycle accident (a fairly common occurence on the troublesome road) caused over crowding. We took the line as an opportunity to explore rather than wait. Avalance Creek, where we had been temporarily stranded, offered two hikes. One very easy and one a bit longer. Since we were waiting for a bus and expecting a significant hike later on, we decided for a best of both hikes combo. We walked just far enough on the more strenous route to see a scenic waterfall and quickly rounded the easy paved section back to the bus stop. By that time the stop had cleared out. Our side adventure had worked out perfectly.

We then continued on to Logan Pass-approximately the half way point of the park and it's highest point at over 6,600 feet. Behind the Logan Pass Visitor's center we found the boardwalk for the Hidden Lake Overlook. It is an absolute don't miss! The hike runs from the visitor's center through snowy mountains and ends at a beautiful lake. On the way a big horned sheep said hello.
While oogling the mountain and lake, a socialable chipmunk snuck up on me trying to charm his way into any food we might be willing to share and finding us uncooperative, any of it he could steal that we might be unable to protect. Just as the chipmunk realized there would be no handouts and went off to pout, an unidentified (Mmm..You decide) animal we affectionately named a "Squeasal" scampered up. Thinking this was my only chance to capture (the mythical beast) on film, I hurried after it, finally documenting its existence, only to find 50 less evasive kin the next day.
After a couple of exhilirating hikes we were far too exhausted to attempt the final hike we had planned and decided we needed one more day in paradise. When we got back to Walmart we didn't feel like going to bed just yet. (Life is a delicate ballet. We find we have the habit after a strenous day or an extended voyage into the country to counterbalance) Thus we decided to eat a half gallon of ice cream topped with creme soda and watch American Pie Reunion. (They were equally wise decisions) A note about the movie: Bad doesn't cover it.
(On the positive side the movie made me feel old. Old in that people my age are already nostalgic. And apparently nostalgic for crap....Now "Something about Mary," now that was a movie. They don't make classy movies like that anymore...kids today with their SuperBad and whatnot....
We are far more active on this trip than we ever were in Corvallis. Our paletes, however, have also undergone a curious transformation, having developed a taste for overindulgence in crappy foods and movies. I guess things even out. Previous to the trip, I'd say 90% of the movies we tended to watch were arty/indie/documentary/foreign films. Just as our pre road selves judged Walmarts and McDonalds as negative cultural symbols, seeing how we have so far watched several superbly average movies and now a thoroughly bad one we've changed our opinions a bit here too. There is something comforting, just like an undeviatingly bad, but cheap hamburger that can be had anywhere or a small city full of discounted merchandise, so big it allows people to sleep in it's borders, watching a movie millions of others have, even if bad, is somehow nice. We are all Americans, with bad habits.
We'll work off the tub of ice cream tomorrow.